Uber, Lyft suspend some Florida service ahead of Hurricane Irma

Uber and Lyft want to make sure their drivers and passengers are safe ahead of Hurricane Irma.

As the storm approaches the continental United States, both ride-hailing companies are making sure to play it safe. Irma is expected to make landfall in Florida as soon as Sunday morning.

"With mandatory evacuations currently taking place, we strongly advise our riders and driver-partners to make safety a priority as the storm approaches. We encourage all to monitor local weather updates, adhere to state and local emergency procedures, and stay off the roads during extreme inclement weather," Uber wrote in a blog post.

Tweet may have been deleted

Uber suspended service in the Florida Keys on Thursday night, in Miami and South Florida as well as in Fort Meyers and Naples at 12 p.m. Saturday. The company plans to suspend rides service to comply with local curfews in Jacksonville Beach at 10 p.m. Saturday and in counties along the central Atlantic coast at 9 p.m. Saturday.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

Other cities, including Orlando, Gainesville, and Tallahassee, have suspended UberEATS but are still offering regular rides service. The ride-hailing company has also capped surge pricing throughout Florida.

Uber is keeping a running tally of all ongoing (and still-in-flux) service changes throughout Florida in a blog post here.

Lyft has also halted operations in Miami, the Florida Keys, Naples, and Fort Meyers, with plans to resume service when road conditions improve.

"With safety as our number one priority, we temporarily paused Lyft service in a number of Florida cities. We look forward to re-opening in impacted areas as soon as road conditions improve," Lyft wrote in a blog post.

"Our hearts go out to those impacted by Hurricane Irma, as well as victims of Hurricane Harvey who are in the process of recovering."

---

Featured Video For You

---

MIT researchers reinvented the wheel, turning any bike into an electric hybrid

---