From global mobility to sustainable travel solutions and beyond, the Mobility section of eCabs’ blog offers valuable insights into the world of transportation, as we discover the latest trends and challenges, and seek innovative solutions.

Policy development and the role of mobility operators

Policy development and the role of mobility operators

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eCabs International Business Development Manager

Ruslan Golomovzy

We have spoken about MaaS (Mobility as a Service) before – its impacts, effects, and consequences on the future of transportation.

MaaS has allowed for the democratisation of access to mobility for all. It has done this by leveraging technology to provide a frictionless experience for anyone with mobility needs.

Booking a cab today is a matter of mere seconds. We have become accustomed to the fast-paced process as consumers.

Platforms and operators champion low waiting times and speedy service. However, we face a very different reality when it comes to mobility policies, their development, implementation, and evaluation.

Innovation, investment and integration

Today, we need to view mobility platforms as being part of the solution from a policy development point of view as well.

Policy development usually follows a three-step process, design, implementation, and feedback.

This is an archaic process, that fails to consider the necessity for fast feedback and adjustment.

The mobility industry is on the rise. The post-COVID uptake of micro-mobility has spurred innovation, investment, and integration with the current mobility policies in place.

We’ve seen partially successful micro-mobility policies implemented in Paris when it comes to e-scooters, with the guidance and support of the largest micro-mobility operators.

This was only possible due to the operators sharing their data on riders. Providing feedback to policymakers in real-time on the effects of the laws that they were implementing.

The implementation can only be considered partially successful. Safety was not enforced and eventually led to a negative perception of e-scooters in Paris. In April of 2023, Parisians voted to ban e-scooters.  

The role of data

When mobility operators are left out of the policy-making process, it is detrimental to all stakeholders.

Data has played a role in policy development for the last 20 years. However, it is usually an extrapolation of historic data. Or volunteer surveys that are then used to hypothesise how policies should be framed.

Naturally, one cannot wait, years in some cases, for a government statistics office to publish data to be able to take decisions.

With the data that we have access to today, as a tech mobility company, we are able to forecast faster, plan more efficiently and able to re-validate our decision-making at later dates when other data sources are published.

The granularity of the information – from how users interact with our products, to determining the most efficient way of distributing drivers across a territory to ensure low waiting times – further demonstrates the vast and untapped potential of mobility operators in policy-making.

The one source of truth

Mobility operators are the one source of truth when it comes to understanding how the end user chooses to use transportation.

We believe policies should focus on the improvement and empowerment of citizens. When you leave MaaS operators out of the conversation, it is a disservice to the citizen.

Even poor adoptions/enforcement of existing policies lead to bizarre cases. These slow down progress and hinder industry stakeholders from accelerating the industry forward.

When policies don’t make sense, businesses don’t invest.

Mobility is a capital-intensive, high volume and low-margin network market. So, the lack of enforced quality policies proves to be a barrier for MaaS and investment.

The cost of physical infrastructure (i.e., charging pillars), vehicles and maintenance of 24/7 operations is not a simple obligation. Especially when the operators deal directly with consumers and take on the responsibility of the well-being of their users.

The European Commission has formed a Commission Expert Group on Urban Mobility (EGUM). Its long-term objective to “help develop urban aspects of transport and support implementing the New EU Urban Mobility Framework”.

EGUM expects to develop the work programme over the next two years. With a key pillar focusing on data sharing for urban logistics, and how to support dialogue and voluntary data sharing between all types of stakeholders, whether they be public or private. 

Big data – a new opportunity

The utilisation of big data is imperative in the adjustment of existing laws and the development of new policies.

This would allow for reactive monitoring and adjustment of policies in a rapidly developing industry. Thus, ensuring that the governance of MaaS is vision-led and scaled to the right function urban area (FUA).

Big data is a new opportunity to ensure that when policies are designed, they are taking into consideration data from multiple sources and across the representative population.

GPS data has been used since the 2000s to help shape policies. However, it only provides information about what is happening. It does not facilitate further understanding of why a user may be travelling in a certain pattern or using only certain types of transportation.

The democratisation of mobility

We need to be able to tap into social media data to help policymakers detect the driving forces of people’s movement behaviour.

Furthermore, policymaking needs to further expand the scope of sources that are used to shape policies.

The democratisation of mobility also encompasses representation of all demographics within the population, from Gen Alpha’s through to Boomers. Each cohort is a valuable stakeholder that has to have their wants and needs thoroughly considered to ensure that all citizens are empowered.

