UTC

Ride-share company Via has expanded its operating zone in Chicago by offering a mobility service to and from 65 Chicago Transit Authority and Metra stations for $2.50. This rate is available to riders booking trips up to two miles within the zone, which includes areas such as Austin, Garfield and South Deering. Alex Lavoie, US general manager of Via, says the service will “provide greater access across the entire city for residents, workers and visitors in these communities.” Using the Via app, passenge

DiDi Chuxing has launched a robo-taxi pilot in Shanghai which it says will allow passengers to hail vehicles from its app. DiDi is to deploy 30 autonomous vehicles (AVs) operating at SAE Level 4 in the Jiading District of Shanghai. Initially, the programme will comprise AVs and manually-driven vehicles. The company showcased the robo-taxi service on a closed tract at Shanghai’s World Artificial Intelligence Conference. The Shanghai government awarded DiDi permits to test its AV fleet last month.

The UK’s Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) says that future road safety will require innovation rather than repeating past measures. Speaking at the UK Department for Transport (DfT)’s International Road Safety Conference, TRL’s academy director Richard Cuerden discussed why a paradigm shift is needed in the transport sector’s approach to road safety interventions to ensure road casualties are reduced significantly by 2030. The number of deaths on the world’s roads remains unacceptably high, with an e

PBSC Urban Solutions is adding 120 electric bikes to Bixi Montréal’s fleet in a pilot project taking place in the Canadian province until 15 November. PBSC says its E-Fit’s central motor propels riders up to 32km/h on a full charge and has an autonomy range of up to 70km. Bixi’s fleet of trucks and warehouse in Montréal will be used to recharge the E-Fit batteries. The E-Fit electric pedal-assist bikes can be docked at any station in the network and are available to Bixi members and casual riders via th

Google is to pair transit directions with bike- and ride-share options within Google Maps in a bid to improve first and last mile journeys. Google says users will be able to enter their destination in the search box, tap ‘Directions’ to see routes that feature ride-share and cycling options paired with transit directions. For ride-sharing, individuals can view information on how much the ride will cost, waiting time, traffic lights and an option to choose their favourite provider. Cyclists will be able

Transport for London (TfL) has chosen IT company Sopra Steria to develop software to help tackle congestion and road danger in the UK capital. TfL is responsible for managing 580km of London’s roads, as well as managing a range of assets including 6,000 traffic lights, its tunnels and some bridges. The partners will seek to develop a control centre system that provides a single view of everything happening on the road network. Glynn Barton, TfL's director of network management, says the partnership wi

Indra and engineering firm Eléctricas de Medellín Ingeniería y Servicios has commissioned a control centre and a back-up centre to supervise a 9km tunnel in Columbia. Both centres will monitor the safety and revenue collection systems of the Túnel de Oriente, which serves as a transport link between the city of Medellín and José María Córdoba airport. It is part of Concesión Túnel Aburrá Oriente, a 24km road corridor that Indra is now managing via its Mova solutions. Indra says its toll solution Mova C

The UK government plans to open up roadwork data to tech companies with the aim of reducing traffic jams. The Department of Transport (DfT) says companies could potentially develop navigation apps powered by artificial intelligence that can warn drivers up to months in advance of planned disruption to routes and offer alternatives. George Freeman, minister for the future of transport, says the announcement will “help open up data, reducing congestion, pollution and frustration for road users”. The

The San Diego Association of Governments (Sandag) has opened a laboratory with the aim of developing a fully integrated transportation system in the US city. The Sandag Vision Lab will serve as a collaborative space for agency staff, elected officials, working groups and industry leaders to discuss ideas, data and tools. Additionally, Sandag has established an advisory panel to develop a transportation system that uses available and emerging technologies. It will provide input on deploying technolog