Hi there, Accessibility specialist for Lyft here, though I don't post on behalf of the company. If you are over 18, you can create a Lyft account and use the service by yourself. I generally use our pickup notes feature to tell the driver that I'm blind and need assistance to their car, and that's worked out great for me. I would call them before we came out with that feature. A good rule of thumb is to ask the driver who they are picking up so you can confirm that it is your ride, and have the driver tell you their name so you can match it with the driver info we give you in the app. Don't give them your name, always have them tell you the information for confirmation. If you have Aira, we are integrated with them; they can get you a ride, guide you to the car, and confirm the driver info and license plate for you.

You can share your ride details with anyone in your contact list for safety. You can text, email, send it through Facebook Messenger, etc., and that creates a link that shows a webpage with your ride info. It has a map that updates as your driver moves along the route, shows the driver photo, name, color, make and model of their car, license plate, and your drop-off address and the estimated time of your arrival. It's easy to use and I always send it out to people if I'm meeting up with them. You can also set it so it automatically sends this info to a trusted contact like your mother every time you take a ride.

I'll always have the driver confirm where I'm getting dropped off, if we are on the correct side of the street, and most of the time drivers have been more than helpful walking me to my destination if they needed to park their car farther away from the location to stop safely. Don't forget to wear a mask if taking rides right now; no mask, no ride!

Finally, there is a lot of accountability within the system, so you rate and comment on the driver after you've been dropped off. Tips and payment are always handled through the app and are never done with cash. We've done our best to make the experience as accessible as possible with screen readers and dynamic type/assistive tech so it's easy to report any issues, and we take safety very seriously.

Take your mom our shopping with you, or to a restaurant, or anywhere. Go in an Uber together, so she can see everything is fine for herself and there's nothing to worry about.

If your mom doesn’t want you to use Uber or a lift, remind her that there is a safety feature. For one thing, she will be able to see the car that is going to pick you up, the name of the driver, and the license plate.
For another, you can share your ride status with your mom via text message so she can see exactly where you are at.
If this is still not enough, sometimes you just have to do it. I hate to sound like that, like I’m trying to be some rebellious teen. However, I wasn’t allowed to go anywhere by myself until I moved away.
Also, another good trick to know is when approaching a car, say are you an Uber? And then wait for their response. Ask who is the person that you are the Uber driver for?
Do not say your name. Wait for your driver to see your name. That is how you know you were getting into the correct vehicle.
In all my experiences with Uber, I have never once had a crazy experience or been lost or anything. I’ve gotten exactly where I needed to go.

I'll second the question about how old you are.

Ride share services are an absolutely massive independence boost and using them effectively and safely is a major skill set you need to have. That includes making sure they can find you, knowing places to stand where they can find you reliably, and ensuring they don't dump you somewhere impossible at the far end. As so often it's all about planning and making sure you have plans A, B and C in place before you start. If it's scary, you didn't plan enough. Are they risk free, no, but nothing is, and I personally will not sit at home on that basis.

I think if you're old enough to ask the question you are old enough to at least start learning this stuff. In the end you're not at much greater risk than just walking down the street.

How old are you?

May take some fighting and arguing. Also just doing it is another option. And if they won’t let you go speak up and be assertive. My parents was the same way i am asian by blood and origin, but quite american here but my parents are overprotective and a bit sheltering. I told them look!!!!! I am an adult, I do what I want. It’s not like I am harming you or abusing substances or doing anything bad I just want a life I want to cook and get out and my independence. I had my share of house shattering fights they wanted to control everything my school, rehab, money. I said nah! Screw that get out of my damn way or else. It wasn’t easy.

Go doing it is actually a good way too I had to sneak out a few times to do it because if I didn’t there would be hell to pay. And there would be an argument and I’d be inn a fairly bad mood. Afterwards I just did it but yeah.

Not the exact same situation, and your family dynamics might be a little different, but...

My family was always apprehensive about me traveling across my state, province for non-Americans, by myself.

they're typically not apprehensive about me doing stuff, but because this was, at least, a two-hour journey, things could go south if I made an error.

So one day, I just kind of... did it.

it was for the holiday season, I told them to come pick me up on a Wednesday, but secretly I left on a Tuesday afternoon.

again, depending on your situation and your personal family dynamics, this might not be the best alternative, but it could work wonders, you never know.

just remember that, in all likelihood, your mom is apprehensive out of love and, or, fear, I doubt she's being malicious.

See you on hot!

Have your mom shadow you in her car behind the uber so she can watch the whole trip.