Public transport company Wave Transit has launched RideMicro, an on-demand service and mobility app that lets locals plan, pay and ride shared transit trips in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Residents can download and use the free RideMicro app to plan public and shared transportation journeys with real-time arrival information, and even hail and pay for on-demand rides. This offering was created in partnership with Israeli-based Intel subsidiary Moovit, a mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) provider, which is powering the technology behind the app and on-demand service.

Until now, the RideMicro pilot programme operated a phone-based request and dispatch service for the vehicles. Now, for RideMicro’s official launch, Wave Transit in collaboration with Moovit has modernised the service, provided more connections from Wilmington’s surrounding areas to its fixed routes, shortened walk and wait times, and made it easier to book and track rides.

Users of the app can book and pay for on-demand transit rides in Brunswick, Pender and New Hanover counties from 7:00 to 10:00 and 12:00 to 19:30 during weekdays. Users can view the vehicle’s real-time arrival information and track it along its route. The service will connect to many points of interest, including main transportation hubs in the area such as University of North Carolina Wilmington, Cape Fear’s campuses, Battleship Wilmington and Gordon Station to help improve onward travel opportunities.

The app and on-demand service are powered by Moovit’s technology, including a dynamically-routed transit system that automatically assigns multiple passengers heading in the same direction to a shared vehicle. The app:

• Suggests the most efficient routes: Once a user launches the app and inputs their destination, it will display the most convenient public and shared transportation routes
• Enables users to book and pay for a RideMicro on-demand ride: Users simply select Transit On-Demand and follow the prompts for mobile payment
• Directs passengers to a nearby pickup location: Once the ride is booked, passengers are guided to a virtual pickup location within a short walking distance
• Provides passengers with real-time tracking: While waiting for their ride, RideMicro users can track the approaching vehicle in real time and view its ETA; while riding, they can view the route on the map, as well as the estimated time to drop off
• Enables future ride booking: Rides can be booked up to a week in advance

Additionally, the app combines official information from local transit agencies as well as crowdsourced information to calculate the best route for each journey. RideMicro also provides a live-directions feature with get-off alerts to provide step-by-step guidance for the entire journey, and service alerts so users can avoid disruptions and plan their journey accordingly.

“Helping more people safely and efficiently commute to work, school, shopping, appointments or just for entertainment has never been easier or more cost effective,” said Wave Transit executive director Marie Parker. “RideMicro fills in the gaps where one option may be too expensive and another option may not be convenient. RideMicro is one step towards an even better, more comprehensive mass transit system for the Wilmington region. Wave Transit is excited to be working with Moovit to bring flexible, on-demand service and a modern, all-in-one app to our customers.”

Uli Gal-Oz, vice president at Moovit, added: “Travel needs have evolved dramatically in line with the pandemic. Moovit has worked with hundreds of transit agencies and listened to the needs of passengers around the world to gain a great understanding of travel demands which has helped shape this service for Wilmington residents – flexible transit, when you want it, with contactless mobile payments. We are excited to work with Wave Transit and power this new mobility offering so that riders can get around more efficiently.”

Hours of operation will gradually expand to reflect the Wave Transit hours of operation, as will service areas and stops. The app is available to download on the App Store and Google Play.

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 effectively and conveniently, using any mode of transport. Introduced in 2012, it now serves over a billion users in more than 3400 cities across 112 countries.

Moovit amasses up to six billion anonymous data points a day to add to the world’s largest repository of transit and urban mobility data. For governments, cities, transit agencies and private companies, Moovit offers AI-powered MaaS technology covering planning, operations and optimisation with value in reducing congestion, growing ridership, and increasing efficiency and asset use. Microsoft, Uber and Cubic have partnered with Moovit to power their mobility offerings.

Wave Transit is Wilmington’s major provider of public transportation. For nearly 50 years and through several name changes, Wave Transit has transported the people of the greater Wilmington area as the city grew and evolved.