Uber and motorcoach operators have often been at odds, but they may be joining forces in a potential merger, several media sources have reported. Uber and Lyft have reportedly been pursuing the crowd-sourced bus startup Skedaddle.
Skedaddle launched in 2015 to offer low-cost and parking-free travel to out of town events like music festivals. It’s grown to offer excursions like beach day trips from cities including Boston and New York.
The model is similar to an Uber-style rideshare but with a twist and generally to another city or even state. As with Uber, individuals express desire for a route by app, but the transportation’s only provided once there’s sufficient demand for the ride, whether to a music festival, hiking spot, or protest. (The company really got noticed when it transported roughly 11,000 people to the Women’s March in Washington, D.C., from as far as the central Midwest).
TechCrunch and other industry publications have reported that Uber has been in discussions to acquire the company for more than a month. It may also be in negotiations with the ride-sharing company Lyft, the publication reported.