Policies should focus on the improvement and empowerment of citizens… When policies don’t make sense, businesses don’t invest.

eCabs International Business Development Manager Ruslan Golomovzy

The idea of ‘food deserts’ (places where most residents don’t have access to affordable, nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains) extends to mobility, where a certain type of mobility could be underrepresented.

Without big data and the inclusion of all stakeholders, we risk isolating these members of society and depriving them of accessible mobility.

We believe policies should focus on the improvement and empowerment of citizens. When you leave MaaS operators out of the conversation, it is a disservice to the citizen.

This would be disadvantageous to all stakeholders, hindering people from accessing mobility and delaying the implementation of effective and future-oriented policies.

Ruslan is an experienced professional in the MaaS industry, bringing seven years of operational experience and a track record of launching new products into the market. He has a talent for identifying opportunities for growth, building and nurturing relationships with clients and partners, and negotiating contracts. He has considerable expertise in market research, analysis, and forecasting, as well as experience in managing complex projects. Ruslan is passionate about driving innovation in the MaaS industry. He does not own a car and refuses to drive, to ensure he inherently has a different perception on mobility. During his free time, his various interests include playing Dungeons and Dragons, going to the gym, rock climbing, cooking, and gardening.
4 great reasons to book a reliable airport transfer with eCabs

4 great reasons to book a reliable airport transfer

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In this blog we list the benefits of booking a reliable airport transfer.

Going abroad is always a great thing to look forward to. However, it can also be a little stressful unless all your ducks are in order. One thing you can easily tick on your list is pre-booking a reliable, affordable ride to and from the airport. 

Here are the main advantages of booking a cab ride for airport drop off or pick up, whether pre-booked or booked on demand. 

Affordability

Booking a taxi airport service with a cab company can often be more cost-effective than renting a car, or even using your own, especially when you factor in the cost of fuel and car park charges.

Peace of mind

When time is of the essence, pre-booking a cab via the comfort and ease of your mobile app to get you to and from the airport can be a big advantage.

Going to the airport? If you book an airport transfer, you get picked up from wherever and whenever is most convenient for you.

Travelling from the airport? No need to worry about carrying your bags and getting your car from the parking area, paying for the time you spent there and then driving home (which is probably the last thing you feel like after a plane ride).

When using an app or booking online, there are usually various different car types that you can choose from, depending on whether you are travelling alone or in a group, and how much luggage you have.

Flexibility and convenience

Of course, there are other ways to get to and from the airport, such as using your private car, as mentioned above.

There is also public transport, which is a great solution as long as you can spare a couple of hours over and above, just in case the bus is running late, or it is full and you have to wait for another one. It also works best if you are travelling light. Starting off your holiday time clutching your bags while travelling with loads of other people is not the most stress-free of beginnings.

Safety and comfort

Booking a cab via your ride-hailing app ensures that you will be picked up on time and have a ‘tailor-made’ comfortable, fast, affordable, and safe journey.

Just book the cab, follow it on the map with the ETA fully visible and easily contact the driver at the press of a button should you need to.

Travelling to Malta? Book your airport transfer with eCabs

There are plenty of things to stress about in life. Getting from the airport to your accommodation should not be one of them.

If you are travelling to Malta, pre-booking your airport transfers with eCabs means reliability, convenience, professionalism, cost-effectiveness, safety, and comfort.

The easiest way to do that is to use the eCabs Passenger App which you can download for iOS and Android.

Through the eCabs App, while you are waiting for the driver to arrive, you will be able to see precisely how far away they are, as well as the driver and car type/registration number.

You can even call the driver straight from your App, and, if you enter your flight details when booking one of our cabs, we will track your flight to make sure you are on time.

Cab bookings in Malta are very well priced, especially from a ride-hailing App. When using the eCabs app, you can choose to pay by Apple Pay, Google Pay, bank card or cash.

There are various different car types that you can choose from, depending on whether you are travelling alone or in a group, and how much luggage you have.

If you would prefer to book an eCabs as soon as you land, you can do that too. Nowadays pick-ups are so fast that ASAP bookings are anyway just as reliable in Malta, with average pick-up times hovering around five minutes.

And when your holiday or business trip is over, eCabs will pick you up right behind your door. So you can enjoy a comfortable, safe ride to the airport.

24/7 Customer Service

eCabs is the only ride-hailing service in Malta which offers 24/7 customer service via its manned Support Centre which can be contacted by telephone on +356 21 38 38 38.

