Spare Labs and Uber this week announced a partnership that integrates the Vancouver startup’s cloud-based on-demand transit platform with Uber’s driver network.
This collaboration empowers transit agencies to enhance microtransit and paratransit services using Uber’s network, according to Lynda Chau of Spare.
By integrating Uber into their services through Spare, transit agencies can reduce operational costs. This move eliminates the need for investments in fleets to increase capacity.
“This is a significant milestone in our mission to make transportation more accessible,” Spare CEO Kristoffer Vik Hansen stated. “Our partnership with Uber has made it possible for more people to access public transportation services.”
Deployments have been successfully launched in Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) and Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART).
“We’re thrilled to see the positive impact our combined efforts have had at PSTA and DART,” Vik Hansen added.
Brad Miller, CEO of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, believes Uber and Spare are “changing people’s lives by providing them with greater mobility and independence.”
“This collaboration has introduced a new dynamism to our transit services,” Miller stated. “Leveraging Uber’s network and Spare’s groundbreaking platform has enabled us to provide more convenient and flexible transportation options for our riders.”
Jen Shepherd, General Manager of Uber Transit, agrees, saying the partnership is “driving change and helping to shape a more accessible future for all riders.”
“Our collaboration with Spare has already achieved substantial results,” she noted. “PSTA has further strengthened its command of para-transit operations, while DART has significantly expanded its micro-transit capacity.””
Nadine Lee, CEO of DART, said the partnership with Uber and Spare has “proven to be a game-changer for the agency’s continued efforts to increase microtransit service across North Texas.”
“We’ve witnessed firsthand the increased capacity and effectiveness of our GoLink service,” Lee stated. “The synergy between these two great companies offers a promising glimpse into future opportunities for public transportation agencies.”
The Spare-Uber partnership effectively optimizes resource utilization while ensuring transit agencies can meet the rising demand for services. It’s the latest in a long string of partnerships Spare has forged with transit-related organizations.
Last year, The BC startup struck a similar partnership with Lyft. Also in 2022, Spare Labs established a partnership with UZURV, which serves more than twenty transit agencies, healthcare providers, and non-profit organizations across 11 states.
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