RIDE, Wilson’s new transit system, will debut on September 1, bringing an innovative, enhanced solution for Wilson’s public transit needs, and giving Wilsonians a whole new way to get to work, school and just about anywhere else in Wilson.

RIDE dramatically improves the flexibility and convenience of using public transportation in Wilson. Pre-launch estimates say riders’ time could be cut in half or more with a vastly expanded service territory.

RIDE is a partnership between Via, a global transportation company, and the City of Wilson, and allows residents to request a ride from a smart phone app or by phone, walk to a nearby “virtual bus stop”, and be driven to their destination in a standard vehicle, rather than a city bus. The service will include wheelchair-accessible vehicles, with curb-to-curb rides for those with limited mobility.

The City Council approved the transition from Wilson’s current, fixed-route transit system to RIDE in June 2020, after considering the system for several months. Wilson is one of the smallest cities in the state to offer a public transit system.

 “The City Council has consistently demonstrated a willingness to try new approaches to better serve our community,” said Wilson City Manager Grant Goings. “Our existing bus system is outdated and inconvenient for most citizens. We believe RIDE will not only provide a better service for current transit riders, it creates a new, convenient and modern transportation option anyone can access. We may be the first community of our size to attempt this conversion, but Wilson is not afraid to lead.”

Transportation issues have consistently been ranked as one of the biggest barriers to employment in Wilson. Several major employers in the area have expressed concern about transportation options available to employees without a vehicle.

"Mobility opens doors of opportunity, and we believe such an expanded service will not only benefit riders, but employers, retailers, education and healthcare providers as well,” said Goings when the proposal was initially considered by the City Council in March 2020.   

“RIDE represents an opportunity for the City of Wilson to set an example for the way that towns across the country can use technology to provide residents with unparalleled access to public transit,” said Daniel Ramot, Via CEO and co-founder. “We are proud to partner with the City to demonstrate how flexible and dynamic transit solutions can support the community with affordable, efficient and convenient mobility options.”

While new to North Carolina, Via operates systems in several major metropolitan areas in the United States and serves communities in 20+ countries. Via offers a turn-key service, including managing the operations as well as the technology required to maximize efficiency. Via’s technology solution matches riders heading to nearby locations to provide the quickest RIDE possible.

“I am really excited for Wilson’s opportunity to work with an innovative company like Via to bring transformative change to one of Wilson’s key services,” said Rodger Lentz, Wilson’s Chief Planning and Development Officer and one of the core team members of the RIDE development and implementation team. “Transportation touches all of us. This project is another example of Wilson leveraging technology to become more efficient and enhance our community’s quality of life.”

RIDE’s development was designed and led by several departments, including Lentz, Bill Bass, Public Works Director, and Gronna Jones, Wilson Transit Manager.  

The service enhancements with RIDE are being accomplished with the same budget used for the fixed route bus system that only covered a portion of our city.

The on-demand service will be available citywide from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Each ride will have a $!.50 flat fare with discounts for multi-ride bundles and multiple riders on the same trip.   To encourage residents to try RIDE, all passengers will receive 10 free rides on the service at launch, and can pre-register for accounts online, or by downloading the app in advance for  iOS and Android devices.[1]