Flying taxi? Autonomous car? Nothing of that ! Heetch gets out of tuk-tuks in Paris

Could the future of VTC be on cycle paths? The French competitor of Bolt and Uber uses an old recipe to free yourself from car transportation.

Getting around the City of Lights is not easy. In addition to the number of users, which inevitably causes traffic jams, the town hall has also declared war on this category of vehicles, considered too bulky, too noisy and too polluting.

In fact, other modes of transport are enhanced by new urban developments, such as buses, anything that runs on rails, and of course… bicycles and scooters, which some have yet to conquer.

A modern means of transport with a look from another era

THE tuk-tuk, which is mainly found in the most touristy districts of Paris, will have to share the streets of the capital with Heetch’s drivers. There is no question here of having cars circulate on lanes which are not intended for them, the French company has, in fact, decided to set up a transport service… by bicycle.

Up to two passengers can occupy a small cabin pulled by an eBike. Designed by the French manufacturer K-Ryole, the interior has a windshield, a glass roof and, the height of luxury, a heated bench seat. “ We deliberately chose a different cabin to break the tuk-tuk codes », Explains Simon Dabadie of Heetch to our colleagues atactu.fr. “ We are primarily aimed at Ile-de-France residents “.

In addition to being able to save travel time, customers will be entitled to more advantageous rates than for car journeys. The starting price will be 7 euros instead of 10 euros, the scales however changing according to supply and demand.

Forty vehicles in service only on weekends

Although it will be possible to travel by Heetch tuk-tuk beyond the Paris ring road, for a fee, the service is primarily intended for travel within the city. “ The idea is to stay where cycle routes are developed. For other journeys, the VTC service remains recommended », explains Dabadie. Ultimately, the company intends to replace 20% of journeys made within Paris, an ambitious project which has already started.

Indeed, this “ new » mode of transport can accommodate passengers since February 23. No fewer than 40 of these modern-day tuk-tuks now circulate the streets of the City of Lights, but only on weekends. Their drivers have completed eight hours of training and can benefit from an electric bike rental service offered by Heetch if they are not equipped.

It remains to be seen whether the concept will be emulated. With the Olympic Games fast approaching and all the upheavals they will cause for Parisian transport, it is a safe bet that many customers will turn to this new service. Especially since it is intended to operate, ultimately, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Source : actu.fr