The Ride (MBTA)

[1] In 2016, the MBTA started a pilot program that allows passengers to use a TNC (transportation network company) such as Lyft or Uber a specified number of times per month.

[3] The Ride has attracted criticism in recent years for its high operating cost per rider per trip (over US$65 in 2016) and its inefficient service model.

Additionally, the MBTA contracts out call center services - including reservations, scheduling and dispatch - to a vendor (currently Intelliride, a subsidiary of Transdev).

In September 2019, the MBTA offered 50% of Ride trips to NEXT, 30% to MV Transportation and 20% to VTS for the next contract period after evaluating price points and technical abilities of each vendor.

In March 2020, transfers between service providers were stopped temporarily during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 for health reasons and in June 2020, the MBTA decided to make that change permanent.

[10] During discussions of potential major fare increases and service cuts in 2013, the program's high cost per rider was cited as waste.

Social distancing is very difficult in the Ride vehicles and impossible when the passengers require physical assistance, so the drivers were very concerned about protecting their health.

However, once the strike began the MBTA stated “Due to a shortage of drivers, shared trips on The Ride will temporarily resume.

Customers should expect to be on vehicles at the same time as other customers.”[14] On July 19, 2020, after being on strike for eight days, Veterans drivers approved a new contract, with 90% of the voters voting in favor of it.