The rate of change in the context of this ride share cost function \( y = 0.95x + 2.49 \) represents the cost per mile, which is the coefficient of \( x \) in the equation.
In this case, the rate of change is:
\[ \text{Rate of change} = $0.95 \text{ per mile} \]
So the correct response is:
$0.95 per mile