Mobility Companies – Page 69 – I wish I had more to offer

Careem NOW data shows that healthy intentions falter as the week…

Careem NOW data shows that healthier options are second only to Arabic food when it comes to ordering food delivery, but healthy intentions falter as the week progresses.

That people order more healthy food on the weekdays, compared to weekends, should come as no surprise, but Careem NOW data can reveal that our intentions to eat healthier food steadily diminishes throughout the week.

The highest number of healthy cuisine orders are placed on Sunday, representing nearly one-in-five of the total orders with the Careem NOW app in Dubai. That number gradually decreases as the week goes on and by Friday just one-in-ten orders are from the healthier options available.

But despite willpower to eat healthier sliding as the week goes on, healthier options are still the second-most ordered option overall. Arabic is the most-ordered cuisine, with one-in-four dishes requested for delivery coming from Arabic restaurants, but it seems Dubai is trying to eat healthier, even if willpower fades…

Late Night Cleanups for Passenger Messes

A sick passenger or spilled drink shouldn’t keep you off the road during busy weekend nights. We’ve partnered with on-demand car care provider Spiffy to find better ways to deal with messy passengers. Starting now, drivers in LA can get reimbursed interior car cleaning on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights from 10 PM to 6… Continue reading Late Night Cleanups for Passenger Messes

Tracking Your Personal Miles

Personal miles are the miles you drive when you’re offline — when you’re not waiting for requests or giving rides — such as when you’re running personal errands. Your Express Drive rental has built-in mileage tracking. It’s connected to your Lyft app so you can always see how many personal miles you’ve driven and how… Continue reading Tracking Your Personal Miles

Becky Bucich joins Waymo as Chief Human Resources Officer

By: John Krafcik, CEO As we continue to grow our team here at Waymo, we’re excited to share that Becky Bucich joins us as our Chief Human Resources Officer. Becky will lead our People efforts as we continue to grow our team, designing and enriching our employee experience for Waymonauts, and ensuring Waymo is a… Continue reading Becky Bucich joins Waymo as Chief Human Resources Officer

Giving back to our communities

Being active members of the communities in which we live and work, including Arizona, California, Michigan, Texas, and Washington state, is central to our values at Waymo. While Waymo employees are encouraged to partake in community service throughout the year, WaymoServe is a month focused on volunteerism, designed to support what is meaningful to them.… Continue reading Giving back to our communities

Via Unveils its First Autonomous Vehicle Service as Pilot to Transform Public Transportation

Published July 11, 2019 3:45 pm, Via NYC
Via Unveils its First Autonomous Vehicle Service as Pilot to Transform Public Transportation
The partnership with Busways and EasyMile marks Via’s first autonomous vehicle deployment in the world, serving a community in New South Wales, Australia.

July 11, 2019 (New South Wales, Australia) — Via, the world’s leading developer of on-demand shared mobility solutions, announced today its first public autonomous vehicle (AV) service in the world. The AV program, dubbed BusBot, is now fully operational, serving a community in New South Wales, Australia.

In partnership with local bus operator Busways, Transport for NSW, and AV technology provider EasyMile, BusBot will serve the Marian Grove Retirement Village in Toormina, a suburb of Coffs Harbour. The deployment will serve an entire community of seniors in need of a public transit solution, offering some unique benefits beyond a driverless vehicle.

Using the BusBot app (iOS and Android), users will be able to hail the autonomous BusBot directly from their smartphone. Via’s advanced algorithms will enable multiple riders to seamlessly share the driverless vehicle. The powerful technology will direct passengers to a nearby virtual bus stop for pick up and drop off, and dynamically task the driverless vehicle to stops in real-time, allowing for quick and efficient shared trips without lengthy detours, or inconvenient fixed routes and schedules.

The service marks a milestone for Via’s efforts in autonomous mobility. AV technology is maturing, and Via is building and deploying solutions that will enable AVs to function in real-world situations as part of optimized, shared transportation systems, such as the BusBot deployment.

“If autonomous vehicles are to reach their full potential for providing low-cost, efficient rides, they need to be shared by multiple passengers,” said Daniel Ramot, co-founder and CEO of Via. “Via’s sophisticated systems are able to power, in real-time, the movement of millions of connected autonomous shuttles and their passengers, and we’re delighted to be working with BusBot to launch this groundbreaking service.”

Via has provided more than 50 million dynamically-routed rides around the globe, and has applied this experience in shared mobility to AVs. Along with acting as a city-wide network of on-demand, shared vehicles, Via also solves common public transportation challenges, such as filling first-and last-mile transit gaps and acting as a bridge to major trunk services like high-frequency bus or rail lines.

