moovel announced the public launch and first pilot of RideTap, an SDK (software development kit) that offers any app instant access to a growing network of public and alternative transportation providers.

Available now, Portland’s TriMet Tickets app now leverages RideTap to connect public transit riders to additional transportation options. TriMet Tickets app users can find a nearby Lyft or car2go within the app’s navigation drawer to help them get to and from their public transit stop. Initially this pilot includes Lyft and car2go, but will eventually add other local transportation options, including bike share and taxi.

“We hope this new feature will help our riders find options for their first or last mile of a trip, allowing them to more easily reach their destinations,” said Alan Lehto, director, policy and planning at TriMet. “We’re looking forward to getting feedback from our riders to see if the new tool helps improve their ability to use transit and other modes to reach their destinations.”

Last month, GlobeSherpa — the maker of the TriMet Tickets app — merged with RideScout to form moovel N.A., Daimler’s answer to the current disconnect between public and private transportation options in North America.

“Daimler is invested in organizing all forms of traditionally siloed transportation into one well-connected experience,” said Nat Parker, CEO of moovel North America. “Since public transit is at the core of our modern transportation ecosystem, moovel aims to get more riders on buses, trains and subways by solving that first/last mile challenge with RideTap. Portland’s TriMet public agency was GlobeSherpa’s first customer and now serves as RideTap’s first host app and partner in connecting the city’s transportation.”

Recent research points to a growing app-fatigue culture: consumers spend 85% of their time on smartphones using the same five apps. Today’s most successful transportation services are reacting to consumer behavior by extending functionality beyond the borders of their own app and into platforms where they are more useful. Instead of riders leaving their favorite apps to search for a ride or other transit information, RideTap aims to bring that connected transportation experience inside any third party app. By embedding the RideTap SDK, real-time transit, rideshare, carshare, bikeshare or a combination of options become instantly available to an app’s users.