https://www.cnet.com/news/lyft-uses-via-like-feature-to-offer-surge-free-shared-rides/

It works in similar ways as another ride-sharing app, Via, though Via is available only in New York City. You wait a few minutes for a ride, walk a few blocks to a pickup point to meet your driver and save money on your ride. Via uses this method to offer lower rates for riders (start at less than $5) than Lyft and Uber, it seems Lyft and Uber are doing the same thing to attract users.

Uber in June started testing a feature called Express Pool, which directed riders to a certain pickup point to get on their rides with other passengers, similarly to Lyft's Shared Saver and Via.