Taxi app Free Now has reported a surge in late night trip requests following the reopening of nightclubs.
Details
Free Now stated, "With restrictions easing across the country over the [October] Bank Holiday weekend, it seems that many took advantage of the later closing times according to new data released today by Ireland’s leading multi-mobility app.
"Ride hailing requests on the app increased by 22% compared to the previous weekend with a surge in late night bookings due to nightclubs reopening. 2am was the busiest time to request a trip over the weekend with 200 requests per minute.
"With the popular Jazz festival back in Cork this weekend, they saw the biggest overall increase in trip requests in Ireland over the bank holiday weekend - with a rise of 100% in taxi trips compared to the weekend previous. However, Galwegians took the top spot for staying out the latest, with 3am the busiest time on the Free Now app on Sunday [October 24] night.
"As restrictions have gradually eased over the summer months and into autumn, the busiest time for trip requests at the weekend is extending later into the evening. The most popular time for passengers now looking to hail their trips home, has shifted from a 23.40pm average to 00.30am in October.
"We saw the queue for Coppers reopening go viral on social media over the weekend so it's perhaps no surprise that in all the major cities across Ireland, city centre destinations where popular nightclubs are located were the most requested drop-off points indicating that many were eager to hit the dancefloor once again!"
Free Now Ireland General Manager Statement
Free Now Ireland general manager Niall Carson stated, "Taxi drivers play a key role in the late-night hospitality industry and Free Now was delighted to see such strong support for pubs and clubs on reopening weekend.
"Like the hospitality industry, the transport sector and specifically taxi drivers have been impacted significantly by the COVID-19 pandemic so it's a hugely positive sign that trips are up 22% during the first weekend of reopening and we are hopeful that this will continue as we head into the busy festive season."
© 2021 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
