Getting around Tampa: Walking, biking, taxis, Ubers, golf carts and now driverless cars.

The days of hailing a cab for a ride to the airport have changed. Would anyone imagine an app on your cellphone that connected you through geo-location to a driver close by ready to drive you to a destination? Can you imagine Tampa’s forefathers envisioning future generations walking, biking along Bayshore, leaving a concert at Curtis Hixon Park or hitching a ride home from a local watering hole via an electronic device, without exchanging paper/coin currency? Transportation options are plentiful in Tampa Bay. Less than a decade ago traditional taxi companies such as Yellow Cab, United or CabsPlus black car service dominated the transportation industry in Tampa. However, several technology companies are disrupting the status quo with innovation. Getting around town has never been easier and more convenient. UBER and Lyft have taken the Tampa Bay area by storm. Furthermore, according to ridedowntowner.com “we're excited to provide the downtown area with green, fun and effective transportation seven days a week.” The service started in 2016 providing rides from the Tampa Riverwalk to the Florida Aquarium. Fast forward to 2017 and request a ride anywhere in the service area and you'll be whisked away within minutes. This service is possible thanks to The Tampa Downtown Partnership, along with many other supporters, who have teamed up to bring 100% free rides to Tampa's visitors and residents alike. With their help, the Downtowner now offers free rides within an expanded area of Downtown Tampa.

Want to take a stroll down memory lane then jump on the historic TECO street car and venture into Ybor City? Thanks to local business support another option will soon be available. This new mode of transportation will be focused on getting people around the congested University of South Florida area in North Tampa. In 2012, Florida became the second of eight states to pass legislation supporting autonomous testing and deployment. Earlier this year, that legislation was expanded to allow the vehicles on public roads. In June, the U.S. Department of Transportation held a nationwide "Smart City challenge" to encourage ideas on how to integrate innovative technologies — self-driving cars, connected vehicles and smart sensors — into their transportation networks. That said The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit authority is deploying four vehicles they’ve acquired from Tesla to supplement a program that lets riders receive subsidized rides to or from bus stops in certain areas. HART has partnered with Transdev a global leader in Autonomous Vehicle operations who is preparing to bring the efficiencies witnessed in Europe to North America to facilitate the service. The Transdev Link mobile solution helps transit agencies solve the complicated first-mile, last-mile conundrum of getting passengers in underserved areas to bus stops and train stations. In the HART program, residents located within a three-mile radius of select bus stops can order on-demand shared rides for outgoing and incoming public transit trips from their smartphone or calling a traditional phone line. ADA-complaint vehicles are also available upon request to ensure equitable access for all.

According to Transdev, First-mile last-mile solutions are desirable because they open public transit access to residents who typically fall outside of the system’s scope based on geographical limitations of the transit network. Traditional for-hire providers are often too expensive to justify the expense of the short ride. The subsidized rides give transit access to residents and increase ridership for public transportation agencies. “What we are creating is an answer to a question that has plagued transit agencies for years,” said Executive Vice President of Business Development Dick Alexander. “This new app is a tool that expands the boundaries of any transit network and offers affordable access to public transportation options. It’s a win for residents. It’s a win for transit agencies. It’s a win for everybody.” At a time with some many transportation options available, would you consider utilizing public transportation vs alternatives if you could ride in an autonomous spaceship (car)?

Photo Courtesy of http://www.transdevna.com/Transit/Transdev-LINK.aspx