Via launches Bussi shuttle service with Ruhrbahn

The American on-demand specialist Via has announced another cooperation: On January 25, 2021, Ruhrbahn will start the pilot operation of its Bussi project. The shuttle service will initially be offered in a core area around downtown Essen. During the test phase, the vehicles will only be bookable by Ruhrbahn employees for legal reasons. From approximately the beginning of March 2021, the new service will be available to all passengers. The Bussi fleet consists of five partially electric plug-in hybrid taxis from LEVC, which stand out not only because of their design but also due to their gold-yellow metallic paint. The service results from a partnership between Ruhrbahn and Via, which claims to be a leading provider of mobility solutions in Germany and worldwide.

"More than ever, public transport in Essen is the backbone of the mobility transition. I therefore very much welcome the fact that Ruhrbahn's service is now being expanded with the Bussi on-demand shuttle, adding another important component," comments Mayor Thomas Kufen regarding the start of the pilot project.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, however, this would primarily be people who need to get to their workplaces. The on-demand shuttle is generally meant to operate on Friday and Saturday evenings, targeting individuals who want to travel flexibly in the evenings. Thus, the service offers a cost-effective, efficient, and comfortable alternative to private cars, according to the provider.

"With the intelligent networking of various mobility options, we want to actively advance the mobility transition. This pilot project is significant for us because it enables us to better fulfill our customers' mobility needs with a flexible service and to establish a purely digital service for the first time," adds Michael Feller, Ruhrbahn's Managing Director.

Through the app, which was developed in collaboration with software partner Via, passengers book their ride, are picked up at a defined location, and taken close to their desired destination, regardless of schedules and stops. During the ride, other customers can board, allowing shared segments to be traveled. Through the app's algorithm, the vehicles intelligently navigate between the over 3,400 virtual stops where passengers can get on and off, the provider further advertises.

"On-demand transport offers a flexible solution to supplement and strengthen the public transit network in Essen, thereby helping to reduce traffic congestion," Via's Europe CEO Chris Snyder is convinced.

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, special protective measures apply in the "Bussi" as well, assures the provider. Therefore, when using Bussi, a medical mask –which includes surgical masks, FFP2 masks, as well as KN95/N95 masks–must also be worn. There is a partition between passengers and the driver, and initially, only three of the six seats are bookable per vehicle. Additionally, the vehicles will be disinfected daily in addition to normal cleaning. The funding project is initially planned for two years of operation. The Via technology is now being used by several cities and transit companies in German-speaking regions, including Berlin (BVG), Stuttgart (SSB), Bielefeld (moBiel), Cologne (KVB), Lübeck (SVHL), Mainz (MVG), Neumünster (SWN), Oberhausen (STOAG), Wuppertal (WSW), and Zurich (VBZ).