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No More Lyft, Uber Or Taxi Pickups At LAX. At The End Of October It's All About That Shuttle Life
One of LAX's new shuttles that will take travelers to the rideshare and taxi pickup lot (Emily Elena Dugdale/LAist)
Looking for an easy way to get closer with to your fellow Angelenos? We have news! Starting at the end of October, LAX is no longer going to allow rideshares or taxis to pick up customers at the airport terminals. Instead, you'll be shuttled, all together, to a nearby lot that's been converted for this exclusive use.
According to a press release issued by LAX, the new lot will be located across from Terminal 1, and will have "food trucks, Wi-Fi and cell phone charging." Which is all well and good! And no doubt your screaming toddler who has just endured a cross-country flight followed by a schlep to the millionth location of the day will be completely placated by an adventurous take on tacos.
Heath Montgomery, a spokesperson for LAX, told us the lot will be accessible by shuttles that will run every three to five minutes. The shuttles, he said, will not stop at every terminal -- they will make two stops only then continue on to the lot. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
"We will have them running on loops," he said.
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.@flyLAXairport is opening a new pickup lot for taxis and ride share apps at the end of October. 🚖
— Emily Elena Dugdale (she/her) (@eedugdale) October 4, 2019
That means no more curbside pickups for taxis or ride share except here.
The pickup walk is across from Terminal 1. @KPCC @LAist pic.twitter.com/xjqkMIF41p
These green @flyLAXairport shuttles will take riders who want to request a ride 🙋🏾♀️ from their terminal to this lot. @KPCC @LAist pic.twitter.com/gtCwM0tqId
— Emily Elena Dugdale (she/her) (@eedugdale) October 4, 2019
The lot is located at 9610 Sky Lane, and will be organized in a way that Montgomery describes as "pretty obvious." He said there will be a lane dedicated to taxis and others dedicated to Uber, Lyft and Opoli (we didn't know either). Airport staff will also be on hand to help direct travelers.
Plans for the lot came about in anticipation of a significant increase in construction at the airport. This is a temporary fix, according to Montgomery, until the people mover is completed in 2023.
In the meantime, he said, "we have to do something, otherwise traffic is going to get a lot worse."
Officials estimate that the move will decrease the total number of vehicles in the terminal area by about 15%.
The new lot -- and the new rules that accompany it -- will open on Oct. 29th.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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