(MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ) -- On February 27, 2024, Middlesex County will launch RIDE On Demand, an affordable app-based public transit service to begin to address the County's transit gaps – or areas where buses and trains cannot efficiently serve. The City of New Brunswick will be the first to participate in this one-year pilot program. RIDE On Demand will provide safe, easy, and flexible transportation for $3 per rider. The new service is available Monday through Friday from 6:00am to 10:00pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00am to 6:00pm.

To encourage and familiarize individuals who reside, work, study, or visit New Brunswick with RIDE On Demand, the service will offer unlimited free rides for the first two introductory weeks. Through the Middlesex County RIDE On Demand app (available in the App Store or Google Play), riders can book the service from New Brunswick and get picked up in minutes to be driven to work, medical appointments, grocery stores, or any location within New Brunswick.

“Middlesex County RIDE On Demand is part of the County’s strategic investment in our transportation infrastructure,” said Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners Director Ronald G. Rios. “This on-demand public transit service will provide our residents and visitors easy access to safe, convenient, reliable transportation at an affordable rate. I encourage everyone in New Brunswick to take advantage of this low-cost microtransit option.”

“Reliable transportation is crucial for day-to-day living,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Charles Kenny, chair of the County’s Transportation Committee. “Middlesex County RIDE On Demand can transport riders safely and efficiently. Especially, getting to and from major transportation services including train stations and bus stops. This is an excellent extension of the County’s existing affordable transit options, and an example of our ongoing commitment to increasing mobility throughout the County.”

“I commend Middlesex County for its generous and progressive approach in introducing the RIDE On Demand program,” said New Brunswick Mayor, Jim Cahill. “This initiative underscores their commitment to offering affordable, flexible, and secure transportation solutions for our community. New Brunswick is enthusiastic about renewing its partnership with the County to pilot this innovative, app-based transit service. We encourage everyone in New Brunswick to embrace the convenience of RIDE On Demand and discover the opportunities this new County service will provide.”

Middlesex County RIDE On Demand’s app and operations will be provided by a TransitTech company, Via. After someone books a RIDE On Demand trip, Via’s intelligent algorithms will match other riders headed in the same direction into one vehicle. Riders will be directed to a nearby corner for pickup and drop-off. The result is a highly efficient service that minimizes lengthy detours while providing near-universal transit coverage in areas that buses and trains cannot reach.

Middlesex County RIDE On Demand may eventually expand to include other municipalities in Middlesex County after initial assessments on this pilot program. Current transit services under the Office of Middlesex County Area Transit (MCAT) will not be impacted by this new offering but will work together to serve the growing needs of the community.

To download this new app, iPhone users should visit the App Store, Android users can visit the Google Play Store, and search “Middlesex County RIDE On Demand.” For individuals without access to digital devices, rides can also be booked by phone at 732-655-6600.

For more information, please visit middlesexcountynj.gov/RIDE. 

Middlesex County is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies, three universities, 19 park systems, and world-class healthcare and research facilities making it one of the nation’s most dynamic regions and a leader in technology, transportation, the arts, and food innovation. As one of the most diverse populations in the country, Middlesex County is home to over 860,000 residents living throughout 25 municipalities. The County's award-winning Middlesex County Magnet Schools system and two-year Middlesex College uphold its position as #1 in the state for best schools, offering secondary and postsecondary education and workforce development programs that create a unique ecosystem where opportunities abound. Conveniently located between New York and Philadelphia, Middlesex County is a leading destination for businesses and residents alike to live, work, and play – and has been since the 17th century.

Founded in 2012, Via pioneered the TransitTech category by using new technologies to develop public mobility systems — optimizing networks of buses, shuttles, wheelchair-accessible vehicles, school buses, autonomous vehicles, and electric vehicles around the globe. Building the world's most efficient, equitable, and sustainable transportation network for all passengers — including those with limited mobility, those without smartphones, and unbanked populations — Via works with its partners to lower the costs of public transit while providing transportation options that rival the convenience of a personal car while reducing environmental impact. At the intersection of transportation and technology, Via is a visionary market leader that combines software innovation with sophisticated service design and operational expertise to fundamentally improve the way the world moves, providing technology in 650 communities and more than 35 countries and counting.