Mobility Companies – Page 54 – I wish I had more to offer

Cooee Busways Integrates On-Demand Transport with Australia’s New Multi-Modal ‘Opal Connect’ Platform

October 22, 2019 7:08 PM
Cooee Busways Integrates On-Demand Transport with Australia’s New Multi-Modal ‘Opal Connect’ Platform

Cooee Busways riders can now pay using Opal Connect, making Via one of the first technology providers to integrate with TfNSW’s new account-based ticketing system.

October 22, 2019 (SYDNEY) — Via, the world’s leading provider and developer of public mobility solutions, today announced the on-demand transport service Cooee Busways is officially one of the first demand-responsive transportation providers in Australia to fully integrate with Opal Connect, a new account-based ticketing system by Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW).

In partnership with leading Australian transportation provider Busways, Cooee provides first- and last- mile connections to three Sydney Metro public transportation hubs and the local shopping centre, all completely on-demand. Commuters in The Ponds, Schofields, and Kellyville Ridge use the Via-powered Cooee Busways smartphone app (iOS and Android) to request quick and efficient shared trips, enabling them to leave their personal vehicles at home.

Now Cooee Busways users will have even more flexibility with Opal Connect, a new ticketing solution that aims to provide an integrated and convenient experience for customers through a singular, trusted digital account.

Going forward, residents using Cooee Busways who sign up for Opal Connect will receive a $2 travel credit each time they transfer to Opal services like the bus, train, or Metro. They can then use that travel credit towards any future on-demand services that accept Opal, an incentive transport leaders say will turn occasional riders into daily users, further reducing congestion and emissions caused by driving single-occupancy vehicles.

“The biggest hurdle for people catching public transport is often that first and last mile,” said New South Wales Transport Minister Andrew Constance. “Our goal is to make this key part of the journey as simple and integrated as possible. This first stage of Opal Connect provides another incentive to leave the car at home and enjoy a ride on our new, state of the art Metro system.”

With Opal Connect, customers create an account via the transportnsw.info website, and then securely link their Opal card, along with their credit or debit card. Customers can then use their Opal Connect account to sign in to different transport operator’s apps to book and pay for their travel, including Via’s Cooee Busways app.

Residents using Cooee Busways have already proven their eagerness to leave their private vehicles at home, too. Riders took more than 40,000 trips with Cooee in less than five months, with 55 percent of riders saying they previously used a private vehicle to make the journey. From this, 4 percent stated they had sold their car since using Cooee Busways, with a further 43 percent considering selling their vehicle.

By integrating with Opal Connect, both Busways and Via hope to see an even larger number of commuters turn to Cooee Busways to make their journeys. Into the future, Opal Connect has the capability to become a one-stop-shop for all transport transactions and information, whether public transport, rideshare, taxis, parking,and even tolling.

Via has been tapped by cities and transportation players around the world to help re-engineer public transit from a regulated system of rigid routes and schedules to a fully dynamic, digital network. Via now has more than 90 launched and pending deployments in more than 20 countries. To learn more about Via, visit www.platform.ridewithvia.com.

About Via

Via is re-engineering public transit, from a regulated system of rigid routes and schedules to a fully dynamic, digital network. Via’s mobile app connects multiple passengers who are headed the same way, allowing riders to seamlessly share a premium vehicle. First launched in New York City in September 2013, the Via platform operates in the United States and in Europe through its joint venture with Mercedes-Benz Vans, ViaVan. Via’s technology is also deployed worldwide through dozens of partner projects with public transportation agencies, private transit operators, taxi fleets, private companies, and universities, seamlessly integrating with public transit infrastructure to power cutting-edge on-demand mobility. For more information, visit www.platform.ridewithvia.com.

About Busways

Busways Group is the largest family owned bus operator in New South Wales, Australia with 77 years’ experience providing exceptional standards of public transportation to hundreds of communities on the east coast. Busways is interested in how innovative transport solutions can enhance mobility and access for different customer groups.

With a team of over 1,500 people, committed to transporting over 21 million passengers each year, Busways prides itself on taking a proactive approach to public transport delivery to ensure the customer’s journey is as seamless as possible.

A 100x Investment (Part 1)

comma.ai has raised $8.1 million, Zoox has raised $990 million. Cruise and Waymo have raised even more. By my priors, this bothers me. How can I claim with a straight face we are going to win self driving cars, when, all else being equal, we appear much less likely to succeed. Although I lose sleep… Continue reading A 100x Investment (Part 1)

Self-Driving Requires Unprecedented Collaboration

By: Raj Kapoor, Chief Strategy Officer; and Luc Vincent, EVP Autonomous Driving In conversations about self-driving cars, people often talk about the rush to full autonomy like they’re commentators on a race — tracking new developments in technology, analyzing the strategic moves of the companies hurrying to be first. It’s easy to get caught up… Continue reading Self-Driving Requires Unprecedented Collaboration

‘Link On Demand’ Popularity Surges as Colorado Commuters Turn to On-Demand Public Transit

Published September 17, 2019 5:03 pm, Via NYC
‘Link On Demand’ Popularity Surges as Colorado Commuters Turn to On-Demand Public Transit
The on-demand service draws hundreds of customers every week, letting riders leave their cars at home during daily commutes.

