RTC Southern Nevada introduces bikeshare in Transit app
The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Southern Nevada has fully integrated its bikeshare and transit systems into a single account and app experience, offering a new Mobility-as-a-Service experience with the Transit app.
The new offering enables riders to plan a multimodal trip, purchase a transit pass and unlock a bike with a few taps.
“We are proud to be the first transit agency in the United States to fully integrate both bikeshare and transit passes in a single app,” said MJ Maynard, RTC CEO. “Providing this additional multimodal option is just another way we are meeting our community’s evolving transportation needs.”
Bikeshare has seen increased popularity during the pandemic, and as the manager of both the bikeshare and transit systems, the RTC is positioned to bring the services together, creating a combined option that introduces new audiences to bikeshare.
Nevadans already use Transit for trips on the region’s public transit network, thanks to real-time transit countdowns, bus crowding information and transit passes in the app. RTC riders have paid for more than 65,000 trips with Transit since the RTC launched ticketing in the app in January 2020. Now, RTC riders can also buy bikeshare passes and unlock bikes with their Transit account for RTC Bike Share's 21-station, 150-bike system.
“This collaboration is the result of a public transit agency deciding to forge a new path for the future of transportation,” said Jake Sion, COO at Transit. “Nevadans are getting mobility at the press of a button in Transit. What happened in Vegas shouldn't stay there: we’re already cooking up plans with our public transit partners across the country to integrate bikeshare, scooters and on-demand services into their own transit networks."
Users can enter their payment information once to purchase and activate any transit or bikeshare pass type with Transit. Previously, the services were not connected, requiring users to enter payment information into separate accounts and download multiple apps.
The technology behind this first-of-its-type integration in the U.S. is the result of collaboration led by the RTC between Transit, bikeshare operator Bicycle Transit Systems and BCycle, which provides bikeshare hardware and technology. It builds upon the existing integration of RTC’s public transit fare products in Transit using the Justride SDK from Masabi, the company that powers mobile ticketing for the agency.
“Our goal is to change the world by getting more people on bikes,” said Morgan Ramaker, executive director of BCycle. “To do that, we’re working to remove barriers to riding. This collaboration will make it easier than ever for Transit riders to add bikes to their options for alternative transportation.”
“While there has been much talk around the potential of MaaS, cities like Las Vegas are already deploying highly innovative mobility solutions that give quick and simple access to a range of modes,” said Brian Zanghi, CEO of Masabi. “We are delighted to see solutions supported by Justride being developed to enhance the discoverability and usability of bikeshare schemes, which will have a positive impact on health, the community and the environment.”
In addition to the integration, RTC also announced a bikeshare loyalty program, additional fare pass options and a safety campaign to encourage cycling.
Along with the existing $5 daily and $15 monthly passes, a new annual pass for $125 is now available to riders. And thanks in part to grant funding from the Southern Nevada Health District, half price monthly and annual passes are available to Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cardholders.
The RTC also launched a bike share loyalty program, Bikecentives, which provides complimentary limited edition cycling gear to riders each time they reach 50, 150 and 300 rides in a calendar year.
And with encouraging more cycling, RTC has partnered with the Southern Nevada Bicycle Coalition (SNVBC) to promote its Ride Safe: Know Before You Go campaign throughout the month. The educational program identifies five critical points of gear and behavior for cyclists to keep top-of-mind. This comes after a successful effort earlier this year to educate drivers about sharing the road and looking out for those on two wheels.
