Lyft says it's already recruited thousands of potential drivers ahead of its upstate New York launch later this month.
Lyft and Uber plan to begin service on June 29 in cities including Buffalo, Rochester, Albany and Syracuse, as well as all of Long Island.
The two ride-hailing apps had been limited to picking up passengers the New York City until lawmakers voted this year to permit the expansion.
Lyft says it will hold driver recruitment events in Buffalo this week and plans to hold similar job fairs in other cities.
Supporters of the upstate expansion of ride-hailing say it will be a boon for tourism and reduce drunken driving while creating new flexible jobs for local residents.
