Uber has launched Public Transport in New Delhi, allowing riders to plan their transit journey with real-time information and end-to-end directions right in the Uber app.
The public transport feature may be something Uber is first using to understand people's preferences, before launching Uber Bus service via the app.
After opening the Uber App and entering a destination, riders will see Public Transport as an option alongside UberGo, Premier and Pool. Upon selecting the Public Transport feature, riders will be able to see the fastest and cheapest routes; real-time schedules; as well as departure time for public transportation, including Metro and buses and walking directions, to and from nearby Metro stations and bus stops.
“The way people use transport is changing and through partnerships with cities and leading transit authorities like the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Uber’s technology can help millions of people make smarter shared mobility choices that save time and money while reducing their environmental impact. We know that Uber and the cities in which we operate share many of the same goals: reducing congestion, expanding access to transportation and tackling air pollution. With today’s launch we demonstrate one more way Uber is becoming the operating system for everyday life, in India and across the world,” Dara Khosrowshahi, Chief Executive Officer, Uber said.
The announcement comes shortly after Uber won a public bid to offer its mobility services across 210 Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) stations.
Manik Gupta, Chief Product Officer, Uber explained, “It's our goal to help people replace their car with their phone by offering a range of shared mobility options - whether cars, bikes, or public transport - all in the Uber app. No matter where you want to go, or what your price point is, we have a solution to meet your needs. We’re excited to give riders in New Delhi a seamless way to access public transport, starting today, and to introduce more options as we move forward towards a mutli-modal future of mobility for all.”
DMRC and Uber have also unveiled their shared vision of a ‘model Metro station’ to showcase how public transport can be integrated with Uber’s multi-modal vision for the future of mobility. The model demonstrates the breadth of first and last mile options with organized and dedicated pick-up and drop-off areas to complement public transportation. Services such as Go, Pool, Moto, Auto, and Uber’s Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAV) further highlight the power of Uber’s platform.
Uber Transit Journey Planning was first launched at the beginning of 2019. Since then it has been launched in eight cities worldwide. In the United States: Denver, Boston, Chicago, Washington DC and San Francisco. In Europe: London and Paris. In Asia Pacific: Sydney.