The more the merrier: Data shows XL Lyft rides really are more fun

"The more the merrier" might be a cliché, but it's true -- good times are better when they're shared. And that holds for Lyft rides as well: XL rides, which take place in vehicles large enough to hold up to five passengers, are roughly three times as likely to be going somewhere *fun,* like an event, hotel, bar, nightclub, or performing arts space. For example, in recent years, one out of every five rides going to E11EVEN, a nightclub in Miami, and the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix was an XL (about ten times above the average XL rate).

Casinos also account for a large percentage of group rides - as Las Vegas driver Bryan Yniguez can attest: "The convos are always fun. Of course, they have to talk about who the winners and losers are amongst the bunch!"

Concerts are another hot destination for group rides - and not just for the audience. Rich Bentz, a Lyft driver in Tulsa, Oklahoma, remembers one ride when he slowly realized he was driving a band to its gig. "I had no idea what band it was, but when we arrived, the guy in the front seat whispered to me that they were REO Speedwagon! They tipped me very well and were a lot of fun to drive!"

Indeed, XL rides rake in the tips: from January 2022 to July 2024, U.S. riders tipped XL drivers 83% more often, compared to all other ride types. Plus, tipped XL drivers earned, on average, an additional $1.70 per ride.

Riders are also twice as likely to take an XL ride when they are on vacation. The Hamptons, Lake Tahoe, and Maui are in the top five cities with the highest share of XL Lyft rides.

Adding to the good vibes, the data suggests that July and August are the most popular months to take an XL. Indeed, the higher the temperature, the more likely riders are to take group rides - especially in colder regions, where warm weather is something to celebrate. Sure, more bodies in the back seat might make for a sweatier ride, but it suggests a tender conclusion: When it's warmer, we all want to be together.

Plus, an XL car creates an intimate space for connection - and making memories. Michael Sheafe, a Lyft driver in California, says one XL ride continues to stick with him: "They were sending their buddy off to the Marines. At their request, we ended up just driving over the Golden Gate blasting classic rock tunes. After the ride, we all bro-hugged, and they thanked me, telling me I helped them make a memory that will last a lifetime."