Bus operator Arriva is working with Intel subsidiary Moovit on the first national mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) offering in the Netherlands.

The Glimble app, powered by Moovit, allows transport riders to enjoy a smart mobility experience with public transport information, travel planning and mobile payment for all forms of public and shared transport countrywide.

Citizens can enjoy a smart mobility experience where they can plan, pay and ride with any public transport operator, shared transport or micromobility provider for the first time.

Previously, paying for public transport required riders to own the OV-Chipkaart contactless card. Drivers were not allowed to accept cash payments on buses for paper tickets or from riders waiting to top-up their OV-Chipkaart. In addition, after boarding the bus, some riders discovered they did not have enough credits left and had to deboard, walk to a machine to top up their OVChipkaart, and wait for the next bus. That changes with this launch.

Glimble users nationwide can now get around the Netherlands more conveniently and efficiently via the MaaS app, which provides users with the ability to use mobile payment for all public and shared transport countrywide, real-time arrival information so they know exactly when their bus or train is arriving, a live directions feature with get-off alerts to provide step-by-step guidance for the entire journey, and service alerts so they can avoid disruptions on usual lines.

The Arriva and Moovit initiative can reduce the friction of paying for transport. Glimble users can validate rides with a single tap and scan of a QR code, as opposed to having to buy and top up a contactless card in advance, and fear losing or forgetting it. Users can even book, pay and unlock micromobility rides with operators such as Arriva B&G, Hopperpoint and Urbee straight from the Glimble app, with more micromobility options to be added soon.

Tapping into Moovit’s technology, Glimble combines official information from all Dutch transport agencies, as well as crowdsourced information to calculate the best route for each journey with urban mobility options such as bus, rail, tram, underground, ferry, taxi, Uber, carsharing, scooters and bikes. Users have the ability to sort Glimble’s suggested routes via cost of the journey or by the total level of CO₂.

Glimble also incorporates accessibility features, empowering people across the disability spectrum to use public transportation with more assurance. The app is optimised with screen reading features for low vision users, including talk-back and voice-over capabilities, identifies wheelchair-accessible routes and stations, and calculates step-free routes The app is designed with optimised menus and buttons for those with hand-motor disabilities.

“In a world where everyone is constantly on the move, where connectivity and accessibility are essential, you have to be flexible and nimble,” said Anne Hettinga, managing director of Arriva in the Netherlands. “So, in line with our aim to become the leading mobility supplier, we created Glimble by Arriva, an app that offers mobility and allows you to tailor it to your personal preferences.”

As part of this partnership, Moovit is also providing Arriva with a web-based employer portal, letting companies and organisations provide their employees with budgets for commute, business and private trips through Glimble. Employers can view historical business trips of each employee, and can view and allocate additional funds to employees if they wish.

In this initial release, Glimble will be available in the Netherlands, and will soon expand to include Belgium and parts of Germany to make cross-border journey planning and payment more efficient.

“From our vast global experience, we know that making transport journeys more convenient, accessible and frictionless increases rider satisfaction and ultimately their loyal ridership,” said Nir Erez, CEO of Moovit. “This is the second time we are able to launch mobility-as-a-service on a national scale, and we are honoured to work with Arriva on providing Dutch citizens with everything they need to get around more conveniently.”

Israel-based Moovit was acquired by Intel in 2020 to join forces with Mobileye and advance its MaaS strategy. Moovit’s iOS, Android and web apps guide people in getting around town, using any mode of transport. Introduced in 2012 it now serves over a billion users in more than 3400 cities across 112 countries.