Overview
MoveUP is a smartphone app that facilitates flexible management of any transportation system, connecting riders to drivers and allowing the connection of that system to other systems private or public, in a seamless network. Because the system is completely flexible and free to use, any transportation system, whether a small vanpool service, a city taxi service, individual ridershare drivers, or a community or school-based system can make use of the
advanced functionality to better connect riders to drivers,
improving utilization of assets and increasing options for riders.
Structure
There are three components to any transportation system, no matter how large or small: drivers, riders, and an administrative component.
Administrative Panel
Administration of any transportation system has four basic roles:
- Set the qualifications of the drivers such as credentials and background check requirements;
- Set the standards of the vehicles;
- Set the qualifications of the riders such as residents in a community, students at a university, persons with a disability, or even open to the public;
- Monitor the drivers and riders usage of the system.
MoveUP’s online administrative panel allows the personnel currently responsible for these duties to more easily manage the structure and use of their transportation system. Driver accounts must be approved to be activated, and can be terminated at any time. A calendar reminder prompts if a necessarycredential is outdating and can automatically suspend driver usage if a document such as a license expires.
Open or public systems such as taxis or rideshare systems do not require administrative approval for a riders over 18 years of age, and the drivers will be accessible by anyone who downloads the app. For systems that restrict use such as a healthcare system, disabled paratransit system, closed community, or university, the rider’s account must also be approved, and that account can also be terminated at any time.
The administrative panel also controls the way in which the drivers and riders connect, most importantly referring to any fees for service and how those fares are determined. The system is completely flexible, allowing for fixed rate trips, fares based on time or mileage or both, including base and minimum fares. The rides may be free within that specific network while allowing a separate fare for public use; in other words, drivers might transport residents of a community as a free benefit, but charge a fare to public users. A transport service for disabled persons might offer free service for patient visits to a healthcare system where they might bill an insurance carrier or be grant funded, but charge a fare for use as general transport.
The administrative panel is a cloud-based, online-accessible app for Windows PC with a secure login that is distinct for each transportation network.
The connection between riders and drivers is secured by a coded “key” that prevents unauthorized use.
The administrative panel keeps records of all rides within that system including driver, rider, pick-up point, drop-off point, and any fund transfer.
Drivers
MoveUP is a smartphone app that facilitates the connection of drivers to their passengers, increasing utilization and efficiency. MoveUP allows for both on-demand and scheduled transport. Within the restrictions of the transportation system they are operating on, drivers set their own fares.
For example, a self-employed rideshare driver can determine the rates that they will charge, modifying them at any time using 4 parameters: base fare, minimum fare, fare per minute, and/or fare per mile. A driver can choose to waive a fare after a ride at their discretion. Hired drivers on a transportation system such as a city paratransit driver will have the fare set by the administrator of that system.
Drivers may choose to provide specialty services, such as allowance of pets or utilization of a bike rack.
With on-demand rides, a driver that has the app set in “online” mode and is not actively engaged in a trip and has no pending scheduled fares will be visible as an option to any rider within that system that enters a ride proposal into the app.
The rider sees the estimated fare based on the driver’s set parameters in real time. Riders see a thumb-nail picture of the driver and vehicle, and drivers can add a paragraph bio describing the services they provide which becomes visible when a potential rider clicks a button in the app.
When a rider requests a job from a driver, the app alerts the driver of the potential job and describes the pick-up point and destination, allowing the driver to decide to accept the job or not.
Scheduled rides work in a similar fashion, with a text alert that offers the job to the driver.
Once the ride is initiated, Google based gps mapping provides step-by-step navigation to the pick-up point. Similar navigation services guide the driver to the destination.
Fund transfer can be completed electronically using Stripe, depositing fares directly into the driver’s account or any other account such as system administrator account as needed (see “Volunteer Mode”). Stripe manages the fund transfer such that no secure information is stored within the app.
Stripe charges a fee for fund transfer that is similar to other credit card fund transfer fees. Stripe offers discounts for documented non-profits users.
