A new ride-booking application is making its debut in a southeastern Manitoba municipality. KodaGO is designed to serve communities lacking adequate public transportation or existing ride-hailing services like Uber or Lyft. Justus Oladele, the brain behind the app, was motivated to develop it after encountering transportation challenges himself.
Originally from Nigeria, Oladele relocated to Montreal before moving to Manitoba without knowing the distance to his friend’s residence outside Winnipeg. Stranded in Winnipeg, he needed to find a way to reach Steinbach, a nearby city devoid of transportation options like Uber, buses, or trains. Despite securing a ride, Oladele decided to take action rather than just complain about the issue.
Lacking a Manitoba driver’s license or access to a vehicle, Oladele leveraged his tech background to spend two years creating the KodaGO app, which was officially launched in May. The platform has since attracted 360 users through word-of-mouth referrals, offering rides anywhere in Canada where a driver is available. The service expanded to Winkler in mid-August.
In addition to providing transportation solutions, KodaGO offers an opportunity for individuals to earn extra income as drivers. The app also features a carpooling function, enabling drivers to share rides with passengers heading to Winnipeg and split the travel costs. Oladele emphasized the app’s role in facilitating easy movement for various activities without the worry of transportation.
Steinbach city Councilor Damian Penner, though not personally impacted by transport barriers, acknowledged the city’s public transportation challenges. He viewed the introduction of KodaGO as a positive development, recognizing its potential to address transportation obstacles and enable residents to access work, worship, and community events more easily, especially in inclement weather conditions.
Penner expressed his intent to experience the app firsthand and noted its value for his children’s future mobility needs. Eugene Warwaruk, President of the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the importance of bridging transportation gaps in a growing community like Steinbach. He welcomed KodaGO as a locally developed alternative for navigating the city.
Oladele envisions the continued expansion of the app nationwide to enhance mobility for residents in smaller towns. His goal is to ensure individuals do not face stranded situations due to insufficient transportation options.