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Uber launches transit ticketing for passengers in Denver

Posted: 2 May 2019 | | No comments yet

Uber users in Denver can buy Regional Transportation District bus and train tickets in the Uber app, providing a seamless experience for passengers.

Uber launches transit ticketing for passengers in Denver

Denever's RTD has recently launched a journey planning feature on its Transit app.

The Regional Transportation District (RTD), Uber and Masabi have launched Uber transit ticketing, enabling Denver passengers to be the first in the world to buy tickets and ride transit all from the Uber app.

Following a staggered rollout over the next few weeks, all Uber riders in the Denver metro region will be able to buy RTD tickets through Uber and then use their phone to ride rail and bus services.

Route List in Uber app in Denver

Uber’s Route List

Purchasing transit tickets via Uber will cost the same amount as through existing options and has been enabled using Masabi’s Justride software development kit, a mobile ticketing SDK for public transport, that helps create a seamless passenger experience across public transport and new mobility.

After passengers enter a destination on the Uber app, they will see ‘Transit’ as an option in the product selector. Riders selecting this option will be able to purchase tickets on all available transit options while also having access to real-time schedules and walking directions to and from transit stations. Uber’s menu bar will let users purchase and redeem a range of tickets available on RTD services, including three-hour, day and monthly passes. Users activate tickets when boarding transit services and once purchased tickets are available even when riders are offline.

My Tickets screen on Uber app in Denver

The ‘My Tickets’ screen in Uber

“This exciting next phase of RTD’s collaboration with Uber is yet another way our transit agency is leading the dialogue about mobility strategy, not just for the Denver metro region but for cities across the globe,” said RTD CEO and General Manager Dave Genova. “This project broadens our reach and stays at pace with the public’s needs, allowing people to plan and pay for trips from start to finish.”

David Reich, Uber’s Head of Transit, said: “Now, taking an Uber can mean taking public transit. We are excited to expand our collaboration with RTD and Masabi to make Denver the first city in the world where riders can purchase transit tickets and ride public transit seamlessly through the Uber app. With this step, we are moving closer to making Uber a one-stop shop for all kinds of transportation, from buses to bikes.”

Brian Zanghi, Chief Executive Officer at Masabi, said: “We know convenience is the number one reason people choose a transit option, and we truly believe that a multimodal public and shared private approach will be a key part of encouraging more people to take fewer private car journeys, reducing congestion for all. By making public transit tickets available through Masabi’s Justride SDK in the Uber app, we are making this a reality for the first time, helping more people seamlessly and conveniently discover and access public transit services. The future of mobility in our cities relies on innovative agencies like Denver taking the right approach and ensuring that public transit is at the core of the emerging mobility ecosystem, and we’re confident more cities will follow their lead.”  

This announcement follows the launch in January of transit journey planning, which allowed Denver riders to plan public transport trips with real-time information and end-to-end directions.