UberMOTO 1-1

Uber has launched its first motorbike service in Thailand, expanding beyond the company’s traditional four-wheeled ride offerings. Dubbed UberMOTO, the service went live as a pilot programme in Bangkok recently.

The new service is aimed at cities where traffic congestion is particularly severe. According to Uber, over 1,500 new cars find their way onto the streets of Bangkok daily, with the average daily commute taking 120 minutes, while traffic speeds have dropped to under 16 km/h (11 km/h during rush hour).

For Bangkok Uber users, UberMOTO will be available as another option within the Uber app, with the same mechanics as its traditional car services. Therefore, each motorcycle driver will have undergone a screening process which includes a police background check.

UberMOTO 2

Furthermore, all of Uber’s standard product safety features are in place before, during and after every UberMOTO ride, like live GPS tracking, two-way feedback and the ability to share trip details with family and friends.

Each UberMOTO driver will also have an extra helmet on hand for their passenger, in accordance to local traffic laws. The rides are offered at a base rate of 10 baht (RM1.18), plus 3.5 baht a kilometer (41 sen) and 0.85 baht (10 sen) a minute . A minimum fare as well as cancellation fee are both 10 baht (RM1.18). Payment can be done via cash or credit card.

In its launch phase, UberMOTO will be available in the Sathorn, Siam and Silom areas. Uber plans to expand the service’s coverage to more location around Bangkok in the future. What do you think of UberMOTO? Do you think it will be a good addition to Uber services in Malaysia?