ioki, a leading provider of on-demand software, and Georgetown University (Washington D.C.) today announced an on-demand late night safe ride service for students and staff, which will launch later this month. It will mark the first deployment of the ioki software in the United States.
The service, called GUTS-2-Go, was commissioned by Georgetown University’s Office of Transportation Management (OTM) and is powered by the ioki Platform, which provides the passenger and driver apps as well as the operations management tools behind the service. With GUTS-2-Go, Georgetown University aims to expand its mobility options for students and staff, especially during off-peak hours. GUTS-2-Go will enhance Georgetown’s existing SafeRides service with a dedicated booking app and live shuttle tracking.
“For eight years, our software has been running in more than 200 projects in European public transport, one of the most complex and highly regulated transport markets in the world. I’m very proud that we are now able to expand our scope and start offering our services in the U.S. as well”, said Michael Barillère-Scholz, CEO and co-founder of ioki. “Software does make shared mobility more flexible for users and more efficient for operators. The Georgetown service is an important starting point for us in the U.S.. Given the experience we’ve built in Europe, we see significant potential to bring our technology to more communities across the U.S.”
GUTS-2-Go: On-Demand Late Night Safe Rides for the Georgetown University community
The new GUTS-2-Go app, powered by the ioki Platform, will be available on the App Store and Google Play. Sign-up requires a Georgetown University email address. GUTS-2-Go will provide on-demand transportation service originating from Georgetown University’s Hilltop Campus. Service will be available within a 2.5-mile air radius of the Hilltop Campus.
“Getting students home safely at night is one of the most important things our office does, and GUTS-2-Go will give them a simpler way to do that, with more visibility at every step of the trip,” said Charlie Grab, director of Georgetown University’s Office of Transportation Management. “We saw what ioki has built across Europe, and we trust them to bring that same capability to Georgetown as the first deployment of the ioki Platform in the United States. Students will be able to book a free ride in a few taps, see exactly where their shuttle is, and share the ride with classmates heading the same way. We are grateful to Student Government for helping shape the service, and we look forward to introducing GUTS-2-Go to the Hilltop community later this month.”
Georgetown selected the ioki Platform on the strength of what ioki has built in Europe, where its software has powered more than 200 transit services since 2018. Georgetown saw the value in that track record and in the capabilities the platform adds to the current service, including a dedicated booking app and live shuttle tracking with an arrival countdown, which is why the university chose to be the first in the United States to bring the platform to its community. The ioki Platform also supports intermodal integration, connecting on-demand rides with other modes of public transit. Looking ahead, Georgetown and ioki will explore how those capabilities can bring more of the community’s transit options together, with the goal of giving students, faculty and staff one app for all of their transit needs.
ioki’s On-Demand Software Enters the U.S. Public Transit Market
The ioki Platform is used across Europe when demand for fixed-route services is too low. Especially during off-peak hours such as nights or weekends, in sparsely populated areas or on the first and last mile to the nearest regular stop, it can be a more cost-effective alternative. The software supports multiple modes of operation, including fixed route connection alongside on-demand rides, and is designed for use by public transit agencies, municipalities, and universities alike.
Key features of GUTS-2-Go
- Booking: request a ride in the GUTS-2-Go app, or by phone for riders without a smartphone
- Fare: free to ride for Georgetown students and staff, with no fare at booking
- Service area: on-demand trips originating from the Hilltop Campus, within a 2.5-mile radius
- Rider safety: Georgetown-only sign-up, live shuttle location with a countdown to pickup, and guided walking directions to the pickup point
- Accessibility: wheelchair-accessible vehicles on request, boarding assistance from the driver, and phone booking for riders without a smartphone
- Shared rides: riders heading in the same direction are pooled into one shuttle, complementing the GUTS fixed-route shuttles
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is GUTS-2-Go?
GUTS-2-Go is an on-demand late night safe ride service for the Georgetown University community, powered by the ioki Platform, and commissioned by Georgetown University’s Office of Transportation Management.
What software powers GUTS-2-Go?
GUTS-2-Go runs on the ioki Platform, including its passenger and driver apps. It will be the first deployment of ioki’s on-demand software in the United States.
How does GUTS-2-Go relate to GUTS?
GUTS continues to run its existing fixed routes. GUTS-2-Go adds on-demand shared rides originating from the Hilltop Campus that complement the GUTS network, particularly at night and during other off-peak hours.
