Transport app Citymapper is launching a new hybrid bus service in London

UK transport app Citymapper is launching a new taxi service. Or, wait, a new bus service. Actually, it’s somewhere in between. After confusion this week when the company’s plans leaked to the press, Citymapper has shared some details of new “Smart Ride” initiative — a hybrid service that will see a small fleet of eight-seater vans offer rides around a number of routes in London, changing their course based on customer demand.

“It’s a bit like a bus because it has stops, it’s a bit like a cab because you book it and it has guaranteed seats, and it’s a bit like a metro because it has a network of roads,” Citymapper president and head of business, Omid Ashtari, told The Guardian.

Smart Ride will only operate in a small portion of central and north-east London to begin with, with each ride hailed via Citymapper app. The key selling-point though is the company’s use of flexible routes. As customers hail more or fewer rides from different parts of the minivans’ catchment area, it will redirect drivers to meet demand.

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