Riders
MoveUP is an intuitive smartphone app that allows easy connection with any available driver that is qualified to provide transportation to that individual.
Riders can sort through a list of available drivers to select the service that best meets their needs. Use of the app mandates that the qualifications of the drivers be available to riders at any time, public or private. Riders see the estimated fare based on the parameters of the system itself (such as a free University transport service) or as set by the driver (such as a taxi or rideshare driver).
Riders can see a thumb-nail picture of their driver and the vehicle for increased security, and also see the licences plate number. A bio provided by the driver is accessible to the rider to aid in selecting the most appropriate service depending on the rider’s personal concerns. Available drivers can be sorted by proximity, cost, or driver rating. Riders can request on-demand service, or schedule a trip at a later time.
Modern Google-based GPS allows the rider to see thee location and progress of the driver as they approach the pick-up point and continue towards the destination. The driver and rider can call each other with a single click.
The system accounts for all people, not just ambulatory adults. Riders may be specified by certain criteria such as a disability and then be matched with appropriate drivers only. These specific groups are
(1) Ambulatory adults;
(2) Children 13-17 years of age;
(3) Adults needing some assistance;
(4) Passengers in folding wheelchairs; (5) Passengers in electric wheelchairs.
For example, a rider in a folding wheelchair may be a resident in a community that provides some transportation services to its disabled residents.
When that rider requests transportation, they will see any available drivers from that community system, but they will also see any other drivers in the area who are also meet these qualifications and have made their services available to the general public, whether these are private services or public paratransit services. The rider will see any fares that might be associated with those trips.
Special Features
Caregiver Directed Transportation
<p”>MoveUP is designed to facilitate the transportation of anyone, regardless of their access to or ability to use a smartphone. A caregiver such as a family member, healthcare provider, or social worker can direct transportation to another person using all of the available functionality of the app. (Also see MUSE below).
Volunteer Mode
MoveUP proudly offers the first system to enable drivers who would like to operate as volunteers to provide meaningful impact within their community.
When operating as a volunteer, all of the same functions and features of the app are available, and the driver must still meet the qualifications of the system in which he or she wants to operate. Furthermore, the driver may still set a fare as they see fit, the difference being that any fare collected while operating in volunteer mode is transferred into an account managed by the community or city. These funds can then be allocated to facilitate the transportation of other persons in the community who may need some assistance as that community or city designates.
For example, persons with disabilities have significant imitations on transportation, because most disabled transport services operate on an insurance-based payment system and are focused on medical transport. A person may wish to assist a neighbor who is in a wheelchair, but does not have access to a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. This driver could operate a vehicle in volunteer mode transporting other persons within the
area, raising money that can then be designated for the transport of the disabled person. Because this is not an insurance company, that transport has no medical restrictions. A neighbor can now help another get anywhere they need to go.
MUSE – MoveUP Simplified Edition
MoveUP is designed to facilitate the transportation of anyone, even if they have limited or declining abilities to use a smartphone, whatever the reason.
MUSE is a simplified version of the app that enables someone such as an elderly person who cannot operate a standard smartphone app to still enjoy the benefits of improved mobility that MoveUP provides.
MUSE is based on programmable buttons with “macro” functionality. A caregiver such as a family member, healthcare provider, or social worker can program large, easily visible and easy to navigate buttons that use default settings to assist transportation: “grocery store”, “Joe’s house”, “Pharmacy”, or “Home”, whatever best suits the rider’s needs. One touch pushes the transport request to all available qualified drivers including
the individual’s preferences. Tracking of the ride is simplified to an easily-viewable screen with the driver’s name and a large count-down timer.
The caregiver is prompted when rides are initiated, and can monitor those rides remotely. The rider and driver and caregiver are all easily connected with a single button to dial.
Because MUSE is a version of MoveUP, it can be utilized on any participating transportation network, including public networks such as city taxis and rideshare drivers. Any driver connecting to a MUSE rider will be required to have met the additional qualifications needed for transportation of adults needing some assistance.
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