Norway first with Sharebus bus sharing
The new sharing platform Ferdia Sharebus, backed by a solid bus company, allows private individuals and companies to set up bus trips for free. The buses are filled by the travelers enlisting fellow passengers and in cooperation with the destinations. The bus sharing service Ferdia Sharebus will eventually roll out in Europe, but Norwegian travelers will get the opportunity first.
The Norwegian company Ferdia has developed a robust platform that challenges private cars with an efficient, flexible, social and green transport solution based on the bus. Norwegian customers who have been allowed to test the solution are enthusiastic and think many will benefit from the service now that it is rolled out more widely. Ferdia Sharebus will go to Sweden and Denmark next year, and further into Europe as soon as possible.
The married couple Gunn and Bjørn Arild Johansen from Alta were recently at the Nordic Dance Gala in Sandefjord. They discovered bus sharing offers from Ferdia Sharebus through organized websites.
– We chose Sharebus and it worked perfectly. The journey becomes simpler, and we could sit high and comfortably without stressing with exchange of collective offers.
Mona Kulseth was also at the dance gala and is happy to travel with Sharebus again.
– Excellent service both ways. I don’t have a car, so this was a good alternative to trains, which would have been more complicated, says Kulseth.
The organizer Nordisk Dansegalla also writes of the solution:
– With Sharebus, we could finally offer the public a competitive alternative to the car. I think carpooling is good for the environment and, not least, very social. In addition, Sharebus is comfortable and seamless – without changing means of transport. By increasing accessibility and improving the travel route, we have a unique offer for our event. This has great potential to meet the audience’s needs in the future, says Jan Einar Johnsen of Kjentfolk AS, who was the producer for Nordisk Dansegalla.
First out with bus sharing
Very exciting things are happening in mobility, especially micromobility and car sharing. Bus sharing is new and suitable for the slightly longer trips.
– We at Sharebus have struck a nerve with organizers and destinations, in addition to traveling parents who have to organize transport to away matches. With bus sharing, the group avoids logistical stress and it’s nice to travel together, says general manager Håkon Sæther in Ferdia.
– Now we are launching a more flexible and robust platform, and are ready to serve other countries. In Norway, we have worked up a large network of buses. Soon we will also have a bus network to launch Sharebus outside Norway, says Sæther.
Welcome offer
Norwegian Culture Organizers, which has 500 member companies, sees Sharebus as solving several challenges – both for organizers and travelers.
– Norwegian Cultural Organizers (NKA) are proud partners with Ferdia Sharebus. The concept is brilliant because it solves a logistical challenge for the travelers, while at the same time eliminating coordination and payment. We use Sharebus for this year’s big happening, namely the Organizers Conference 2022. Here we set up Sharebus from the airport to the center of Narvik, and the result was full buses which were both faster and more reasonable than alternatives. In addition, carpooling is good for the environment and socially, says Andreas Feen Sørensen of Norwegian Culture Organizers (NKA).
A winning opportunity
Thousands of buses run half way around Europe. The potential for a marketplace that makes the buses and seats easily accessible is therefore great. Towards 2025, the market for consumer platforms will triple, according to the McKinsey report Norge i Morgen. Ferdia Sharebus substantiates the conclusion in the report.
– The Sharebus sharing concept turns an industry upside down that has historically changed little. Our solution makes it easy to share a bus, and makes tour bus the best alternative for many more trips. Ferdia’s platform gives travelers and organizers better offers at the same time as the bus companies get to fill their buses, says general manager Håkon Sæther at Ferdia.
Prior to the internationalization, Ferdia has strengthened the capital base and is ready for further growth and upscaling. – We look forward to taking our green, simple and social transport solutions to Scandinavia over the next few years and then on to the rest of Europe, concludes general manager Håkon Sæthe