Ann Arbor’s TheRide Launches EZfare Mobile Ticketing System with Partner Masabi

The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority becomes the 14th agency to join contactless, regional mobile ticketing solution, making riding public transit across agencies and states safer and more convenient

 

Ann Arbor, MI & New York, NY October 6 2020 The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide), Neoride and Masabi, today announced that TheRide has launched EZfare, a contactless and Covid-safe mobile ticketing solution that will make riding public transit in Ann Arbour safer and more convenient than ever before. Mobile ticketing is an important component in helping make transit as safe as possible by removing the need to physically exchange currency, tickets or passes.

TheRide has joined 13 other transit agencies across Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky that already sell their fares on the EZfare regional fare payment system, which is powered by Fare Payments-as-a-Service provider, Masabi. All are members of NEORide, a council of governments comprising 16 transit systems dedicated to the development and promotion of regional public transportation services. With the addition of The Ride, EZfare becomes a tri-state mobile ticketing platform, and is now the largest of its kind in the United States.

 

Available as a free download from both the App Store and Google Play, the EZfare app enables customers to purchase fares anytime, anywhere and travel to their destination with just a few taps of their smartphone. In addition to the EZfare app, tickets across the network of agencies are also available for purchase through some of the world’s leading Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) and mobility apps such as Transit, Uber and Moovit. Ticketing across the 3 states, 14 agencies and multiple apps has been enabled using Masabi’s Justride SDK, the world’s first mobile ticketing software development kit (SDK) for public transportation, to create a seamless passenger experience combining public transit and shared mobility services.

 

“While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our agency, we are pleased to be able to introduce a contactless method of payment for riders,” said John Metzinger, Deputy CEO, Finance and Administration at TheRide. “This pilot project will help reduce the risk of virus transmission while using our system, while also allowing TheRide to test community reactions and the potential for a permanent mobile ticket option in the future.”

 

“We’re excited to be expanding EZfare to a tri-state region with the addition of TheRide,” shared NEORide president and Laketran CEO Ben Capelle. “One of the goals of NEORide is to make public transportation more efficient and easier to use through coordination. By adding more transit systems to the EZfare platform, we are making this payment technology more affordable and accessible to both the agencies and transit users.”

 

“Masabi’s cutting edge Fare-Payments-as-a-Service approach to mobile ticketing is the bedrock upon which EZfare has been built, providing a quick, safe and cost-efficient route to modernisation and inter-agency co-operation that has been easily implemented,” said Brian Zanghi, CEO of Masabi. “We have been excited with the response of riders across NEORide agencies so far, and are thrilled to see this pioneering concept expand to include new cities such as Ann Arbor, allowing travellers in Ohio, Kentucky and now Michigan to realise the benefits of cashless technology via a single solution.”

 

 

 

About the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide)

The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide) operates the public transit system for the greater Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area. TheRide provides reliable, safe, affordable transportation services. For more than 50 years, TheRide has been an essential resource in the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti community. During that time they have continued to improve their rider experience, expand their service offerings, and progress forward. People rely on TheRide to connect with every part of their life, whether that’s getting to work, school, or back home. Wherever you’re going, you can count on TheRide to get you there.

 

About Masabi

Masabi is bringing Fare Payments-as-a-Service, a new and better way of delivering fare payments, to public transit authorities and operators of all sizes around the globe. This enables agencies to receive the latest fare payment innovations quickly, using a platform which is constantly updating and adding new features. Not only does this improve the journey experience for passengers, but it helps agencies keep up with the pace of technology change, while reducing the total cost of fare collection. With over 80 operators of all sizes across 11 countries signed up, Masabi’s Justride is the world’s leading fare payments platform. Masabi has offices in New York, Denver, London, and Cluj, and investors include Mastercard, Shell, and Keolis. For more information, visit www.masabi.com.

 

About NEORide

NEORide is a Council of Governments with the goal of breaking down boundaries, streamlining opportunities and making it easier for riders to use public transit across the region.  Current members include: Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (AAATA), Butler County RTA, Cincinnati Bell Connector, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA), Laketran, Lancaster-Fairfield Public Transit, Medina County Public Transit, METRO RTA, Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority (PARTA), Sandusky Transit System, South East Area Transit (SEAT), Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA), Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA), Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA), Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) and Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA).