Uber app now includes US public transit agencies

The ride-hailing app's users are able to buy journey tickets in Ohio and Kentucky
By Adam Hill July 17, 2020 Read time: 2 mins
Uber: 'People who wouldn’t regularly consider transit will realise how easy and affordable it can be'

Uber customers can now use the ride-hailing firm's app to buy public transport tickets, plan journeys and ride with 13 transit agencies in Ohio and Kentucky.

Uber Transit Ticketing uses EZfare and is a collaboration with payment specialist Masabi and NeoRide, a collective of 15 transit systems whose raison d'etre is the development and promotion of US regional public transportation services.
 
After a rider enters a destination in the Uber app they see a 'Transit' option, which will give journey planning information, including real-time transit data and directions.

“With a public transit option now appearing in the Uber app, I hope people who wouldn’t regularly consider transit will realise how easy and affordable it can be,” said Ben Capelle, president of NeoRide and CEO of Laketran.     
 
“The partnership with Uber makes transit a more visible and accessible option by highlighting regional transit systems that Uber users may not know exist."

Tickets use visual and barcode validation, so riders can go contactless on public transport - and they will cost the same as existing options.
 
The system uses Masabi’s Justride software development kit. Company CEO Brian Zanghi said it "shows how this model can be deployed successfully on a regional multi-agency basis". 
 
The full list of agencies whose fares are - or will soon be - available on the Uber app are:

•    Cincinnati Bell Connector (Cincinnati Streetcar)
•    Laketran (Lake County)
•    Lancaster-Fairfield Transit
•    MCPT (Medina County)
•    METRO RTA (Summit County) 
•    PARTA (Portage County)
•    Sandusky Transit (Erie County)
•    SARTA (Stark County)
•    TARTA (Lucas County)
•    WRTA (Mahoning County)
•    BCRTA (Butler County) 
•    SORTA (Hamilton County)
•    TANK (Northern Kentucky)
 
Separately, in Canada, Justride is also being employed in Masabi's My Fare, a contactless mobile ticketing app for Calgary Transit that lets passengers buy tickets and passes using their smartphones.

As part of the project, over 1,000 new validation devices have been installed across the bus network covering 155 routes. 

Passengers scan their dynamic and encrypted mobile passes on the devices when boarding the bus, with an audible beep and a coloured screen identifying the ticket as valid for use.

Mass Transit & MaaS

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Init wins e-fare system in Oregon
    April 2, 2014
    In a project valued at more than US$14 million, integrated ITS and ticketing systems supplier Init is to implement a new e-fare/smart card payment system for the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) in the US. TriMet provides bus, light rail, and commuter rail service in the Portland metro area; the new system will enable passengers to utilise contactless bank cards and mobile phones, offering more convenience and pricing equity. The contract comprises the delivery of a
    Read More
  • Gate latching ensures customers pay metro fares
    July 3, 2013
    Fare accountability, improved passenger data and efficiency are all expected to improve since gate latching began in the TAP universal payment system designed and integrated by Cubic Transportation Systems for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). The aim is to help ensure customers use their TA car to pay fares. Gate latching ushers in a new era of partnership between LA Metro with Metrolink and its municipal operators to create a seamless regional transit network bound by
    Read More
  • Public transport operators implement passenger safety systems
    December 4, 2012
    Operators of public transport systems are arming themselves with sophisticated systems of technology to ward off terrorism threats to passenger safety. David Crawford reports. City transportation authorities worldwide are looking more keenly than ever for mass transit solutions to overcome traffic congestion and manage commuter flows. As they do so, concerns over passenger security are driving development of new technologies for terrorist incident detection, response and emergency passenger evacuation. The
    Read More
  • Sorting sensible from shiny in tolling technology
    December 11, 2014
    Instead of always striving for the latest shiny toys Kevin Hoeflich of HNTB advises a 10-steps method for selecting the most appropriate technology. Amid the hype and razzmatazz surrounding the launch of Apple’s iPhone 6, the company also announced its new mobile payment system, Apple Pay. Built into the new iPhone 6, Apple Pay works at 220,000 merchants across America and is supported by major US banks and the big three credit card companies.
    Read More

Highlighted Content