San Antonio unveils full transit and bikeshare integration in Transit

Move over, flying cars: the future of transportation is already here, and it makes “going green” the easy choice. Today, San Antonio joins Las Vegas as the second city in the United States to integrate its bikeshare and transit systems into a single account and app experience. The new offering, available in Transit, enables riders to plan a multimodal trip, purchase a transit pass, and unlock a bike with just a few taps.

By merging transit and bikeshare into one experience with Transit, VIA Metropolitan Transit and San Antonio BCycle are making it easier than ever to keep San Antonio moving. In the last two years, bikeshare has seen increased popularity. In Austin, for example, CapMetro has begun to integrate MetroBike pass sales, but riders must download a second app to unlock the bike. By bringing these services together in Transit, San Antonio BCycle and VIA are taking connectivity a step further, creating a combined option that brings mobility options together in one place.

Thousands of San Antonians already use Transit every day to navigate the region’s public transit network.VIA riders have used ticketing in Transit for nearly 77,000 trips since the VIA launched fare payment in the app in August 2021.  VIA riders can now add bikeshare passes and unlock bikes with their Transit account for San Antonio BCycle’s network of more than 50 stations and 250 e-bikes.

With just a few taps, users can enter payment information once to purchase and activate any transit or bikeshare pass type with Transit. Previously, these services were not connected, and required users to download multiple apps and enter payment information to separate accounts.

The technology behind this integration builds on the existing integration of VIA’s goMobile+ mobile fare payment, available in Transit, using the Justride SDK from Masabi, the company that powers mobile ticketing for the agency.

In addition to VIA, riders can use their Transit account to purchase fares for more than 65 transit systems across the United States and Canada, including AC Transit in the San Francisco Bay Area, RTD in Denver, RTC in Las Vegas, Big Blue Bus in Santa Monica, Metro in St. Louis, and Port Authority in Pittsburgh. The app also provides bikeshare payments and unlocking for 12 systems, including Santa Barbara BCycle, Louvelo in Louisville, RTC Bike Share in Las Vegas, BIXI in Montreal and MoGo in Detroit.

Quotes

“With their powers combined, VIA and BCycle are giving San Antonians a way to kick congestion and parking woes to the curb,” said Jake Sion, Chief Operating Officer at Transit. “Bringing bikes and buses together in one app, with one account, makes it easier than ever to ditch the car and start riding with Transit instead.”

“We are focused on enhancing our customers’ experience, including providing new, convenient tools that make it easier to choose and use VIA and all available public transit options,” VIA President/CEO Jeffrey C. Arndt said. “Partnering with the Transit app and BCycle to make it a seamless experience for our riders is part of the plan to use innovative transit technology that helps keep San Antonio moving.”

“Our goal is to connect communities one pedal stroke at a time by getting more people on bikes,” said JD Simpson, General Manager at San Antonio BCycle.  “To do that, our focus is on removing barriers to riding. This collaboration will make it easier than ever for Transit riders to add bikes to their options for alternative transportation.”

“Innovative solutions like this don’t just put the means to travel in users’ hands, but also the choice of HOW they travel – unlocking a myriad of modes to maximize convenience and ease of use, whatever the journey,” said Brian Zanghi, CEO of Masabi. “We are delighted to be involved in delivering this solution supported by Justride, enhancing the transit offering in San Antonio and promoting a healthier, more environmentally friendly way to travel.”

About VIA Metropolitan Transit:

VIA provides safe, reliable transportation options that put opportunity within reach for millions of passengers each year. VIA began operation in 1978 and today serves 14 member cities and the unincorporated areas of Bexar County, operating seven days a week on 79 routes, with complementing VIAtrans paratransit service and VIA Link on-demand options. VIA’s family of services help connect our community, support economic vitality, and enhance quality of life throughout the region. In 2020, voters approved funding for VIA’s Keep SA Moving plan, in support of projects designed for a modern mass transit system in San Antonio and Bexar County. Visit VIAinfo.net for more information.

About Transit:

Transit solves the urban commute in more than 300 cities worldwide. Users can easily navigate public transit with accurate real-time predictions, simple trip planning, step-by-step navigation and quick, easy payments. The app also integrates additional transport modes — bikeshare, scooters, carshare and ridehail — so users can mix-and-match their options with public transit to determine the best way to get from A to B. The company is based in Montréal, QC. Learn more by visiting www.transitapp.com.

About BCycle:

Headquartered in Waterloo, WI, BCycle LLC develops and delivers best-in-class bike share systems and is committed to providing an environmentally sustainable transportation alternative for cities. BCycle believes that bike share is the bicycle’s role in public transit and is on a mission to change the world by getting more people on bikes. BCycle, a fully owned subsidiary of Trek Bicycle, partners with organizations across the country to deliver community-based bike share. For more information, visit www.bcycle.com.