Skip the traffic: Joburg's Uber Moto launches affordable motorbike rides for commuters

Uber in South Africa has launched a new service which allows commuters to travel around Johannesburg more efficiently. 

While most people are familiar with Uber rides and meals delivered straight to your door via Uber Eats, the new ride-hailing option, Uber Moto, takes a different route by offering affordable motorbike rides.

Currently, Uber Moto is in a pilot phase in the Western Suburbs of the Johannesburg CBD, which includes areas like Braamfontein, Melville, Greenside, Brixton, Mayfair, Fordsburg, Rossmore, Langlaagte, Richmond and near the University of Johannesburg and will be rolled out to the rest of the country pending the service’s reception.

While Uber Moto is new to South Africa, it has been operating in other countries such as Nigeria, India, Mexico and Brazil for nearly a decade, with the first pilot taking place in Bangkok, Thailand in 2016.

The motorbike-based e-hailing concept is primarily intended for busy city centres, offering a new transport solution for people making short trips around town.

The benefits of using Uber Moto are that it is much quicker than using a car, as bikes are much better equipped to navigate tight city streets and rush hour traffic jams.

And, it is significantly cheaper than other options, with a Ubr Moto ride currently charging as little as R18 for bike trips around Johannesburg.

Addressing safety concerns, Uber stated that a number of measures have been put in place.

“Uber’s in-app safety features allow riders to ride with more peace of mind. From screening processes to in-app emergency assistance, you can feel more confident when riding with Uber,” shared an official statement. 

Riders will also receive fresh hair nets, and they can choose between open or closed-face helmets for comfort and cleanliness.

Getting a ride with Uber Moto is easy.

All you need to do is open the Uber app on your phone and enter your destination in the “Where to?” box. After selecting Uber Moto as your ride option and confirming your pickup point, you’ll quickly be paired with a driver.

Once matched, you will see important details about your driver, like their picture and information about their motorbike. You can even track their arrival in real-time until they pick you up.

As your driver takes you to your destination, they will follow the mapped directions. However, if you have a preferred route, you can also request it.

In other countries, Uber also provides a women-only Moto service to make female riders feel more comfortable using the option, though this is not currently part of the pilot programme in South Africa.