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Transportation

Can Pittsburgh Make ‘Mobility as a Service’ Succeed?

The city’s Move PGH pilot, modeled on a concept pioneered in Finland, promises seamless integration of transportation modes — a buzzy idea that hasn’t yet caught on.   

Pittsburgh is creating a network of mobility hubs that bring multiple transportation modes together, which could be a model for other U.S. cities. 

Pittsburgh is creating a network of mobility hubs that bring multiple transportation modes together, which could be a model for other U.S. cities. 

Photographer: David Kelly/Spin

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Earlier this month, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto unveiled Move PGH, a program that aims to unite transportation services for non-drivers into a single platform. By opening Transit app, program participants will soon be able to plan and buy trips on public transit and bikeshare, as well as rides on shared electric scooters from Spin, by-the-hour vehicle rentals from Zipcar, e-mopeds from Scoobi, and carpooling via Waze.

In exchange for participating in Move PGH, each of those companies has received a city permit unavailable to its competitors. The city is also working with Spin to concentrate mobility services around 50 physical hubs scattered throughout the city.