Find out more about our airport transfers
How to travel sustainably and help save the planet

How to travel sustainably and help save the planet

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The worldwide travel sector accounts for about eight percent of global carbon emissions. There are ways to travel sustainably and help the environment, and we need to make a difference.

What is sustainable travel?

As awareness of climate change intensifies, people are becoming more informed and concerned about the negative impact of travel. They are consequently more willing to make a change to their usual travel habits. And they tend to choose more eco-friendly options, in aid of more sustainable travel.

One approach which is gaining traction is the concept of ‘slow travel’. This means that travel should be based on a connection to the local culture, people, and food of the place you are visiting. It also advocates less frequent but longer trips. Moreover, it also entails travelling by more sustainable means, such as trains instead of planes, for instance.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, people started looking at travel in a different way. Perhaps there is a way of travelling more responsibly in the future, while reducing our carbon footprint.

What is a carbon footprint?

A carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gasses that a company or individual emits. These emissions have a detrimental effect on the environment. They make the temperature of the planet go up, which results in various effects. These include the rising of sea levels and ice caps melting, as well as the increase of natural disasters such as floods, extreme heat, and hurricanes.

Travel sustainably by making the right choices

There are various ways that you can reduce your carbon footprint by making smarter choices and travelling more sustainably. This can be done in a number of ways, such as using public transport or walking/cycling instead of driving.

  • When travelling short distances, try to avoid using air travel. Trains and ferries have a smaller carbon footprint than planes.
  • Walk when at all possible, especially short distances.
  • Use public transport if possible.
  • Try to use multi-mobility options such as bicycles, electric scooters, e-bikes and even ferries.
  • When booking a ride-hailing service, choose the ‘green‘ or ‘Eco‘ option.

Reduce your carbon footprint when travelling by air

If you have no choice but to travel by air, it’s important to consider the environmental impact of your flights. One way to do this is to choose airlines that are committed to reducing their carbon emissions.

Many airlines now offer ‘carbon offset programmes’, where passengers can pay a fee to offset the emissions generated by their flight. This money is then used to fund projects that help reduce carbon emissions, such as reforestation or renewable energy projects.

Apart from airlines, other companies offer carbon offset programmes, which help to fund projects that help reduce carbon emissions. These projects can include reforestation or renewable energy projects, for instance. This is another relatively ‘easy’ way to help mitigate the environmental impact of your travel.

Choose sustainable accommodation

When choosing where to stay, try eco-friendly hotels or guesthouses. These kinds of establishments are designed to minimise their environmental impact, for example, by using renewable energy sources, reducing water usage, recycling and energy efficient lighting measures.

Choosing to stay in smaller, locally-owned accommodations can have a positive impact on the local economy.

Another way to be more eco-friendly is to limit the use of air conditioning in your accommodation, as well as to be mindful about the amount of water you use when abroad. It might be a small thing to you but the energy savings can be quite substantial.

Reduce waste when travelling

Reducing waste is an important part of sustainable travel. When travelling, try to avoid using single-use plastics and instead take a reusable water bottle, coffee cup, and shopping bag.

Additionally, try to choose products with minimal packaging and dispose of waste properly, using recycling facilities where possible.

Give your support to local communities and businesses

Supporting local businesses and communities can have a positive impact on the environment and the local economy. Try to eat at local restaurants that use local and seasonal produce, and buy souvenirs from local artisans.

Go for sustainable activities

When planning your travel, choose activities that have a minimal environmental impact, such as hiking and cycling. These are great ways to enjoy the natural environment while lessening your impact on it. You could also choose to visit places such as national parks and protected areas. These kinds of locations often have strong commitment to sustainable tourism.

By following these tips for travelling sustainably, you can help reduce your carbon footprint while still enjoying all that travel has to offer.

How to travel sustainably with us

Through its cutting-edge tech solutions, eCabs Technologies has given incentives to its drivers to opt for more environmentally-friendly vehicles by charging them a lower commission rate on the rides they perform, to encourage them to move to a more more eco-friendly solution.

To determine the commercial and operational feasibility of an all-electric fleet, it launched a pilot research project that involved testing various all-electric car brands in a 24/7 operational context. The aim was to collect data that would shed light on the viability of using electric vehicles in such an environment.

