Smart Bus which currently operates a Dial-A-Ride service in Farmington near Detroit, Michigan, has announced it is partnering with Moovit, to offer an on-demand, dynamically routed service service that automatically assigns multiple passengers heading in the same direction to a shared vehicle.
To launch the partnership, Smart Bus is operating this service on weekdays from 6am to 6pm, and offering free rides until further notice, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Smart is taking a big step by modernizing the Dial-a-Ride service in Farmington and Farmington Hills and is now able to offer quick, convenient and more a reliable way to ride around their community,” says Robert Cramer, deputy general manager of Smart. “We are always looking for ways to improve service, meet the increasing demand for transit as well as address the challenges the pandemic has imposed. Partnering with Moovit and offering the On-Demand feature to riders allows us to address all of these issues with one application, while also developing new and innovative ways to deliver better services with our existing resources.”
Once a user launches the Moovit app, inputs their destination and selects Transit On-Demand with Smart, Moovit will: display the total cost of the trip (once fare collection resumes); direct passengers to a nearby pickup location; provide riders with real-time shuttle tracking; and enable future ride booking.
Moovit Transit On-Demand is a complementary service to traditional modes of public transportation. Within the Moovit app, users can find information and guidance in getting around town, using any mode of transportation including public transit, micromobility such as bikes and scooters, ride-hailing including Uber and Lyft, or a combination of them. Moovit combines official information from transit agencies as well as crowdsourced information to calculate the best route for each journey.
Moovit also provides Service Alerts which can help passengers avoid disruptions on usual lines and plan their journey accordingly. Moovit also incorporates accessibility features, empowering people across the disability spectrum to use public transportation with more assurance.
“We are excited to partner with Smart Bus and power this new mobility offering for Farmington and Farmington Hills residents for greater access to transit and shorter wait times,” says Yovav Meydad, Moovit’s chief growth and marketing officer. “Complementary to traditional modes of transportation, Moovit On-Demand can help residents get around efficiently without the need of a private vehicle.”
Moovit On-Demand leverages the power of big data analytics to help transit agencies, cities, and private companies plan and dispatch the most accurate and efficient on-demand service. The solution combines the advantages of public transit with the benefits of on-demand to introduce a mobility service that increases ridership, reduces congestion, and solves first/last-mile challenges.
