RideAustin technology goes global

Aiming to promote its unique nonprofit ride-share business model, RideAustin has released its software platform for use under the MIT open-source license. Andy Tryba, RideAustin’s co-founder and CEO, said publishing the rider and driver apps, the server software and a management console could provide a boost to cities and individuals around the world looking to create similar services of their own. Rather than replication, RideAustin expects the release to generate a collaborative effort to innovate the technology and benefit alternative ride-share providers everywhere. All of this, in the company’s own words, is a natural progression of its founding principles of open data and collaboration. The company says its app is also bigger than ride-share alone, and can serve as a foundation for a variety of on-demand services. RideAustin currently claims status as the world’s only nonprofit ride-share organization. Compared to ride-share giant Uber, the nonprofit charges customers less on average and pays drivers between 30 and 50 percent more. In its role as a community asset, RideAustin offers free and discounted services to groups in need of reliable transportation. Its Round Up donation feature has also raised more than $450,000 for over 50 local nonprofits.