Ford and Bridj Bring On-Demand Bus Service To Kansas City

Ford collaborated with Bridj to offer a new type of transportation service to Kansas City.

Ford is preparing itself to employ its Transit cargo van to achieve an objective other than painting cans and hauling pallets. It is collaborating with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority of Missouri and urban tech transportation company ‘Bridj’ to introduce “microtransit”.

Using Bridj mobile application, Ford Transit shuttles can be requested by residents of Kansas City. Those shuttles are found at different “pop-up” shuttle stations near the town, most of which will be established near the rest of transit areas, such as public transport stations and bike sharing.

Ride KC: Bridj would be offered for a year on a trial basis to measure its effectiveness. Whereas the Boston-based transporter is already providing transportation service in other American cities including Washington D.C and Boston, this is the first time its system is implemented with both the transit agency of city and exclusive automobile manufacturer.

Ford will supply 10 Transit cargo vans, which are specially equipped with seats for 14 passengers and extended running boards to help egress and ingress. The automaker is financing these automobiles through its municipal lease program.

Data provided by Brooklyn Institute helped Bridj to estimate that just 18% of Kanas City area jobs could be accessed within 90-minutes by traditional public transportation. Thus, with the help of Ride KC: Bridj, it is hoping to find a solution to that problem by offering another way to get around the town. The new service would be integrated into the city’s transit system.

Bridj would be launched in early March. Instead of operating on fixed routes, the bus stops of the transportation service will be determined by where passengers are interested in going.

Passengers can download Bridj mobile application on their handsets to enter their destination, and the platform of the transporter will design routes for them based on demand.

Chief executive and founder of Bridj said the company was founded to create future generation transportation technology but knew he was never capable of doing that alone.

Bridj resembles Uber as rides can be requested by tapping in mobile app of Bridj for Android and iOS. They could reach the shuttle at the nearest pick-up area with the already-established bus stops frequently used.

Both companies said the initiative is taken to serve the localities in better manners that are not offered coverage from the established public transportation system. The service would be offered in a number of localities including Hospital Hill and Crown Center.