VoTran is continuing to modernize transit across Volusia County with the launch of VoRide, its new on demand microtransit service powered by Spare.

The service offers same-day, flexible  transportation designed to better serve communities where traditional fixed routes may not serve riders needs. Riders can now book shared, curb-to-curb trips through the VoTran On Demand app, making it easier to travel when it works best for them.
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A rider first approach to local transit

VoTran serves nearly half a million residents across close to 1,200 square miles, connecting communities including Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Deltona, and DeLand with reliable transit options. Fixed routes work well in many of those areas, but suburban, commercial, and coastal areas can be harder to serve efficiently. VoRide is now filling those gaps. 

Rather than asking riders to plan around a fixed schedule, VoRide lets them book a trip when they need one. That shift matters most in areas where a traditional bus route isn't practical, such as places where stops are spread far apart, trip patterns vary, or demand doesn't follow a predictable path. In those areas, on-demand service is often a better fit than trying to force a fixed route where one doesn't work well.

The new service includes: 

• Four daytime zones operating from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., depending on the zone 
• Night service operating from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m., covering several mainland routes with connections to Route 70 along the beachside
• Fully on-demand service in Ponce Inlet and on the Peninsula through Uber, operating from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., with connections to fixed routes

In areas where fixed routes still run, VoRide gives riders an added option when planning their trips, rather than replacing existing transit services. You can find zone maps and more trip-planning details on the VoRide page of the VoTran website. 
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One unified platform supporting all services

VoRide runs on the same Spare platform as VoTran’s other on-demand services, including VoAccess. This unified system means staff manage everything in one place, with:

• Shared reporting across all services 
• Improved visibility 
• Greater flexibility to adjust service more quickly as needs change

For riders, the day-to-day benefits are immediate:

• Same day, on demand booking
• Easy trip management through the app
• Get a more direct route without waiting for a fixed-schedule bus

Uber powered options are also available alongside VoRide, which helps expand availability and reduce wait times.
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Meeting riders where they are

VoRide is part of VoTran's broader move toward demand-responsive transit, where service flexes to meet riders where they are rather than asking everyone to adapt to a set schedule. Fixed routes remain in place where they make sense, and VoRide supplements them in areas where flexibility improves the experience.

For many riders, that means fewer transfers, shorter waits, and trips that fit their actual schedule rather than the other way around. For the agency, it means being able to extend coverage into areas that were previously difficult to serve without running routes that didn't attract enough ridership to be practical.
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Connecting the network with multimodal trip planning

In addition to powering VoRide, Spare supports VoTran’s broader network through Spare One, a multimodal trip planning tool that connects on demand services with the fixed route bus system.

With Spare One, riders can plan seamless end-to-end trips across Volusia County by combining microtransit and fixed-route services in a single journey. Whether they start on a fixed route or use an on-demand trip for the first or last mile, riders can move between modes more easily and navigate the system in a more connected, intuitive way.
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Supporting VoTran’s long-term vision for the future

Running VoRide on the same platform as VoAccess gives VoTran something it didn't have before: a single view of all its on-demand services. That makes it easier to spot gaps, shift resources, and add coverage as Volusia County's needs change,  without rebuilding the system each time.

With VoRide now live, the agency has more tools to work with as it continues to build a transit network that keeps pace with how the county is growing.

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