Lyft Finally Allows Passengers to Add Multiple Stops to Their Itinerary

Lyft has made a very sensible and convenient modification to its ride-hailing policy. Now Lyft passengers can add multiple destinations to their itinerary, so they can drop off and pick up friends over the course of a ride, CNET reports.

Lyft, which is based in San Francisco, is allowing its passengers to add stops midway through their ride by entering the address or selecting the location on the in-app map. It is likely that this added feature will prove especially useful for those who are coordinating a night out with multiple friends.

If it so happens that you need to pick up a friend on the way to a destination, you can simply request an additional stop rather than quibbling with your driver or forcing that friend to order a separate ride. You can also stop at the store to pick up a gift on the way to a friend’s birthday celebration without ordering multiple rides.

That being said, you should be prepared to pay extra for the convenience. Lyft calculates its fares according to distance traveled and the total time of the journey, meaning it will charge you for each additional detour and the time the driver spends idling, The Verge notes.

This is an option that Lyft’s main rival Uber has yet to offer, which may help boost the app’s popularity. Lyft also differentiates itself from its competitor by granting its passengers the leeway to split fares with others, which saves them the trouble of having to Venmo their friends later.