When booking a ride with eCabs, one can request the Eco category. This category is made up of 100 percent electric or hybrid vehicles, ensuring a ‘cleaner’ journey. Eco ride prices on the platform are at par with the lowest rides among all available options. 

eCabs’ own fleet is also leading the way into a more eco-friendly future by setting into motion an ambitious project for more sustainable travel which will see it run completely on green vehicles in the near future.

How are ride-hailing companies part of the solution?
Understanding Mobility as a Service

The future of transportation? Understanding Mobility as a Service

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In this blog post, we discuss what Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is. We also touch upon its key features, and why it is essential for the future of transportation.

Table of contents

‘Fast-paced’ has become an understated adjective in today’s world. People are not only constantly on the move, but the speed of getting from A to B has become an invaluable currency. Transportation is an integral and essential part of our daily lives.

New technologies and service providers have created the concept of Mobility as a Service (MaaS).

MaaS has the potential to transform the way we move, making it easier, cheaper, and more convenient for everyone.

The state of transportation today

The transportation sector is currently a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. These emissions have negative consequences for public health and the environment.

Moreover, traffic congestion is a major problem in many cities. This results in lost productivity, increased travel time, and increased fuel consumption.

The future of transportation needs to be more efficient, sustainable, and accessible to all.

What exactly is Mobility as a Service?

Mobility as a Service is a concept that integrates various modes of transportation. It allows its users to make their journey planning easier. It does this by allowing them to plan, book, and pay for multiple types of modes of transportation through a digital single payment channel.

MaaS offers travellers mobility solutions based on their needs, combining transportation services from both public and private transportation providers.

The service is backed by a unified gateway that creates and handles the trip end to end. Users can then pay for the service via a single account.

The MaaS ecosystem is made up of several stakeholders, including transportation providers, technology providers, and service integrators.

The service integrator is responsible for aggregating transportation services and making them available to users through a single platform.

Democratising access to mobility

eCabs International Business Development Manager Ruslan Golomovzy explains that Mobility as a Service is the first step towards democratising access to mobility for all, across all modes of transport – through technology.

“The integration of various transport modes – public transport, ride-sharing, bike-sharing, car-sharing and private cabs – into a technology offering that is intuitive has been a revolutionary approach to tackling the dominance of the private car and freeing up cities to be used by people, not vehicles.”

We can consider that there are four key aspects to MaaS:

  • Convenience.
  • Sustainability.
  • Costs.
  • Access.

“Access to mobility is about generating smiles, not miles. It has to be convenient for the end user and create options in how they choose to travel. MaaS must be sustainable through alternative transportation and compete with the use cases of private vehicles. Cost savings should come from optimisation of the various types of transport and providing flexibility for the end-user in planning their routes based on the associated costs. Finally, the accessibility of MaaS through technology allows underserved areas to have equal exposure to the MaaS revolution.”

The democratisation of mobility, alongside the environmental impacts, leads to healthier societies. It also gives rise to better use of the existing infrastructure and the development of more efficient mobility, namely in the micro mobility sphere.

Key features and benefits

One of the key benefits of MaaS is convenience. With a single digital channel, users can plan, book, and pay for multiple types of transportation in a single process.

MaaS also offers travellers the ability to compare transportation options and make informed decisions about their journeys.

A MaaS journey planner can provide different options for getting from one destination to another. For instance, one could combine using public transport and a train.

MaaS provides access to real-time data about transportation options, allowing travellers to make informed decisions about their journeys. MaaS also offers travellers cost savings, as they can pay for transportation services through a single account.

Access to mobility is about generating smiles, not miles. It has to be convenient for the end user and create options in how they choose to travel.

eCabs International Business Development Manager Ruslan Golomovzy

Another key benefit of MaaS is that it can help to reduce the number of private cars on the road. This is because the economic benefit of owning a personal car may be questioned in favour of more reasonably priced on-demand car services.

“Say you buy a private car for extreme case use (the three yearly trips you do to London). This means that it spends more time parked than being used. Then take into consideration the resources required to build the very same vehicle and how those resources could be reallocated to the development and integration of more effective modes of mobility, not to mention natural resources,” Ruslan says.

MaaS can also improve mobility for those who do not have access to a car or who are unable to drive. It provides a more accessible and affordable alternative to traditional transportation options, significantly reducing the cost of transportation for individuals and families. This can benefit low-income households and those with disabilities.

The challenges of implementing MaaS

Although MaaS has the potential to transform the way we move around our cities, it also presents a number of challenges. There are many different modes of transportation, each with their own set of providers, regulations, and payment systems.

