Keeling Curve

Primary Project Category:

Project Summary / Description:

The founder of Jetty wrote his PhD dissertation on the professionalisation of the jitney ("colectivo") industry in Mexico City and Santiago, Chile. (Available here: https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/84427 )

After graduation, he researched the emergence and potential impacts of the ride-hailing industry in the Bay Area. (Results of this research published here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/transforming-urban-transport-9780190875718?cc=mx&lang=en&#)

He returned home to Mexico in 2016, where he is trying to put his research findings into practice. He raised seed funds, brokered alliances with colectivo associations, recruited an awesome team and launched Jetty, a company seeking to (a) bring the benefits of app-based mobility to a larger passenger demographic, (b) help jitney operators improve their performance and bottom line and (c) make a dent on this Mexico City¬¥s epic congestion and pollution levels.

Regions of Operations:

Best Estimate of GHG Avoidance/Reduction of This Project (Tonnes CO2 Equivalent/Year):

Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

A) We make collective transit safer and more gender inclusive:

According to official polling data, 90% of Mexico City
residents feel unsafe using transit, and this percentage climbs to 92% for residents of the State of Mexico. Residents of this city feel more at risk while traveling in public transit than when using other public facilities, such as ATMs, banks, parks or markets. Onboard petty crime and sexual harassment incidents are frequent, especially on overcrowded buses, and many passengers buy safety with their time. They queue unnecessarily for long periods to wait for a vehicle with free seats. Others can't afford this luxury: 22.7% of women living in Mexico City report avoiding public transport to reduce risk. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the majority of Jetty passengers are female (in contrast to the city¬¥s colectivo and subway systems).

B) We dignify driver jobs.

The "colectivo" industry is well known for exploiting drivers. Their take-home pay is whatever is left in the fare box after paying a fee ( cuenta ) to vehicle owners, buying gas, and tipping
policemen and others to idle unmolested in congested locations with high passenger demand. To make ends meet drivers work for long hours, drive recklessly, and mistreat passengers. They rarely have social security. This activity is largely male dominated. In contrast, every Jetty driver has a contract and earns a fair salary with benefits. Their job is much less stressful. Perhaps unsurprisingly, we have female drivers in our team.

C) We bring the benefits of app based mobility to a larger demographic

The following example may illustrate the quality/cost trade off facing commuters in Mexico City. A 23 kilometre jitney trip from Mundo E, in the north-west residential suburb of Sat lite, to the employment center of Santa Fe, at peak hour (6:30 am) costs MXN 24 (roughly USD 1.25), takes 118-157 minutes and requires at least one transfer. The same trip, using a ride-sourcing app like Uber, costs MXN 185-245 (USD 9.75-USD 12.90), and takes 50 minutes. At Jetty, we aim to expand the transportation choice-set for commuters who feel mistreated by the existing public transit offering, but who can't afford the expense or stress associated with private mobility. The same trip, using Jetty, costs commuters MXN 69 (USD 3.60) and takes 60 to 70 minutes (after accounting for the last mile).

Sub-Categories: