Transport app Citymapper’s Ride service is closing operations, with the last day being 14 July.
The company expressed that the hybrid bus and taxi service is halting its services for a variety of reasons including wanting to redirect attention and resources to help its partners grow, as well as being prohibited by regulations and focusing on its Pass product.
In a blog post on its site, the company said: “We originally wanted to reinvent the bus but due to regulatory constraints ended up running shared cabs, which makes less sense for us.”
“It also criticised current regulations, saying they “are challenging, unclear and getting harder.”
“We have learned a lot from all of our efforts here, and have so much to say that we think it’s best we leave this to a dedicated future post.
“We’re sad and sorry that we have not been able to do more but are glad to help and advise others.
“We’re really excited about Pass, our subscription to all mobility, integrated with our everyday app, and believe this is the beginning of an era.
“We’ve had a great launch with thousands of initial subscribers making this one of the largest private subscriptions to mobility (public transport, cycles and cabs) globally, and we’re just getting started.
“Pass is on mission for us: supporting public transport. Public transport is essential if we wish to solve congestion, improve the environment and keep mobility affordable.
“Other modes cannot compete on the levels of utilisation required in dense cities. We believe it’s important that startups push for innovation in the space.
“Pass helps our private transport partners complement public transport in multimodal cities.”
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