Vancouver-based mobility tech company Spare has introduced a cutting-edge feature designed to significantly enhance the reliability of on-demand and paratransit transportation. The company has integrated Google Maps’ live traffic data directly into its dynamic transit platform, allowing for smarter and more responsive trip routing in real time.
The new tool, Spare Live Traffic, gives transit agencies the ability to proactively adjust vehicle routes based on evolving road conditions such as traffic jams, road closures, and accidents — all pulled live from Google Maps. Already active in select cities, the feature will be gradually rolled out to the broader Spare network over the coming weeks.
Early data shows the impact: cities using the new integration are already seeing up to 20% fewer late arrivals, a key metric for paratransit services where timely pickups are critical for riders with accessibility needs.
“We’ve taken a major step forward in making transit more dependable,” said Kristoffer Vik Hansen, CEO of Spare. “By embedding Google Maps’ real-time traffic awareness into our system, drivers can avoid delays before they happen — improving performance for agencies and comfort for riders.”
Unlike traditional GPS routing, which relies solely on predictive algorithms, Spare’s new functionality allows for live rerouting — giving transit agencies a much-needed advantage in urban areas where traffic patterns can shift rapidly.
The feature is currently in beta testing within Spare’s Driver App and is available to agencies in North America, with global expansion anticipated.
Spare, which started in Vancouver, now supports over 200 cities worldwide, delivering flexible transit solutions that have powered more than 25 million rides to date. The platform is used by transit authorities to modernize everything from shared microtransit to fully accessible paratransit operations.
With the launch of Spare Live Traffic, the company continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in real-time transit management — ensuring riders, especially those who depend on timely service the most, get where they need to go efficiently and reliably.
