Transport Experiment in Latvia: Buses 'On Demand' and 'Neighborly Rides' Start in January 0 6

What is 'On Demand' Transport

As reported by the Riga Planning Region (RPR), the 'ride-sharing service' will start operating in the suburbs of Riga (Priekrast) in December, while 'on demand' transport will begin in January.

This new transport format will appear in four locations:

• Kemeri (Jūrmala),

• Lapsas (Mārupes municipality),

• Dzerumi (Ķekavas municipality),

• Ledurga (Sigulda municipality).

In Saulkalne of the Salaspils municipality, residents will test an app for ride-sharing.

To use this service, residents need to submit a request ONE DAY in advance by 14:00 through the Freelway App. This Freelway App was created and is used in Sweden - as part of a pilot project, it has been adapted for Latvia.

'On demand' transport consists of small 5–8 seat vehicles. They will transport residents along routes that will be formed daily based on residents' requests.

Travel can be within their village or to popular destinations, such as to a doctor, a store, a train station, a library, or tourist attractions.

What are 'Ride-Sharing' Services

On the same Freelway App platform, residents will be able to communicate: propose their routes or join already published rides. To any point in Latvia. The developers' logic is that when neighbors travel together, the journey becomes cheaper.

Edgars Rantiņš, head of the Riga Planning Region administration:

– We believe this project will help change transport accessibility where the route network is effectively absent and maintaining traditional routes is economically unfeasible. Moreover, transport accessibility is a problem not only for remote areas: in the Riga region, there are dozens of places that cannot be reached without a car.

Who is Funding the Project

This transport experiment involves the municipalities of Jūrmala, Ķekava, Mārupa, Sigulda, and Salaspils.

Interesting fact: both projects will operate for only a few months - while they are funded by the EU Interreg program (SuRuMo project). This transport experiment involves the municipalities of Jūrmala, Ķekava, Mārupa, Sigulda, and Salaspils.

Afterwards, specialists will evaluate the results and costs. If the solutions prove successful, they may become part of a long-term transport strategy.

Where to Ask for Details

Currently, RPR does not provide a special phone number for servicing these projects - and this is telling!

Therefore, here are the phone numbers for the RPR Public Transport Department:

Department Head: +371 29173248; +371 67559875.

Specialists' phones: +371 29839156; +371 67559875.

Buses - Cut Back, Ticket Prices - Increase

Starting January 15, 2026, ticket prices for regional public transport (trains and buses) will increase by an average of 7%.

The Public Transport Council explains this as follows:

• the increase is necessary to maintain service quality, ensure financial sustainability, and synchronize prices with the level of the Baltic States.

At the same time, starting in 2026, the Council will reduce the network of subsidized regional buses by 16%, as well as eliminate unprofitable routes and those with very few passengers.

Jānis Lapiņš, chairman of the Board of the Road Transport Administration: "This does not mean that many routes will be closed immediately on January 1 - the process will be gradual."

Prices

• on long routes, ticket prices will increase by €0.20,

• tickets for public transport operating in electrified zones will increase by €0.30,

• outside such zones - also by €0.20.

"What if I buy tickets in advance?"

All tickets purchased before January 14 will be valid until their expiration date, but from January 15, tickets will only be sold at the new, increased prices.