Uber enters transport sector with new app integrating taxis with transit

Uber and TransLoc say the tie-up will increase use of public transport

Uber and TransLoc say the tie-up will increase use of public transport

Uber has announced a partnership with a U.S public transportation app TransLoc Rider to bring together "the best of private transportation and public transit for truly integrated mobility".

Users will be able to incorporate multiple modes, including public transit, into their commutes, which Uber claims will help transport operators overcome "the first-mile/last-mile challenge," encouraging more people to use public transport because they have a way of getting to or from their final destination after getting off the bus or train. 

TransLoc and Uber hope to create a "seamless connection between Uber and public transit" with personalised journeys incorporating "the optimal combination of walking, transport and Uber". The move was welcomed by the American Public Transportation Association as "benefiting the travelling public". The service will debut in Memphis, Tennessee, and Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina.