Lyft Is Giving Fans the Chance to Ride Around in Ecto-1 Car From Ghostbusters

In the past, Uber has delighted riders by bringing them puppies and kittens, but lately Lyft has been stepping up their novelty game. Last year, they offered free rides in a DeLorean driven by someone dressed as Marty McFly for Back to the Future Day. This year, they're reintroducing the movie theme idea by bringing an Ecto-1 car onto the streets in honor of the upcoming Ghostbusters film. 

On July 1 and 2, Lyft and Sony Pictures are partnering to give fans rides in one of the iconic Cadillacs from the original 1984 Ghostbusters movie. The free rides can be accessed by users in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C. from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. using a special button that says "Ghost Mode."  There are only five Cadillacs modeled like the Ecto-1 in each city, so users will have to be extra lucky if they want to score a free ride. 

For the lucky few who get to ride in an Ecto-1, the fun doesn't stop at the car's appearance. Once inside, the riders will hear the Ghostbusters soundtrack, and the driver will be dressed like a ghostbuster. (Sorry—Bill Murray will not be present.) Riders can also enjoy bright-green key lime Twinkies and the recently resurrected Hi-C Ecto Coolers, both of which are provided for their trip. 

"We're not aspiring to be a replacement for a taxi," Jesse McMillin, Lyft's creative director, told Adweek. "Obviously we need to get you from Point A to Point B and do that really well, but if we can do these things that make you think, 'Wow, that experience is something that I haven't necessarily had before,' then we're creating a space for ourselves in the overall category that's unique."

Traveling to a meeting or party via Ecto-1 is definitely unique, and will probably amp you up for the fast-approaching reboot of Ghosterbusters, which comes out July 15.