September 17, 2019 (LONE TREE, COLORADO) — Via, the world’s leading provider and developer of on-demand public mobility solutions, today released milestone metrics for the City of Lone Tree’s Link On Demand transportation system, which launched in partnership with Via in February 2019. In the last six months, residents and area commuters have taken tens of thousands of rides, with vehicle utilization well beyond projected goals.

“Expanded transportation options and congestion relief are top priorities for Lone Tree residents and businesses. Link On Demand allowed the City to optimize its transportation infrastructure investments and improve access and mobility throughout Lone Tree,” said Lone Tree Mayor Jackie Millet. “Demand for the service continues to grow and our partnership with Via has resulted in improved customer service, ridership and data collection.”

The City of Lone Tree originally piloted Link On Demand in 2018 and transitioned to its current partnership with Via earlier this year. The on-demand transportation system serves as a free shuttle anywhere within the city limits, providing riders with a convenient and comfortable way to access anything in Lone Tree while reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions caused by single-occupancy vehicles.

Since partnering with Via, however, residents have proved their eagerness to leave their private vehicles at home and take public transportation. Riders took more than 28,000 trips on Link On Demand in less than six months, with ridership demand actually increasing after the Regional Transportation District’s (RTD) southeast rail extension in Lone Tree in May 2019. It now averages more than 1,000 rides per week in a city with fewer than 15,000 residents.

And while Link On Demand serves as a connection to anywhere within the city limits, the service is most popular with daily commuters getting to and from the office. In fact, the Charles Schwab and Kaiser Permanente’s corporate campuses account for 25 percent of all pick-ups since launching in February, and 24.8 percent of all drop-offs.

What’s more is that ridership to and from those corporate campuses actually increased in the 12 weeks after the RTD extended its E, F and R light-rail service into Lone Tree. The volume of pick-ups increased by 18.2% and drop-offs by 15.2%, with Link On Demand likely acting as a first- and last-mile connection for the increasing volume of commuters taking the train.

This all accounts for the on-demand network’s significant utilization rate, as the number of people requesting rides more than triples during the morning and evening commuting hours. Because of its high utilization rate, Link On Demand has now saved nearly 35,000 vehicle miles by sharing a ride compared to driving a private vehicle, equivalent to eliminating more than 11 tons of CO2 vehicle emissions.

“Via’s technology is redefining mobility across the globe, and we’re thrilled to see such a positive reaction from Lone Tree Link riders since launching the new on-demand service,” Daniel Ramot, co-founder and CEO of Via, said. “This project proves that the easier it is to take public transport, the more people will reliably choose it over their private vehicle.”

To date, the Link On Demand app has been downloaded more than 3,400 times. This equates to nearly a quarter of Lone Tree’s population having the app.

Commuters can use the service by downloading the Link On Demand smartphone app powered by Via, available on iOS and Android. Link On Demand operates Monday to Thursday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.; Friday from 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.; and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

About Via

Via is re-engineering public transit, from a regulated system of rigid routes and schedules to a fully dynamic, on-demand network. Via’s mobile app connects multiple passengers who are headed the same way, allowing riders to seamlessly share a premium vehicle. First launched in New York City in September 2013, the Via platform operates in the United States and in Europe through its joint venture with Mercedes-Benz Vans, ViaVan. Via’s technology is also deployed worldwide through dozens of partner projects with public transportation agencies, private transit operators, taxi fleets, private companies, and universities, seamlessly integrating with public transit infrastructure to power cutting-edge on-demand mobility. For more information, visit www.platform.ridewithvia.com.

Why I Ride with Waymo: Jean

Editor’s Note: In this next “Why I Ride with Waymo” post we catch up with Jean. Although she often rides with Waymo with her husband, Bob, Waymo offers them different benefits. For example, Bob likes how Waymo One allows them to be a one car household, while Jean prefers the predictably of Waymo One, especially… Continue reading Why I Ride with Waymo: Jean

Uber to Acquire Majority Ownership in Cornershop

SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: UBER) today announced an agreement to acquire majority ownership of Cornershop, a leading online grocery provider in Chile, Mexico, and more recently in Peru and Toronto. The investment is expected to close in early 2020, subject to regulatory approval. “Whether it’s getting a ride, ordering food from your favorite… Continue reading Uber to Acquire Majority Ownership in Cornershop

Reche & Sandalwood Fire Relief in Riverside County

In response to the Reche & Sandalwood Fires in Riverside County, Lyft is committed to doing our part to help those in need. Today, Lyft is activating its Wheels for All program to help those evacuating the fires with free transportation to local shelters. We’re offering two free rides up to $15 each between now… Continue reading Reche & Sandalwood Fire Relief in Riverside County

A new partnership between the RTC and Communauto for integrated mobility

Quebec, October 10, 2019 – In a press conference on October 10th, the Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC) and Communauto, a pioneer in America as the manager of the oldest and one of the largest carsharing services, announced a new partnership. Reserved spaces in certain Parc-O-Bus (POB), the location of stations and free-floating cars in real time, the reservation within the real-time RTC Nomade application and the creation of an “integrated package” will be gradually rolled out until spring 2020 for the benefit of customers. This is an important milestone in integrated mobility.

