GoKid moved into the kid transportation space because we saw a need to transform urban transport in LA. LA’s traffic is the worst in the world for the sixth year running. That’s a major problem for parents wasting hours in the car taking their kids here and there – and it is a major problem for our environment.
According to an MIT study, “ride-sharing can improve traffic, save money, and help the environment.” In particular, carpooling apps like GoKid make a big difference. With fewer vehicles on the road, we not only improve urban transport in LA by reducing congestion, but we also reduce emissions and help our environment.
GoKid is not alone in trying to make urban transport in LA less congested and eco-friendly. Check out these other five unique startups changing urban transport in LA.
Bird
Bird is an app-based electric scooter rental service. The Bird app makes it easy and convenient to locate a Bird scooter nearby, unlock the scooter, ride it to your destination, and park it. We had a chance to try out a Bird scooter recently, and they are a super fun way to get around! It sure beats being stuck in congested LA traffic!
A healthy alternative for urban transport in LA is the Cycle Hop bike share program. Similar to Bird, Cycle Hop provides bikes at various Cycle Hop locations for riders to rent and ride to the Cycle Hop parking nearest their destination. This startup is working diligently to encourage personal mobility rather than add to LA urban transport issues.
Moovit
With reports that ridership on LA’s public transport bus and rail system is at the lowest in over a decade, Moovit is here to save the day. Moovit works to encourage commuters to take public transport by making it super easy to use. Moovit is an app with all local transit options combined in one place. Not only do users have access to public transit location information and real-time status, the app even provides users with detailed public transport itineraries and even sends users notifications when it is time to get off at their stops.
Swiftly is another public transport app, but it is working specifically to help cities improve their transit systems. By utilizing real-time data points and algorithms, Swiftly identifies urban transport solutions for major cities. For example, Swiftly Insights takes the data and presents ideas for improving operational efficiency and service reliability to transportation officials. When transit authorities work to improve operations for riders, more commuters will be willing to give public transport a try.
Via
Given the decline in ridership on LA’s metro, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has partnered with Via to connect passengers with metro stations. Using the Via app, metro riders will be able to book a seat in a shared Via vehicle from three major Metro stations. Via intends to work closely with LA Metro to make access to public transportation more accessible for all.
Urban transport in LA has its share of issues, but we are excited to see these startups working to make improvements to LA traffic and the environment. What are some ways your family is trying to make a difference?