Integrating all of these modes into a single platform is a difficult task that requires collaboration and coordination between various stakeholders.

Another challenge is the need for interoperability between different transportation services. Ensuring a seamless transition between two or more services can be challenging, as each service may have its own payment system and user interface.

Moreover, since MaaS involves the collection and processing of large amounts of personal data, there is the need for strong data privacy and security measures.

Who is driving MaaS adoption?

For mass MaaS adoption to work, Ruslan stresses, stakeholders must realise that while the private car has been around for the last 120 years, with our cities redesigned and built for the private car, this is no longer feasible.

Shoehorning a massive societal change in a shorter timeframe is not possible without government involvement, from a regulatory and infrastructural point of view.

“Cities need to plan and develop mobility frameworks that enable MaaS providers to frictionlessly deploy and provide their services to share/gather user data and create a feedback loop with the government to consult and guide on future infrastructural developments. From a B2C standpoint, it is predominantly the under-35s who are driving MaaS adoption. We’re not seeing adoption by the older generation. Furthermore, corporate entities need to be thinking about implementing mobility policies internally to take advantage of the benefits of MaaS and can start doing so by going through a checklist on how to implement a mobility budget.”

eCabs Circle reward scheme

Be part of eCabs Circle reward scheme

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What are the benefits of joining the eCabs Circle reward scheme? With eCabs Circle the more you ride, the more you earn.

If you enjoy receiving rewards, then eCabs Circle reward scheme is perfect for you. Simply download the eCabs app for iOS or Android and open it on your preferred device. If you have already done so – congratulations!

Look for the three coloured dots located in the top right-hand corner of the app and click on them to join eCabs Circle. Your current points balance will replace the three dots once you have successfully joined.

Why join eCabs Circle?

There are four tiers in eCabs Circle: Blue, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. As a new member, you will begin at the Blue tier, where every €1 you spend translates into one point.

After five rides, you will advance to the Silver tier, where you will earn two points for every €1 spent.

Once you have completed your 30th ride, you will advance to the Gold tier, where you will earn three points for every €1 spent.

Reaching the Platinum tier requires more effort, but the rewards are worth it. You will need to complete 61 rides within a six-month period to reach Platinum and earn four points for every €1 spent.

Periodic promotions and benefits

In addition to the points-based system, eCabs Circle offers periodic promotions and benefits for each tier. Furthermore, you will receive a reward for every 500 points earned.

Interested in learning more about how eCabs Circle can enhance your journey?

Check out our eCabs Circle page
Book a ride in Malta and Gozo with eCabs

How to book a ride with eCabs

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There are various ways to book a ride with eCabs… which one do you prefer?

Book a ride with eCabs via the App

Booking a ride through the eCabs App is the most comfortable and efficient option.

The eCabs App can be downloaded on both iOS from the App Store and Android from Google Play. Upon downloading the App, you will have numerous choices at your disposal.

Firstly, you can select whether to book an instant ride or schedule a ride for the future, enabling you to plan your day, week, or even month in advance.

Moreover, you can pick the ride style that you prefer from a range of options, such as eCabs Go (for the quickest pickups), Economy (for low-cost rides), Eco (for electric or hybrid rides), Van and Luxury Van (for group travel), Comfort (for stylish and comfortable rides), Pro, Luxury, and Executive (for elegant occasions), Pets (for those traveling with animals), and Booster (for travelers with young children).

The price for each category is clearly indicated, including any available discounts, and you will receive the pick-up time before booking.

You can also select your preferred payment method, either by credit card, Apple Pay, or cash via the App.

Additionally, you can track your cab’s progress in real-time and communicate with your driver through the App. In case of any issues, our 24/7 Customer Care Contact Centre is accessible through the App, ensuring prompt assistance.

By using the eCabs App, you can also participate in the eCabs Circle reward scheme, which provides additional benefits.

Book a ride via the website

Alternatively, you can book your ride via the eCabs website, where you can instantly book any of the vehicle types mentioned above or schedule a ride for a future date. You will be notified of the pickup time and the estimated travel duration. You can choose to pay either by cash or on account.

Book a ride by telephone

Lastly, if you prefer speaking to a human operator, you can call +356 21 383838 to book your ride via telephone.

eCabs is Malta’s leading ride-hailing platform in Malta and Gozo, offering on-demand and scheduled rides 24/7, with thousands of cabs at your service.

Book a ride with us today