April 6, 2022 (Memphis) — Memphis residents and visitors can now ride the popular Groove On-Demand public transportation service seven days a week, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The service’s goals are to expand access to efficient, equitable public transit in Memphis, and the increased service hours are a testament to the success that Groove On-Demand has seen since launching last February.
Groove On-Demand has provided over 55,000 rides to-date, many of which are helping riders reach essential destinations in Memphis such as hospitals, government buildings, grocery stores, and residential areas. The service allows any rider to book an on-demand ride within minutes to travel anywhere in Downtown Memphis, the Medical District, South City, and New Chicago.
Recent rider survey results have uncovered some meaningful insights that demonstrate how Groove has made a positive impact on the Memphis community in the last year.
- Groove has high customer satisfaction, with loyal riders. 97% of riders would be very or somewhat disappointed if they could no longer use Groove.
- Groove is helping people travel more often, and more affordably. The top answers for using Groove are affordability and convenience. 81% of riders said that saving money is a main benefit, and 38% said that they travel more with Groove.
- Groove is filling transit equity needs in Memphis. 62% of riders make below $50k per year, and 67% of riders said they do not own a personal vehicle.
Rides can be booked easily through the Groove On-Demand smartphone app or by calling 901-763-8422. The service is powered by Via, the leader in TransitTech. Via’s advanced algorithms match multiple passengers headed in the same direction to provide quick and efficient shared trips, without lengthy detours or inconvenient schedules. A trip costs $1.25 (with discounted rates available to seniors, students, and those with disabilities). The first ten rides are free for new riders.
Groove On-Demand is supported by a partnership between the Downtown Memphis Commission, Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA), and the Memphis Medical District Collaborative.
About Via
Via builds innovative software to enable our customers—cities, transit agencies, transport operators, school districts, universities, and corporations—to transform their legacy transportation systems into advanced digital networks. As pioneers of the TransitTech category, Via’s mission is to expand access to efficient, affordable, and sustainable transportation. Via’s software enables organizations to digitize their existing transportation networks and launch new and innovative services, simultaneously lowering operating costs and increasing quality of service. Our software is used in over 500 communities in more than 35 countries around the world.
About Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA)
The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) is the public transportation provider for the Memphis area. As one of the largest transit operators in the state of Tennessee, MATA transports customers in the City of Memphis and parts of Shelby County on fixed-route buses, paratransit vehicles and vintage rail trolleys. For more information, visit www.matatransit.com.
About Downtown Memphis Commission
The Downtown Memphis Commission (DMC) drives Downtown's role as the economic, cultural, and governmental core of the city and county. The DMC is solely funded by an assessment on commercial property in the Central Business Improvement District (CBID), which is reinvested into funding incentives and activations designed to support the growth of both Downtown’s population and appraised commercial property values.
Through our investment in Downtown development, infrastructure, vibrancy and activation, we are creating a stronger Downtown Memphis—a Downtown for everyone.
Learn more on the DMC’s State of Downtown Dashboard or at DowntownMemphis.com.