Transit technology company Via has acquired the UK-based journey planner app Citymapper.
The company says the acquisition accelerates its vision to build the end-to-end digital infrastructure for transit systems, explaining “While Via’s software enables cities and transit agencies to efficiently plan and operate their public transit networks, Citymapper empowers transit riders with the ability to navigate the urban transport network through intuitive and beautifully designed apps.”
By integrating Citymapper into its platform, Via says it will be able to connect all elements of a transit system, offering a unified solution for cities, transit agencies, and riders.
Since being founded in 2012, more than 50 million users in more than 100 cities have used Citymapper to plan their journeys – using a combination of public transit, walking, cycling, scooters, taxis, and other locally available options. Users can plan a trip based on the criteria — transit mode, arrival time, trip duration, cost, etc. — that matter most to them, and Citymapper’s app will help them select the best option and navigate their travel in real time. Citymapper’s powerful technology and algorithms, which incorporate real-time public transit data and take into account information on disruptions and delays, enable an exceptional journey-planning experience that offers the most accurate and timely recommendations.
The Citymapper product will be integrated into Via’s TransitTech platform. Cities and transit agencies will have access to Via’s software platform which enables them to plan transit networks that are responsive and resilient to rapidly changing needs, to operate smart multi-modal transportation systems, and to use data to continually enhance performance — with Via saying it is now unified with an optimised experience for riders from Citymapper. Following the acquisition, the Citymapper app will continue to be available to its worldwide user base, and Via anticipates it will further expand Citymapper’s global reach.
“We have the utmost respect for the world-class product and user experience that Azmat and his team have built,” said Via co-founder and CEO Daniel Ramot. “By bringing our teams together, we see an exciting opportunity to deliver Citymapper’s capabilities to cities and transit agencies all over the world, so that they can create the most user-friendly and relevant transit experience for their communities.”
“The team at Citymapper has spent a decade building some of the greatest technology in urban mobility, with the mission to make cities easier to navigate and urban transportation more efficient, sustainable, and accessible,” said Citymapper founder and CEO Azmat Yusuf. “We share this vision with Via, and through this acquisition, can expand Citymapper to a larger audience, make our technology available to cities and transit agencies, and extend the positive impact on the communities we serve.”
Via’s acquisition of Citymapper follows its acquisitions of Remix in 2021 and Fleetonomy in 2020.
(Picture – Via)
