New Technology Partnership Makes Carpooling Easier and More Convenient for Metro Vancouver Residents

October 28, 2019 – Vancouver, BC – Poparide, Canada’s leading carpooling platform, today announced a strategic partnership with TransLink to expand carpooling services across Metro Vancouver. The Vancouver-based technology company was selected amongst 90 organizations competing to provide innovative transportation solutions as part of TransLink’s Open Call for Innovation on Seamless Mobility.

The partnership allows Poparide to further grow its carpooling network across the Metro Vancouver region while enabling TransLink to promote more multimodal transportation options to help to ease congestion. The partnership will initially focus on expanding carpooling within the Metro Vancouver to Abbotsford corridor and will provide a new service to the Abbotsford International Airport.

“We are thrilled to be selected by TransLink to provide carpooling services to help connect people travelling in the same direction and fill empty seats in vehicles across Metro Vancouver,” said Poparide’s CEO and founder, Flo Devellennes.

“During an average morning commute, there are up to two million empty seats in vehicles travelling throughout the region. Our goal is to fill these empty seats and make it easier for Metro Vancouver residents to travel in a way that is more efficient, affordable and sustainable,” Devellennes added.

Today’s announcement marks the first of its kind collaboration between TransLink and a carpooling platform, enabling TransLink to open up a new mode of reliable transportation for residents of Metro Vancouver while providing a safe and affordable carpooling experience that operates under BC provincial regulations.

“Road congestion costs our region up to $1.2 billion each year,” says Patricia Lucy, TransLink Director of Brand Marketing and Ridership Development. “This collaboration with Poparide aims to promote carpooling as an easy and efficient way to reduce the number of single-occupancy trips we see on the region’s roads. Less vehicles travelling to the same destinations will result in faster travel times and fewer costs, with big benefits for the environment.”

Poparide provides a convenient mobile app that connects drivers and passengers at affordable carpooling rates. Metro Vancouver residents can join Poparide’s carpooling community for free by visiting poparide.com or downloading the app on iOS and Android.

About Poparide

Poparide is Canada’s leading carpooling platform, providing city-to-city carpooling services to over 200,000 members across the country. Launched in Vancouver in 2015, its members have shared over 23 million kilometres. Popular routes in British Columbia include Vancouver to Squamish ($10 a seat) and Vancouver to Kelowna ($40 a seat).

For media enquiries, please contact Flo Devellennes at flo@poparide.com.



