App crowdsources fellow travelers for long journeys

Skedaddle lets users crowdsource journeys in luxury vehicles for intercity and out-of-town trips.

Traveling in towns and cities has been changed beyond recognition by services like Uber, enabling users to sort out a ride at the tap of a button. But now a US startup is looking to transform how users plan and book longer journeys.

Skedaddle connects users who have the same travel plans, whether they are going to concerts, eager for a city break, or planning a trip to a big sporting event. Users can either browse existing routes or create one themselves — if they are the creator of the journey, they get to ride free. The trips have set departure times, and goes live once ten riders have been secured. The riders are charge 48 hours before the trip, and the prices will decrease as more riders book the route (late bookers are charged more for the same ride). Skedaddle then sends luxury cars to pick up each passenger.

Users can board their vehicle instantly, with no need for paper or e-tickets. They can also start private route bookings with friends to split cash payments straight away. Skedaddle’s tap-and-ride service for longer journeys aims to disrupt traditional coach companies in the US.

The service could prove popular during the holidays and college breaks, offering students an affordable ride home, while coach companies can make use of their idle assets. How else can urban and intercity transport be disrupted by the sharing economy?