Ridership Doubled After a Mid-Year Pivot: UNA's Data-Driven Transit Story
Florence, Alabama
“Slidr solved a problem we'd been struggling with for years. It just works, and the students genuinely rely on it now.”
Overview
UNA became one of Slidr's early university partners, launching a dual-mode electric shuttle program using Tesla vehicles. What makes this case study compelling is the mid-year operational pivot: after analyzing first-semester data, Slidr shifted from a 2-fixed/1-on-demand configuration to 1-fixed/2-on-demand, and ridership doubled in the second semester.
The Challenge
UNA wanted to provide students with safe, reliable campus transportation, especially during evening hours and between remote parking areas. The university had no internal transit expertise or infrastructure and wanted to reduce car dependence while offering a sustainable alternative. Evening safety was a particular concern for students walking between residence halls, academic buildings, and remote lots after dark.
The Slidr Solution
Slidr deployed 2 Teslas in a hybrid fixed-route and on-demand model. When first-semester data showed higher demand for flexible rides, Slidr proactively reallocated vehicles to shift more capacity to on-demand service. This data-driven pivot is a core part of Slidr's operating philosophy: we don't just deploy and walk away, we optimize in real time. The second semester ran with 1 vehicle on fixed route and 2 on on-demand, with expanded Saturday coverage.
Results
Over the academic year, UNA's program served 8,448 total riders across nearly 3,000 on-demand rides and 3,800+ fixed-route boardings. The 45% shared-ride rate was the highest across all Slidr deployments, demonstrating strong pooling efficiency. Most importantly, the mid-semester pivot from fixed-heavy to on-demand-heavy doubled ridership, proving that Slidr's hands-on operational approach delivers measurable results. The 9,300+ miles driven were all-electric, with a 3.13-mile average ride distance and 10-minute average ride length. The 19-minute average wait time reflected high demand periods that the pivot helped address.
“From a facilities standpoint, Slidr solved a problem we'd been struggling with for years. Getting students safely across campus, especially during evening hours and between remote parking areas, was a constant concern. Slidr came in, assessed our routes, and had a program running that our students actually use consistently. Ridership keeps climbing every semester. What I appreciate most is that their team handles the operational side so my staff isn't stretched thin managing another transportation program. It just works, and the students genuinely rely on it now.”
When the data said "more on-demand," we pivoted. Ridership doubled. That's what turnkey really means.
At a Glance
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