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Imagine being able to plan and pay for a trip from the suburbs of Metro Vancouver to Downtown Vancouver using multiple services like bike share, ride-hailing and transit, all from a single app on your mobile phone.

Open data sharing will be key to allowing the region’s residents to take advantage of such technology, known as mobility as a service, or MaaS, according to experts.

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“With MaaS, the idea, literally, is knitting together the various modes collectively so you as a commuter can have a seamless, easy experience going between modes or choosing which modes to use as you take an individual trip or go about your whole day,” said David Zipper, an urban mobility consultant who is based in Washington, D.C.

Zipper said that from what he’s seen and experienced, Metro has a lot going for it when it it comes to MaaS and integrated mobility, in that it’s relatively easy to navigate large parts of the region without using a personal vehicle, but instead relying on bikes, car shares and transit.