Via offers on-demand shared transit for Massachusetts seniors

Via has launched an on-demand shared transit system for people over the age of 60 in the City of Newton, Massachusetts. Via says the service replaces a taxi voucher system which required passengers to make reservations at least 72 hours in advance. The company will also offer trips to a range of medical facilities outside the city’s boundaries. Using the Via app, riders can hail a vehicle from their smartphone. The company’s algorithms allow riders to share the vehicle and directs users to a nearby pick-
June 27, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

Via has launched an on-demand shared transit system for people over the age of 60 in the City of Newton, Massachusetts.

Via says the service replaces a taxi voucher system which required passengers to make reservations at least 72 hours in advance. The company will also offer trips to a range of medical facilities outside the city’s boundaries.

Using the Via app, riders can hail a vehicle from their smartphone. The company’s algorithms allow riders to share the vehicle and directs users to a nearby pick-up and drop-off location.

Passengers can book rides Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm - and weekends from 9am to noon - with costs ranging from $0.50 to $5.00. In partnership with 6454 Avis, the fleet will comprise a range of 1685 Mercedes Metris vans which come with six seats as well as wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

Via is not the only company offering trips to medical appointments in the US. Earlier this month, 8336 Uber entered into an %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external agreement false https://www.itsinternational.com/categories/utc/news/pack-health-and-uber-offer-free-transport-for-patients-in-alabama/ false false%>with Pack Health to offer a transportation service for patients with chronic conditions in Alabama.

Urban Traffic Control

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • BART launches multi-modal trip planner app in San Francisco
    April 2, 2019
    Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) has launched a trip planner app in San Francisco to provide commuters with access to various transportation modes and information on service disruptions. The BART Trip Planner was developed in collaboration with HaCon – whose software processes transit data from more than 30 operators including buses, trains, ferries and cable cars. BART says the app takes walking, cycling and car routes and the state of traffic into account to give users a realistic comparison of their c
    Read More
  • Bristol advances towards 2050 emissions target
    August 6, 2018
    Bristol City Council will install 120 electric vehicle (EV) charge points and convert part of its fleet to electric in a bid to become carbon neutral by 2050. The UK council also intends to transition at least 10% of its vehicles to electric by 2021. The scheme will take place across the West of England and is being funded by £2m grant provided by the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) through the Go Ultra Low West project. Go Ultra Low West’s stated aim is to provide the infrastructure and enviro
    Read More
  • Go-Ahead uses Dovu’s blockchain tech to augment customer data
    February 7, 2019
    UK train and bus company Go-Ahead is to use Dovu’s blockchain-driven reward platform to gain more data on its passengers. The scheme will be rolled out initially on Go-Ahead’s Thameslink and Southern Rail train services and offers passengers using the Dovu platform the chance to earn cryptocurrency when they share their travel information. This will be used to help them make changes to their travel behaviour, the companies say. Among other things, Dovu aims to encourage the use and sharing of tran
    Read More
  • Shohoz receives $15m fund to expand ride-sharing in Bangladesh
    September 28, 2018
    Ride-sharing company Shohoz will use a $15m investment from venture capital firm Golden Gates Ventures to expand its on-demand service in Bangladesh. A report by the Dhaka Tribune says the company is now launching its ‘super-app’ strategy which will add food deliveries to its current offering. Maliha M Quadir, Shohoz founder and managing director, says: “To help Shohoz finance this growth, we have brought on board a great line-up of experienced international and regional investors, who I think will help
    Read More

Highlighted Content