Category: Mobility Companies

Published August 6, 2019 8:00 am, Via NYC
Via Expands Citywide in Chicago
Shared ride provider offers $2.50 flat fare rides to CTA/Metra stations in the new zone

August 6, 2019 (CHICAGO)– Via, the leading provider and developer of on-demand public mobility solutions, has expanded its Chicago service citywide. Nearly doubling the size of the current operating zone, the expansion includes several parts of the city least served by existing public transportation. Via will supplement the existing transit by providing first-and-last-mile connection for riders to-and-from all CTA and Metra stations in the expansion zone for a flat $2.50 rate.

“At Via, our goal is to eliminate the need for private car ownership by providing affordable, convenient, and eco-friendly on-demand shared transportation that can seamlessly integrate into existing public transit,” said Alex Lavoie, US General Manager of Via. “We’re delighted to be expanding in Chicago to provide greater access across the entire city for residents, workers, and visitors in these communities.”

Chicago has seen a growing demand for on-demand mobility solutions in parts of the city with more limited access to public transit, and since December, public TNC data shows that requests for shared rides have increased in the southernmost parts of the city, despite an overall citywide decline.

Using the Via app, passengers select their pick up and drop off location and confirm their ride. Via’s smart algorithm enables multiple riders to seamlessly share a single vehicle. The powerful technology directs passengers to a nearby corner – a virtual bus stop – for pick up and drop off, allowing for quick and efficient shared trips without lengthy detours that take riders out of their way. This enables Via’s system to transport a high volume of passengers while using a fraction of the number of vehicles utilized by taxis or on-demand car services. Rides applicable for the $2.50 flat rate must be booked as shared rides to-or-from one of 65 CTA or Metra stations within the new zone, and will be capped at a distance of two miles.

In the United States, Via operates services in New York, Chicago, and Washington DC, and now has more than 80 launched and pending deployments nearly 20 countries, providing more than sixty million rides to date. Via has partnered with some of the world’s largest public transit agencies to solve pressing transportation needs including the Los Angeles Metro, Transport for London (TfL), Sydney’s Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW), and Berlin’s Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG).

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 currently 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 partner projects with public transportation agencies, private transit operators, taxi fleets, private companies, and universities, seamlessly integrating with public transit infrastructure to provide the most cutting edge on-demand mobility innovation.

Via’s citywide zone in Chicago in addition to Evanston, Harwood Heights, Norwood, O’Hare and Midway Airports (August 2019)

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Published July 11, 2019 7:20 pm, Via NYC
Via and HP Transportes Expand CityBus 2.0 to 13 New Neighborhoods of Goiânia, Brazil
In a response to growing demand, CityBus 2.0 will soon span more than 25 square miles and service approximately 340,000 residents.

July 11, 2019 (Goiânia, Brazil) — Via, the world’s leading developer of on-demand shared mobility solutions, today announced an expansion of its CityBus 2.0 on-demand transportation deployment in partnership with HP Transportes Coletivos to cover 13 new neighborhoods in Goiânia, Brazil. Starting July 20, the expanded service zone will encompass more than 25 square miles and approximately 340,000 residents.

The move comes after growing demand from residents to increase the service zone over the last five months. Via and HP Transportes partnered to launch CityBus 2.0 in February, first covering 11 key neighborhoods. Starting July 20, the on-demand network will extend to serve passengers in districts like Parque Amazônia, Pedro Ludovico and Jardim América.

“We are delighted by the success of CityBus 2.0 and are thrilled to see the service expand,” said Daniel Ramot, co-founder and CEO of Via. “In just a few short months, CityBus 2.0 has quickly become one of Via’s fastest growing on-demand transport deployments around the globe. As demand grows, we continue to learn more about riders and their needs. We look forward to bringing CityBus 2.0 to vast new areas of Goiânia that need on-demand public transport the most.”

In just five months, more than 38,000 users registered for accounts to ride CityBus 2.0, with research by HP Transportes revealing almost all of which migrated from using single-occupancy vehicles as their primary mode of transportation. In addition, more than 55 percent of the time, a CityBus 2.0 vehicle is transporting more than one passenger, helping to reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions in Goiânia.

“In order to carry out the expansion, we implemented detailed studies and planning,” said Transport Director of HP Transportes, Hugo Santana. “The new areas have large population concentrations, with many buildings, condominiums and colleges. As the zone expands to service more universities, parks and malls, we believe the volume of aggregate travel will increase even more.”

CityBus 2.0 operates from Monday to Saturday, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., and now runs through more than 20 neighborhoods, including the Central, South, University, West Sectors, Airport sector, Marista, Bueno, Bela Vista, Serrinha, Pedro Ludovico , New Switzerland, Jardim Goiás, Alto da Glória, Vila Redenção, Jardim América, Parque Amazônia, Jardim Atlântico and Vila Rosa.

Users can download the CityBus 2.0 app for iOS and Android devices.

Via now has more than 80 launched and pending deployments nearly 20 countries, providing more than sixty million rides to date. Via has partnered with some of the world’s largest public transit agencies to solve pressing transportation needs including the Los Angeles Metro, Transport for London (TfL), Sydney’s Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW), and Berlin’s Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG). To learn more, 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.

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