Orlando shooting: Uber offers free rides to and from LGBT venues in honour of Pulse victims

In honour of those who lost their lives during the brutal attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando on 12 June, Uber is offering free rides to and from LGBT places across the US and Canada. The offer is valid in 40 cities across North America and runs between 17-20 June.

The Uber offer is limited to two rides per person and up to $20 per ride. Each participating city has a list of LGBT locations that qualify for the offer and a discount of up to $20 will automatically be added to the user's account when travelling to or from one of the locations.

A spokesperson for Uber said: "Like people across the world, we were deeply shocked and saddened by the recent murders at a gay club in Orlando. The world is a brighter and better place when we are all free to be ourselves. And we want to bring people together, no matter who you are or where you're from."

Apart from offering the discounted rides over the weekend, Uber is also urging people to donate to the OneOrlando fund for the victims of the Pulse attack. Uber is also offering unlimited free rides to victims' families to help get them around Orlando.

The taxi service is only one of a number of companies providing services for the victims of the Orlando shooting. JetBlue has been providing victims' families with free flights to Orlando, as well as free hotel stays once they arrive in the city. Additionally, AirBnb are providing free accommodation in Orlando and local businesses such as flower shops and cemeteries have been waving their fees to accommodate the victims' funerals.

Thousands of vigils have been held around the world since gunman Omar Mateen shot dead 49 people at Pulse nightclub. The attack reignited a debate on US gun control, with more than 180,000 people signing a petition urging the government to ban the AR-15 rifle from civil ownership.