Smooth rides after starter problems

Ready for pick up: A Dego Rider checking the app on his mobile phone. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Less than 72 hours after the motorcycle e-hailing service debuted here with the entry of Dego Ride, and GrabBike following suit, passengers are getting about KLCC, Bukit Bintang, Pudu and Chow Kit areas with ease.

Dego Ride started on New Year’s Day in the Klang Valley with about 700 riders. It has 4,000 applicants awaiting vetting and approval.

The service, however, was not spared the initial hiccups.

The Dego app experienced a temporary system glitch for several hours on Jan 1. Users were logged out and had to make multiple attempts to book their ride.

However, bookings went smoothly yesterday when The Star tried it out.

A rider showed up within four minutes after booking a ride from Lorong Raja Bot in Chow Kit to Petronas Twin Towers’ Tower 1 that cost RM3.

He came with a helmet and fabric headcover, apparently for the passenger’s hygiene.

Dego founder and chief executive officer Nabil Feisal Bamadhaj, when contacted about females who wanted women riders, said the passenger would need to set their rider preference in the app’s settings.

“The settings will allow users to choose if they prefer a female rider, ” he said, adding that the company was working on improving its app and service delivery.

As for Grab Malaysia, it has begun allowing users to book a motorcycle ride on its app if they are within the KLCC, Bukit Bintang, Pudu, and Chow Kit areas.

Female passengers have the option of choosing GrabBike for females, which means they will get only female riders.

However, attempts by The Star to book a ride were unsuccessful as there would be a message that its riders were busy.

A Grab spokesman explained that the service would be officially launched only later this week, declining to give more details.

GrabBike rates are currently set at a base fare of RM3.70 for trips under 3km with a service charge of 30 sen. For subsequent kilometres up to 5.5km, the fee is 66 sen for each kilometre and RM1 per kilometre for distance above 5.5km.

As for Dego Ride, its first 3km ride costs RM3, with RM1 charged for every subsequent kilometre.

Motorcycle e-hailing service got the greenlight to operate when the Cabinet agreed in August last year to introduce the service as a means to improve on the last mile connectivity in the public transportation system.

Starting this year, bike-hailing companies such as Dego and Grab were allowed to offer rides under a six-month Proof of Concept (POC) pilot project to assess the system while awaiting laws to be passed to regulate bike-hailing.

Nabil Feisal said Dego had no problem with Grab being its rival as he believed that competition would spur excellence in service.

“We welcome Grab as we believe competition gives us more reason to provide the best for our riders and passengers.

“It also helps validate the market and industry at the end of the POC when competitors enter the market, ” he added.

When contacted, Malaysia E-Hailing Drivers Association president Daryl Chong said bike e-hailing was feasible in Malaysia, especially in meeting the demand for the last mile connection among commuters.

“This service will be good for those who live in areas with a disconnected public transport system, such as residents who need to go from their homes to the MRT station and bus stations.

“Although this may more or less affect the demand for short trips in e-hailing cars, commuters no doubt will have more choices, ” he said.