Hitchhiking as Transportation Solution

With 80 percent of our passenger capacity empty, Jenny O'Brien discusses the potential of hitchhiking apps as a transportation solution in a recent TEDxKC talk.

1 minute read

September 3, 2014, 9:00 AM PDT

By Maayan Dembo @DJ_Mayjahn

Frustrated by the lack of transportation options in her small town of Lawrence, Kansas, Jenny O'Brien decided to take matters into her own hands and stop waiting for the government or public entities to alleviate the situation.

With a focus on moving people instead of moving cars, Jenny O'Brien introduces her "single-digit" transportation solution, hitchhiking. Currently, one of the main objections to picking up hitchhikers is the lack of knowledge and trust, leading to fear among drivers. However, with the rise of the $26 billion peer-to-peer sharing economy, the potential to change these objections exists.

By using feedback, profiles, and reviews, O'Brien has built an application to transform random hitchhikers into trusted strangers. Throughout 150 test rides, the average waiting time is 7 minutes. The application is currently available only in Lawrence, Kansas.

FULL STORY: Single Digit Transportation Solution | Jenny O'Brien | TEDxKC

Sunday, August 31, 2014 in YouTube

Technology Transportation Kansas Mobile Applications Ride Sharing Hitchhiking Social Media View More

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

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