Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Lyft Previews 'Taco Mode', Which Adds A Taco Bell Drive-Thru To Your Route
Taco Mode (Photo courtesy of Lyft and Taco Bell)
()
Night owls of Orange County will soon be treated to a pairing of two nocturnal essentials: Lyft and Taco Bell.
From July 27 to July 29 (and again from August 3 to August 5), riders in Orange County (specifically those within a certain radius of the Newport Beach Taco Bell at 1400 West Coast Highway) will be able to activate "Taco Mode" in their Lyft app (specifically between the hours of 9 p.m. and 2 a.m.). Taco Mode will reroute your journey, taking you through the Newport Beach Taco Bell before dropping you off at your final destination.
"We realized that for every person who has asked their Lyft driver to make a pit-stop at Taco Bell - and we've seen many - there are likely those who weren't sure if this was possible," Marisa Thalberg, Chief Marketing Officer of Taco Bell, said in a statement. "With the advent of this fantastic partnership with Lyft, we will erase any lingering uncertainty and celebrate the ability to ‘ride-thru’ in Taco Mode."
“We will allow drivers to opt in to that so we can make sure we understand their full experience, and the customers can get the full delight of opting into ‘Taco Mode,’” Melissa Waters, head of marketing for Lyft, told the New York Times. “Then we can fully understand how everything works before we roll out more broadly in Southern California, then more broadly nationally.”
Support for LAist comes from
Taco Mode is in a testing phase right now, which is why it'll only be available at the Newport Beach Taco Bell, but an emailed release from the two companies notes that the option should roll out nationally by 2018.
While Lyft remains number two in the ride-sharing market (behind the behemoth Uber), Bloomberg notes that the company has been seeing stronger growth recently. Revenue for the company increased 25%—higher than Uber's— surpassing $1 billion during the second quarter of 2017. Meanwhile, rival Uber has been experiencing a series of self-inflicted wounds culminating in the resignation of CEO and Founder Travis Kalanick late last month.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance. -
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
Best of LAist