Innisfil and Uber announce expansion of Canada's first ridesharing-transit partnership
INNISFIL, ON, March 15, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Today the Town of Innisfil and Uber announced the expansion of Canada's first ridesharing and transit partnership with the addition of two new flat fare destinations and a renewed financial commitment.
Launched in May 2017, Innisfil Transit gives residents the option to leave their cars at home, and they're taking advantage of it. Innisfil Transit has been a great success. In the first 8 months, over 3,400 residents completed more than 26,700 Innisfil Transit trips to connect with the Barrie GO station, get to work, go out with friends, or visit their doctor. In addition, over 1,300 drivers have made money by helping people get around their community. This means that more people are using the service than it was anticipated would use a bus—and at a lower cost to the town.
Uber and Innisfil co-designed Innisfil Transit to offer residents flat fare rides (for $3-5) to popular destinations, such as the recreation complex, the Barrie GO Station or the Innisfil Heights Employment Area. A standard $5 discount applies to any other door-to-door Innisfil Transit rides beginning or ending anywhere else in Innisfil.
Today, we are releasing key results of Phase I of the partnership. Highlights include:
- Over 3,400 users have completed more than 26,700 Innisfil Transit trips to connect with the commuter rail station, get to work, go out with friends, or visit their doctor.
- Over 1,300 drivers have made money by helping to move their community.
- The Town estimates it is saving more than $8 million per year based on what an equivalent door-to-door bus system across all of Innisfil could cost.
You can read more on the results of Phase I of Canada's first ridesharing and transit partnership here and access the Town of Innisfil's staff report here.
"Innisfil Transit has had a major impact on our community, providing residents with a safe, convenient and inexpensive door-to-door transit solution that a bus system could never provide," said Innisfil Mayor Gord Wauchope. "Whether it's transporting a resident to a medical appointment, getting a family to that evening hockey practice or providing a senior citizen with the means to pick up groceries—Innisfil Transit has undoubtedly changed the lives of our residents for the better."
"Innisfil Transit is seen around the world as an example of how out-of-the-box thinking, mixed with an appetite for innovation, can have a positive impact on people's lives." said Rob Khazzam, Uber Canada General Manager. "We are thrilled with the results to date and even more heartened by the stories we've heard from residents on how the service has changed the Town for the better."
Today, the Town of Innisfil and Uber officially added the following $3 flat fare destinations:
- Innisfil ideaLAB and Library (Alcona), located at 967 Innisfil Beach Road, Innisfil.
- South Innisfil Community Centre (Lefroy), located at 1354 Killarney Beach Road, Innisfil.
Innisfil Transit is a unique service that was tailor-made for the municipality. Uber is eager to work with other municipalities to build new solutions to address their community's specific transportation challenges.
For more information about the ridesharing partnership in Innisfil, ON., please visit uber.com/cities/innisfil/partnership or http://www.Innisfil.ca/transit. To learn more about driving with Uber in Innisfil, please visit uber.com/cities/innisfil/drive.
About the Town of Innisfil
Situated just south of Barrie and about 45 minutes north of Toronto, the Town of Innisfil is a growing community with a population of approximately 36,500 people. Innisfil prides itself on having a small-town feel while offering modern amenities such as cutting-edge libraries, sports facilities and access to the beautiful Lake Simcoe. Town staff and its Council are dedicated to helping the community grow in a sustainable way to become a place that is connected physically, socially, culturally and digitally.
About Uber Canada
Co-founded by Canadian entrepreneur Garrett Camp in 2009, Uber is evolving the way the world moves. Present in over 40 communities in Canada, Uber has revolutionized transportation and offers more than 50,000 Canadian driver-partners a new way to earn income in their spare time by offering an affordable transportation alternative to hundreds of thousands of riders across the country.
For more information, visit uber.com.
SOURCE Uber Canada Inc.
For further information: Media Inquiries: Johnny Keogh, Communications Coordinator, Town of Innisfil, [email protected]; Erin Scuccimiarri, Manager of Marketing and Community Engagement, Town of Innisfil and Innisfil ideaLAB & Library, [email protected]; Susie Heath, Senior Communications Associate, Uber Canada, [email protected]
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