13 Transportation Startups from London You Need to Know About in 2016

London Town has always been a famous hub of creativity, ingenuity, and entrepreneurship—and like many global cities, its transportation network is a critical catalyst for this energy. And though Greater London already boasts one of the largest urban transport networks in the world, several forward-thinking transportation startups are poised to take this to the next level.

The following are 13 innovative transportation startups from London that you should know about in 2016.

13. CompareMyFare

CompareMyFare’s platform allows you to compare fares between different taxicab services in London. Simply enter yourjourney details and the app will provide live prices, ratings, and realtime ETAs of available drivers in your area.

12. Hiyacar

For those tired of long lines at the rental car counter, Hiyacar is a platform for renting cars owned by local drivers in the area. It offers a wider selection, more affordable rates, and best of all—convenience and ease-of-use: simply search for a car, book it through the website, and pick up the keys.

11. Uniwheel

Forget Segway—Uniwheel’s stylised scooter is a fun and environmentally-friendly alternative to commuting via car or train. The unit consists of a self-balancing electric wheel that can go for miles and is light enough to be carried with one hand.

10. Autoemo

Autoemo aims to improve driving safety with its telemetrics black box—a device that records and analyses driver habits and behavior for assessing performance.

9. Kabbee

Kabbee is one of many local startups taking on Uber—the app compares fare prices, provides booking services, and allows driver ratings for better quality of service.

8. Vivacity Labs

Vivacity Labs’ cameras feature onboard video analytics capabilities for analyzing and quantifying pedestrian, vehicle, and cyclist movements. Its network of video feeds provide real-time data for reacting to demand and improving safety and asset utilisation.

7. AppyParking

Finding parking is an ever troublesome affair for drivers in London. AppyParking alleviates this pain point by informing drivers of nearby vacancies. Other resources provided by the app include charging post locations for electric cars, cheapest/nearest petrol stations, and more.

6. Hailo

Another local Uber rival, taxi-hailing app Hailo has raised over $80 million in funding and boasts annual sales of over $100 million. The offering is available in 20 major cities across the globe.

5. Citymapper

Citymapper’s platform—aimed at London commuters and travellers—provides alternative travel methods, price quotes, even estimates of calories used when walking. The app provides live travel information for helping users determine the best route for their journeys.

4. Trainline

Trainline’s app gives users an easier, faster, and more inexpensive way to purchase train tickets. Tickets are issued immediately in-app for printing off later at the train station.

3. Pedl

Primarily focused on the student and young adult demographic, Pedl provides cycle rental services during term times to help students travel to/from lectures, thereby relieving them of burdensome out-of-term storage.

2. Faxi

Faxi’s app encourages carpooling with employee incentives for transporting fellow workers. The app allows commuters to document their travels for financial incentives worth hundreds or even thousands of pounds a year per user.

1. GoCarShare

GoCarShare is car sharing app that allows drivers to convert empty car seats into money and meet interesting people while they’re at it. And for those who need a lift, the app provides a fast, convenient, and of course cheaper travel alternative to traditional taxicabs and car services.

As illustrated above, London’s status as one of the world’s premiere innovation hotspots is certainly evident in the myriad of ventures merging transportation resources with new, imaginative technologies. Be sure to keep an eye out on these startups—they may be powering your daily commute or replacing Uber on your mobile device soon.