On Tuesday 11th June, the 1st BlaBlaBus set off from Lyon Perrache for Auch in the Gers with 34 people on board. This new mobility solution is an interesting alternative to carpooling.
An offer that is both rich and low cost
The world leader in carpooling, fully assumes this strategic choice. Last november, they began with the purchase of Ouibus. Nicolas Brusson, Co-Founder and Managing Director of BlaBlaCar, declared to the AFP: “Carpooling is going to serve point-to-point, very precise, very granular services when the bus is going to be the low-cost transport between large cities”.
From now on, the BlaBlaCar website and application will also offer carpooling and bus journeys. With no less than 15 lines serving 45 cities in France, but also cities in Belgium and the Netherlands. The launch price for BlaBlaBus journeys is fixed at €5. It will increase according to the intensity of demand.
An ecological and economical mobility solution
For Nicolas Brusson, this new mobility solution is not only an economical choice for users, but above all, an ecological choice: “A bus filled to 60% emits half as much CO2 as a 5-passenger car”. These buses are also intended to complement railway lines, with different timetables from those of trains, or lines without connections, such as for example in Clermont-Lille or Brussels, which requires a train connection in Paris.
An ambition on a European scale
Once the acquisition of Ouibus has been finalized, the company will offer more than 400 destination cities to its users. They think by the end of 2019. Hubs will play an important role in this European strategy. Like the one in Lyon-Perrache, the second departure station after Paris for Ouibus. To read also : BlaBlaCar joins forces with Voi in the scooter market.
