.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
Every year, the European Mobility Week is a reminder that mobility is about much more than transport. This year’s theme, “Mobility for Everyone – Across Generations,” puts intergenerational fairness at the heart of the conversation. This is the moment we should ask a simple question: does our transport system work for everyone, at every stage of life and across different mobility needs?
At Freenow by Lyft, we believe inclusive mobility is not simply about getting from A to B, but also about creating journeys that are accessible, reliable and convenient. Across Europe and beyond, our local teams, charity partners, drivers, and riders are helping turn that ambition into action.
How does Freenow by Lyft accommodate riders with disabilities?
For people with disabilities, access to transport can make the difference between independence and isolation. That is why improving accessibility requires more than simply adding vehicles to a fleet. It means listening to passengers, supporting drivers, working with local communities, and addressing the barriers that exist across the entire journey.
That’s what we do in Berlin and Hamburg, where Freenow offers dedicated Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs), helping wheelchair users access on-demand transport when they need it.
In Ireland, our driver partners are responsible for more than 65% of all WAVs on the platform. To encourage this vital service, WAV trips benefit from a 0% commission rate. We also worked closely with the Irish Wheelchair Association in Cork, gathering direct feedback from wheelchair users and using those insights to develop more relevant resources and support.
And in theUK, our partnership with Whizz Kidz focuses on raising awareness and creating greater opportunities for young wheelchair users.
Accessibility also means recognising the people behind every journey. In Germany, riders can support the ASB Wünschewagen project through Freenow’s Round Up and Donate feature, helping fulfil the final wishes of terminally ill people by providing accessible transportation.
These examples show what inclusive mobility can look like in practice: technology, partnerships, and community action working together to remove barriers.
Seeing mobility differently: Help for visually impaired riders
For blind and visually impaired passengers, a seamless journey depends not only on reaching a destination but also on creating an experience that is welcoming and respectful.
We recognise that for guide dog owners, mobility is about more than simply getting from one place to another. Guide dogs are essential partners, helping people navigate their daily lives with greater independence. That’s why we’re proud to work with two fantastic organisations in Poland and Ireland to support guide dog owners and promote more inclusive journeys.
In Poland, riders can use the Round Up and Donate feature in the Freenow app to support the professional training of guide dogs through the Labrador Association allowing the foundation to cover their significant maintenance costs with peace of mind as they prepare to become guide dogs. Since October 2025, the donations from Freenow riders reached nearly 80,000 PLN, which helped cover food, veterinary care, and daily training equipment, including new training vests. These funds helped reach Labrador’s record-breaking number of 36 dogs at various stages of training in foster families or specialized programs.
In Ireland, our partnership with Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind helps promote smoother, more respectful journeys for passengers travelling with their service animals.
And in Greece, our collaboration with Lighthouse for the Blind (Faros Tiflon) helps cover essential taxi fares for visually impaired passengers travelling to work, school, and social activities, while also providing training to driver partners, focusing on the skills needed to better serve passengers with visual impairments.
Training drivers to support disabled passengers
Technology can make mobility more accessible, but people make the experience truly inclusive. That is why driver education is such an important part of the equation.
In Poland, in collaboration with the Labrador Association Freenow has developed a dedicated educational portal for drivers, sharing practical guidance on supporting passengers with disabilities and travelling with guide dogs.
In Ireland we also hosted an educational session for drivers, together with the Guide Dogs Association. Freenow also worked with the Irish Wheelchair Association to create video tutorials and interactive learning modules designed to strengthen drivers’ knowledge, confidence, and ability to provide respectful assistance.
And in the UK, hands-on driver training workshops delivered with Whizz Kidz give drivers the opportunity to build practical skills when assisting passengers who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
These initiatives highlight an important lesson: inclusive mobility is not just about having the right vehicle – it is about having the right knowledge, attitude, and confidence to support every passenger.
Driving systemic change with advocacy
While local initiatives can make an immediate difference, lasting accessibility requires change at a broader level. Our work in Italy illustrates why.
Recent Freenow insights reveal a significant gap between demand for wheelchair-accessible taxis and available supply. In Rome, the gap stands at 52 percentage points, while in Milan it is 42 percentage points. At the same time, wheelchair trips currently account for just 0.01% of overall rides, while existing fare structures may not adequately reflect the additional costs and time involved for drivers providing accessible services. These numbers point to a challenge that cannot be solved by one company alone. Freenow is therefore bringing together driver unions, disability advocacy organisations, and local policymakers to advocate for smarter subsidies and fairer policies that can make accessible transport more sustainable for drivers—and more available for passengers.
How we support mobility at every age
Accessibility is not only about physical access. It is also about ensuring that people can remain connected and independent as their needs change throughout life. For younger passengers, safe and reliable transport can provide greater independence while giving parents reassurance. Lyft Teen, for example, gives teenagers access to a dedicated ride option while allowing parents to maintain visibility over their journeys.
For older adults, mobility can be just as important to quality of life. Lyft Silveris designed to provide tailored support for older riders, helping make everyday journeys, from appointments and errands to visiting friends and family, easier and more accessible.
Small actions can create a bigger impact
Inclusive mobility is something businesses, policymakers, drivers, communities and passengers can all contribute to.
One simple way riders can help is through Freenow’s and Lyft’s Round Up and Donate feature. When enabled, the cost of a ride is rounded up to the nearest euro, dollar or zloty, with 100% of the additional amount donated to community partners. Those spare cents can support initiatives ranging from guide dog training to making transport more accessible for wheelchair users.
Moving towards a fairer future
Creating mobility for everyone, across generations, will take collaboration, education, innovation, and systemic change. But the examples we see across Europe show that progress is possible when companies, drivers, charities, policymakers, and passengers work together. This European Mobility Week, let’s keep asking how we can make every journey more accessible and inclusive.