How GoGoGrandparent Can Help Municipalities Adopt On-Demand Transit
The Verge recently reported on the rising trend of municipalities adopting on-demand ridehailing to complement their existing public transit networks:
Both Uber and Lyft tell The Verge that the past year has seen a surge in public officials interested in giving the companies taxpayer dollars for public transit contracts. For the companies, it’s an appealing new way to establish themselves as vital infrastructure, especially in low-density communities like Altamonte where running traditional mass transit can be expensive. Given the pace at which these partnerships are coming together, it’s possible to imagine ride-hail companies taking on the role of all-encompassing, smartphone-driven public transit providers, one town at a time.
While flexible and cost effective, offering Uber or Lyft service could require each rider to have a smartphone — which could limit access:
“Quality public transportation is just that — public — and it’s the fundamental reason transit agencies are required to make an effort to reach out to people with disabilities, people without bank accounts, and people without smartphones,” says Jacob Anbinder, a spokesperson for the TransitCenter, a foundation dedicated to improving urban mobility. “As Uber finds itself entering into contracts that require it to act as a provider of public transportation, the company will have to adapt to serve this same broad market of riders.”
GoGoGrandparent can help remove these barriers:
- No smartphone phone required. Riders can order a ride with a toll-free phone call from any phone. We recommend riders have a cell phone in case they need to be reached during the ride, but it’s not required.
- Option for no credit card required. We can offer centralized billing to transit agencies who subsidize rides (we’ll bill the agency, so each individual rider doesn’t necessarily need a credit card).
- We specialize in accessibility for older adults. Our business is built on accessibility and we specialize in coaching riders & drivers on how to make canes, walkers, and fold-up wheelchairs work with ridehailing.
If you’re a municipality or transit agency considering adoption of on-demand ridehailing, contact us for more information about how we can help you maximize accessibility of on-demand rides.
And for more on this topic, check out:
- TransitCenter report: Private Mobility, Public Interest
- Shared Use Mobility Center report: Shared Mobility & the Transformation of Public Transit
- Brookings: How Uber & Lyft can improve transit agency budgets
GoGoGrandparent helps older adults maintain their independence by accessing on-demand services like Uber & Lyft with a simple phone call (no smartphone required). Rides are available 24/7 in 200+ U.S. cities and usually cost 35% less than a taxi. There’s no charge to register, so get ready for your first ride today on our website or by calling toll-free 1 (855) 464–6872.