The deployment in Marian Grove began on April 8, 2019 and marks the second phase of BusBot’s pilot program, with plans to operate in the community for 22 weeks, giving Via and its partners time to test increasingly advanced AV elements. Service for riders will be free during the pilot program.

Via has been tapped by cities and transit authorities in the United States and around the world to help re-engineer public transit from a regulated system of rigid routes and schedules to a fully dynamic, on-demand network. Via now has more than 70 launched and pending deployments in more than 15 countries. Via most recently demonstrated its autonomous vehicle solutions at CES in 2019. 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, 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.

Now, Next, and Future: Julie Derence

A profile series that introduces our team and showcases what we’re working on. I’m Julie Derence and I am a senior software engineer at Uber ATG working to develop self-driving technology for Uber’s ride-sharing service. In my role at Uber ATG, I’m working as part of the team that is laying the foundation for the… Continue reading Now, Next, and Future: Julie Derence

Via launches Apple Pay in the U.S.

Published June 27, 2019 3:57 pm, Via NYC
Via launches Apple Pay in the U.S.
Riding with Via is now easier than ever with the introduction of Apple Pay!

With the latest version of the Via app, riders can directly and securely link payment through their Apple Pay account. Our integration with Apple Pay removes the need for Via riders to manually input credit and debit information, and by using FaceID/TouchID/passcode, Apple Pay is a secure and instant way to hit the road.

How it works:
– New users can set Apple Pay as their default payment method directly during sign up!
– Existing users can add Apple Pay through the “Billing” section of the app menu. Just click on “add a payment method” to connect your Apple Pay account.

Careem Max seven-seater service launches in Gaza

Careem Max has launched in Gaza. This new service means that Careem customers can order seven-seat vehicles – ideal for groups of passengers, larger familiar and company employees.

We have launched Careem Max based on the results of a study conducted in Gaza Strip as part of our commitment to provide transport services that cover diverse needs.

The Careem market study indicated that there is an increase in customers’ demand for larger type vehicles to accommodate more passengers especially during summer season, as the seven-seat vehicle models are not easily available within the transportation sector in the Gaza Strip.

This reality is compounded with the fact that customers are having difficulty finding a means to communicate with drivers of such vehicles to book rides.

Careem believes that the inclusion of these vehicles into its fleet in Gaza Strip will contribute to the revival of the transport sector, in addition to improving the income of owners of the vehicles.

You asked, we..

Via Announces On-Demand Microtransit in Manor and Austin with Cap Metro

Published June 25, 2019 2:24 pm, Via NYC
Via Announces On-Demand Microtransit in Manor and Austin with Cap Metro
Pickup will debut in Manor, TX and will expand to four Austin neighborhoods later this year.

June 25, 2019 (Austin, TX) — Via, the world’s leading provider and developer of on-demand public mobility solutions, today announced a new microtransit deployment in partnership with Cap Metro, a leading Austin public transit provider. Called Pickup, the new on-demand shared transit network brings door-to-door transportation to the Manor area, and four other Austin neighborhoods later this year.

The new service replaces the MetroBus Route 470 servicing Cap Metro’s Manor Park & Ride, Walmart, City Hall and several additional neighborhoods both in and out of the city limits. Pickup will come to Austin later this year and will serve the four areas included in the MetroLink pilot program.

Using the Pickup app, riders will be able to hail a shuttle directly from their smartphone. Via’s advanced algorithms will enable multiple riders to seamlessly share the vehicle. The powerful technology will direct passengers to a nearby virtual bus stop, allowing for quick and efficient shared trips without lengthy detours, or inconvenient fixed routes and schedules.

Pickup is available weekdays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Commuters can use the service by downloading the Pickup smartphone app powered by Via, available on iOS and Android. Those in the Manor service zone without access to the smartphone app can call 512-527-3222 to book a ride. A single ride costs $1.25, the same charge as a Single Ride pass used to take MetroBus and MetroRapid services. A Capital Metro Day Pass, 7-Day Pass or 31-Day Pass will cover a Pickup ride as well.

The new on-demand service comes after Via and Cap Metro piloted the Pickup service in 2017 and 2018 in Northeast Austin, including the Mueller and Windsor Park neighborhoods, testing the on-demand service’s functionality in the Austin metro area.

Via is a leading provider and developer of on-demand public mobility solutions, working with cities and transportation agencies around the world to connect more people to transit. Cooee Busways is among numerous other deployments powered by Via around the globe that make it easier for commuters who do not own a car, prefer not to drive and park, or live within a long distance of a transit hub.

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, on-demand network. Via now has more than 70 launched and pending deployments in more than 15 countries. To learn more about Via, visit www.platform.ridewithvia.com.