John Zimmer

When we first created the Lyft community, we wanted to make cities feel smaller and more connected by bringing people together through transportation. In 20 months since we launched, we've seen drivers and passengers redefine the true meaning of community through Lyft in countless ways.

My vision for the future of social transportation is one that places more value on information and community over a physical product. Move over, multi-billion-dollar high-speed rail infrastructure and welcome, social information-based solutions.

The main difference to me with Lyft is the sense of community and social experience. The pink mustache, fist bump and strict screening have fostered a strong sense of community with many stories of new friends, discovered jobs, and even some Lyft hugs after a tough break up.

Car ownership as we know it will change. The promise of car ownership of the past, the freedom of open roads... the reality has been more of a burden.

I came from a hospitality background and saw that 80 percent of seats in cars weren't occupied most of the time.

When you request a Lyft, 90% of the time, there is someone else going within a half mile of your destination. We've seen this on our platform, so now we're matching up these rides for a discount.

The independence once represented by the car has been replaced by cell phones and social networks, which are now at the forefront of people's expression of freedom and access. Once a symbol of 'coming of age,' many drivers are waiting longer to get their licenses.