Columbus renews free bus pass program for downtown workers

The Pivot app has been live for several months, but the coronavirus pandemic has delayed adding the payment method.

For now, the payment system includes only COTA and Ohio State University’s campus bus service. COTA is not charging fares at all to keep drivers and passengers distanced during the pandemic, and has limited routes based on demand.

The trip planning also includes Yellow Cab of Columbus, CoGo Bike Share, and scooter services by Bird, Lime and Spin. Bytemark is still negotiating adding them to the payment function.

A new version of the app is expected to come out in August, with payments added in September, when COTA is for now expected to resume more services, according to an April report from Smart Columbus to the U.S. Department of Transportation, which oversees the $40 million Smart Cities grant.
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