Arriva Click

In March this year, Arriva launched a new minibus service in Kent called ArrivaClick.

The Service takes multiple passengers heading in the same direction and books them into a shared vehicle. EVM converted Mercedes-Benz Sprinter based minibuses from London Hire are used to run it. The operator created the specification with the hire company, which provided the lease paclahe, with EVM building the vehicle.

ArrivaClick, works via an app for Iphone or Andriod, with users selecting pick up and drop off points and being guaranteed a seat. It currently operates between Kent Science Park and Sittingbourne station on MOnday to Saturday from 06:00 to 19:30. The vehicles have a maximum capacity of 12 and are equipped with leather seats, Wi-Fi and charging points. No cash is needed, with passengers being able to pay using their phone when booking a journey. Arrivia plans to widen the geographic area of the service.

It was developed in partnership with US transportation solutions firm, Via, which provides dunamic shared ride services in New Yourk, Chicago and Washington DC. The company has provided a custom-built rider app, the Via driver app and backend technology to power the serive;s souting and dispatch functions. It features an algorithm designed to enable passengers to be picked up and dropped off in an endless steam, without taking riders out of their way to accommondate other passengers, enabling the platform to move a high volume of riders while using a fraction of the number of vehicle utilised by other on demand car services.