A2GO shuttle off to solid start, draws hundreds of riders monthly
After nearly two months of operation, the A2GO Autonomous Shuttle Service is growing in ridership, compiling a strong safety record, and attracting more community interest in autonomous vehicle technology.
Mcity joined May Mobility and several other partners in October to launch A2GO. The free, public, on-demand autonomous shuttle service connects the University of Michigan campus, Kerrytown, and the State Street Corridor in Ann Arbor.
A2GO drew nearly 600 riders in October and close to 620 in November. The peak time for riding was around 5 pm both months. The highest ridership day in November was Tuesday, compared to Friday in October.
The most popular pickup and drop off location in October was the U-M stop near the corner of State and William streets. In November, the U-M stop was the most popular for drop offs, while most pickups were requested for U-M’s South Quad area at Packard and Thompson streets.
Positive rider feedback
Riders are asked to assign a star rating of their experience. The average rating so far has been 4.81 out of 5 stars. In addition, a short survey is being used to gather additional insights from riders. The survey, available through support from Mcity, includes seven questions. The questions cover a range of topics, including rider demographics and ways to improve the shuttle service.
One enhancement made from rider feedback is updating the May Mobility app used to order the service. It now displays shuttle stop locations. A2GO is an on-demand service, but not door-to-door, which has created some confusion among potential riders.
“All in all, our teams are satisfied with the progress that we’re making,” said Allison Hegarty, customer success manager for May Mobility, which operates A2GO. “The positive response from our community and riders make us optimistic on what the future holds and the impact that we’re making within Ann Arbor.”
About A2GO
The A2GO fleet includes five autonomous, shared, on-demand vehicles. Four hybrid-electric Lexus RX 450h vehicles each carry up to three passengers. One Polaris GEM fully electric vehicle has capacity for one passenger in a wheelchair. Rides are ordered from the free May Mobility app available through Apple’s App Store or Google Play.
Additional A2GO partners include Ann Arbor SPARK, !important Safety Technologies, 4M, the state of Michigan’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.