M. Rémy Normand, President of Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC) and M. Benoit Robert, President and founder of Communauto

Integrated mobility will allow everyone to choose their mode of transport adapted to the sector where they are, the conditions of the moment and the type of travel, all on the same digital platform. This partnership with Communauto is therefore significant for urban mobility, be it for the supply of services, infrastructure, pricing and customer information.

“Since it was founded in 1994, Communauto aims to offer alternative modes of transportation and the RTC has been working with this organization since 2004. Its vision is directly aligned with the RTC’s vision of offering a selection of mobility solutions. In fact, in its Strategic Plan 2018-2027, the RTC clearly identifies Communauto as a key player and we are very proud to have taken this step, which truly marks the first stage in the development of integrated mobility in Quebec City.” – Rémy Normand, President of the Réseau de transport de la Capitale.

“Today’s announcement marks a new milestone for multimodal mobility. In particular, the “integrated package” is a unique initiative, among the first in the world. We are delighted that this project is born thanks to the involvement of the RTC. For carsharing to have all its benefits, it must be paired with a well-established public transportation offer. Moreover, it becomes more relevant when modes of transport such as carsharing are added in, hence the importance of this initiative.” – Benoît Robert, president and founder of Communauto.

Details of the new partnership

From now on, parking spaces will be reserved for these shared vehicles in eight (8) local and regional POBs. This is one more step towards integrated mobility, an objective precisely defined in the RTC’s Strategic Plan 2018-2027.

Starting this fall, the first component of the partnership will focus on two identified parking spaces for Communauto carsharing vehicles in five local and one regional POB. These are the POB’s 41e Rue / 1re Avenue, Carrefour Les Saules, Jardin zoologique, Promenades Beauport, Pie-XII (corner Quatre-Bourgeois) and Le Gendre. Then, upon their opening, future POB’s Bastien and Sainte-Anne will also include these two spaces.

The main point of the agreement is the integration of Communauto’s data into the real-time RTC Nomade app, the mobile application of the RTC which notably allows the viewing of real-time schedules and the creation of itineraries. Starting this fall, the user will be able to locate Communauto stations as well as free-floating vehicles (FLEX cars) on the map of the mobile app. Booking will also be possible from the application’s interface in the winter of 2020.

To support this new partnership, the RTC will offer an “integrated package” that will include a monthly general RTC ticket for a given month and 10 FLEX Communauto trips of 30 minutes or less. It will be available in the spring of 2020, at a cost of $99.

Finally, Communauto improves the DUO Auto + Bus by adding the free late return. The DUO Auto + Bus already allows members to have the RTC L’abonne BUS and the subscription to an advantageous Communauto carsharing plan. In order to facilitate certain trips for members, the free late return will allow them to keep the car at night at no additional cost (11 p.m. to 7 a.m.).

About the RTC

The Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC) transports more than 155,000 different people each month in the Greater Quebec City area. It operates a fleet of nearly 600 buses, several of which are hybrid and air-conditioned, which run on 134 routes and serve more than 4,500 stops, including 20 temperate stations. It employs more than 1,600 people in its two operation centres and offers real-time schedules on all its routes thanks to the range of real-time RTC Nomade tools. Transportation tickets meeting all needs are available in nearly 170 outlets throughout the agglomeration of Quebec City.

About Communauto

Founded in Québec City in 1994, Communauto is the oldest carsharing service in North America and the one serving the largest number of communities in Canada. It is also the first company in Canada to offer its customers a large fleet of 100% electric cars and to create offers combined with public transportation services. Present on two continents in 14 cities (Edmonton, Toronto, Kitchener / Waterloo, Hamilton, Guelph, London, Kingston, Ottawa, Gatineau, the regions of Montreal and Québec, Sherbrooke, Halifax and Paris in France) with a fleet of 3000 vehicles, it is one of the few operators in the world able to offer its customers access to vehicles available with or without reservation. Studies conducted in recent years show that each carsharing car replaces, on average, ten private vehicles in Québec.

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Source

Brigitte Lemay
Public Relations Advisor
Phone: 418-627-2351, extension 5160
Email: brigitte.lemay@rtcquebec.ca

Toyota Giraffe Configuration Fix

If you are reading this, it’s probably because you got an alert that looks like the one below. This means that your EON isn’t reading CAN data from the stock camera. Technically, this is an acceptable configuration: openpilot detects if the stock camera is disconnected and, if so, generates all the CAN messages to mock… Continue reading Toyota Giraffe Configuration Fix

Our Hardware Future

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