CityBus introduces on-demand microtransit service with Via in Lafayette, IN
August 23 (Lafeyette, IN)– CityBus will begin serving southside Lafayette residents of Wabash Avenue and Overlook Pointe on Elston Road with CityBus Flex, an on-demand ride service powered by Via.
Easy, affordable, on-demand transportation
“Currently, Wabash Avenue and Overlook Pointe residents have to walk long distances (sometimes in areas without sidewalks) to take public transportation,” said Marty Sennett, CityBus General Manager. “But with Flex, they’ll have access to easy, affordable, on-demand transportation right outside their door.”
CityBus will offer the Flex microtransit zone service Monday through Friday. Passengers can ride free during the first week of Flex service, which starts August 23.
“Responding to changing needs”
“The City of Lafayette is proud of our partnership with CityBus, and we congratulate them on their 50th anniversary in our community,” said Mayor Tony Roswarski. “We’ve come to rely on CityBus for their excellence and commitment to innovative advancements that benefit the entire community. The new Flex microtransit/paratransit connection service, offering an efficient and effective solution that will serve non-traditional ridership, is yet another example of the way CityBus responds to changing needs efficiently and effectively.”
If Flex is successful, CityBus may expand the on-demand microtransit service to other areas in Greater Lafayette.
“Equitable, flexible access to transportation”
“We’re also excited to partner with Via to help riders book Flex trips,” Sennett said. “Via’s easy, on-demand mobile scheduling will help our passengers save time and avoid detours or delays.”
“Equitable, flexible access to transportation is the focus of Via’s mission, and our new partnership with CityBus is an amazing example of how tech-enabled transit can connect communities to jobs, healthcare, and educational opportunities,” said Dillon Twombly, chief revenue officer at Via. “We are proud to work with CityBus and look forward to seeing how this program will improve mobility for riders in Greater Lafayette.”
Downloading the app, riding Flex
Riders can download the CityBus Flex app from the App Store or Google Play. Then, they’ll use the app to book Flex trips through this process:
- Open the app.
- Log in or sign up.
- Select your pickup and dropoff location.
- Choose the time you’d like to arrive.
- Book a trip anywhere within the microtransit zone or to the CityBus Center.
- Track your bus’s location and ETA in real time on your phone.
- Pay your fare ahead of time with Token Transit, or with cash when you board.
- Note that those without access to a smart phone or computer may call (765) 742-2121 for service.
About CityBus
CityBus (Greater Lafayette Public Transportation Corporation) is a municipal corporation established in 1971. CityBus provides over 5 million annual rides for Greater Lafayette passengers, including ADA paratransit services for people with disabilities.
About Via
Founded in 2012, Via pioneered the TransitTech category by using new technologies to power public mobility systems, optimizing networks of dynamic shuttles, buses, wheelchair accessible vehicles, school buses, and autonomous vehicles around the globe. Building the world’s most efficient, equitable, and sustainable transportation network for all riders — including those with limited mobility, those without smartphones, and unbanked populations — Via works with its partners to lower the cost of public transit and provide accessible options that rival the convenience of a personal car at a much reduced environmental impact. At the intersection of transportation and technology, Via is a visionary market leader that combines software innovation with sophisticated service design and operational expertise to fundamentally improve the way the world moves, with 500 global partners on five continents, and counting.