Jersey City’s on-demand bus service just surpassed one million rides. Via Jersey City is the go-to form of transit for around 50,000 residents and visitors per month, according to city officials.
A recent survey of riders showed that 51% of riders reported an annual household income below $50,000, 88% of riders identified as non-white, and 58% of riders identified as women. Furthermore, over 70% of the rides are shared, with each vehicle completing an average of 4.2 trips per hour.
“The record ridership for our Via microtransit service is just one measure of its incredible success,” said Mayor Fulop. “The service continues to provide vital transportation for exactly the communities that it was intended to uplift.”
Launched during the height of the pandemic (February 2020), Via offers on-demand shared rides to areas of Jersey City formerly considered “transit deserts.” Any rider in Via’s designated service zones can book a ride through the Via app (Android/iOS). Via’s algorithms then match riders headed in the same direction into one vehicle, creating efficient and sustainable routes. Riders without smartphones can book by calling a phone number. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are also available upon request.
