Ride happy: JoyRide Superapp elevates the Pinoy commuting experience

Have you ever seen memes, photos, and reels on social media showcasing the plight of the Pinoy commuter every day? Most show MRT and LRT lines, people standing on the sidewalk (or on the road) hoping to catch a bus to go home. In your own community, you might see this situation in the tricycle line, where people ride one packed like sardines, or pay more for a special (solo) trip.

We see long lines during the dry season, and even longer lines during the rainy season. 

JoyRide, the superapp that came about in 2019 as a motorcycle taxi service, empathizes with the Pinoy commuter and has evolved to bring back dignity in commuting through affordable services and offerings. It’s also about energy conservation so we can show up to work (or school) with enough to give our 101% to the tasks at hand and activities ahead. It is also about being more affordable (and also saving time) while commuting safely.

Vicarious experience of safety

“Accident prone” — this is the perception of many when it comes to two wheelers. JoyRide addresses this by starting with the driver by training them to have a public service mindset.

“Ang mindset namin is in public service. What you need to do is hindi lang ‘yung makarating ka kaagad para magawa mo ‘yung serbisyo, but it has to be done in such a way na reliable and safe ang feeling ng passenger,” says Noli Eala, SVP for Corporate Affairs. “‘Yung mindset ng driver talagang napakahalaga.”

To ensure driver quality (also for their car services), JoyRide conducts:

• Thorough driver vetting through document checking and vehicle inspection
• Driver skills assessment
• Driver training on safety and customer service
• Annual vehicle update and re-orientation
• Driver quality assurance through counseling, mind-setting, and re-training

They also have marshalls on the field to check on driver quality.

The Kasundo mindset

“Kasundo” is a Filipino word that means like-minded or congenial. At JoyRide, this means drivers and passengers being like-minded, aside from being a pun for the Filipino word “sundo” which means to pick (someone) up.

“Passengers want to get to their destination fast and safely,” continues Eala. “While the driver just wants to make a living with this in his mind, first and foremost.” 

It’s a symbiotic relationship, where both driver and passenger are responsible for the quality of their travel or commute. 

JoyRide has expanded its services to include four-wheel options such as the JoyRide Car, JoyRide Taxi Cab, and JoyRide Super Taxi. They operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week in Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, Cebu, and Baguio City.

They have ten million app downloads, which means they already cater to a considerable chunk of the one hundred million Pinoy population. 

In an essay on Rappler.com in 2014, writer Renee Julienne M. Karunungan wrote: “Commuting is not a simple issue of travel, it is an issue of respect for human dignity and freedom.” 

This rings true until today, and JoyRide Superapp is doing its part — through products and services, and customer and driver support. For them, it’s not just about expanding the business, but also about giving back to the Pinoy commuter — who has been key to their success — the commuting experience they deserve.