uberMOTO Aims to Help Commuters Save Time and Money, Partners with Thai Traffic Police and Head Awareness Club to Raise Awareness of Motorcycle Safety.
Bangkok, 24 February 2016 : Over 1,500 new cars hit the streets of Bangkok every day. That is more than double the number than just a few years ago. Unsurprisingly traffic speeds have now dropped to under 16km/h (just 11km/h during rush hour) and the average daily commute now takes 120 minutes. This kind of congestion undermines everyone’s quality of life.
It’s why we’re excited to launch our new UberMOTO service as a pilot in Bangkok starting today. The service has been specifically developed for cities in emerging markets. UberMOTO enables people looking to save time and money for their short trips (e.g. to and from public transit services like the BTS or MRT) to book a ride on a motorcycle at the push of a button.
UberMOTO is all about giving people more, smarter mobility options that are more convenient and affordable. This means cheaper rides for commuters and less congestion over time. Starting today, Uber riders in Bangkok will see the new “UberMOTO” option when they open their Uber app. The on-demand motorbike service will launch in Sathorn, Siam, and Silom, offering thousands of Bangkokians quick and convenient motorcycle connections around town.
Douglas Ma, Head of Asia Expansion, Uber said, “Motorcycles are part of the commuting culture in Thailand. Uber’s goal is to provide safe, affordable, reliable transportation at the push of a button, everywhere for everyone. With UberMOTO, we’re thrilled to introduce a product that resonates with Thai people and provides another easy and affordable option for short trips around town while creating tens of thousands of flexible work opportunities for Thais.”
To mark the launch, Uber is partnering with the Thai Traffic Police and Head Awareness Club (HAC) in a first of its kind initiative to raise awareness about the importance of motorcycle safety and especially the vital role helmets play in saving lives. As part of this joint effort, Uber will be donating helmets to young students and adults with the help of Thai Traffic Police and HAC through various community outreach and education initiatives in the coming weeks.
Police Colonel, Sukit Arunlarktawin of the Thai Traffic Police said, “The lives of millions of children are at risk everyday because of low awareness. We are excited to partner with Uber and HAC to raise awareness about the importance of safety to make the roads safer for everyone in Thailand.”
Surasit Silapangam, Manager of Head Awareness Club said, “More than half of adults don’t wear helmets when they are on a motorbike, and the number is even more worrying when it comes to children. Many people believe that a short trip won’t be dangerous, but without a helmet, every meter is a big risk. Helmets save lives, and we are proud to join Uber and the Thai Traffic Police in an effort to spread the importance of safety through education so we don’t lose more lives to negligence.”
“We’re thrilled to put safety front and centre with the support of the Thai Traffic Police and Head Awareness Club as we roll out our UberMOTO service as a pilot on the streets of Bangkok,” said Ma.
Here’s how it works.
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Choose the UberMOTO option in the app. Enter your pickup location, payment method, and request a ride.
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Once your request has been accepted by the nearest driver, you’ll see your driver’s details straight away–name, photo and the details of the motorbike. As with uberX or UberBLACK, these drivers are insured and have undergone an extensive screening process which includes a police background check.
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UberMOTO will then match you with the nearest driver.
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Your UberMOTO driver will have a helmet available for you. The city of Bangkok requires that all motorcycle riders and drivers wear a helmet, and failure to do so is a traffic violation.
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At the end of your trip, your trip will be paid with either cash or credit, depending on what you chose before requesting the ride. You’ll also receive an electronic receipt.
All of Uber’s standard product safety features are in place before, during and after every UberMOTO ride, like live GPS tracking, 2-way feedback and the ability to share trip details with family and friends.
UberMOTO is also the most affordable option in the city with transparent rates starting at ฿10 + ฿3.50/km + ฿0.85/min. The minimum fare is ฿10.
Bangkok was chosen as the first city globally for this pilot since moto-taxis are already part of the transportation fabric in Thailand. The launch comes just weeks after cash payments were rolled out in Thailand, ensuring more people in Bangkok now have access to Uber’s technology.
Those who are interested in becoming a partner can find more information at www.uberthai.com.
To celebrate the launch of UberMOTO we’re giving away free rides to first time users. Simply key in UberMOTOBKK to get 2 free rides worth THB 100 each.
About Uber
Uber is evolving the way the world moves. By seamlessly connecting riders to drivers through our apps, we make cities more accessible, opening up more possibilities for riders and more business for drivers. From our founding in 2009 to our launches in hundreds of cities today, Uber’s rapidly expanding global presence continues to bring people and their cities closer. Today Uber is available in almost 400 cities in 68 countries. www.uber.com
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