Kristin Snyder is dot. Having partnered with school districts across 12 states, the Los Angeles-based company will use the cash infusion to build out its RideIQ platform, expand to new markets and reach more school districts. Rides can service groups or individuals, and routes are optimized to focus on underserviced areas, allowing traditional bus drivers to pick up students along the busiest paths. Replacing underutilized bus routes with smaller vehicles can help reduce the carbon footprint of school transportation, McFarland told dot.
LA in an email. While efforts to electrify school bus fleets are in progress, replacing large vehicles with individual cars can quicken that process and allow hybrid or EV cars to service less busy regions. The company launched in Detroit last month and plans to partner with more school districts this year.
It currently services the Seattle and Denver public school systems. But closer to home, as wildfires blaze across Southern California, survival has become the focus—and technology is making it possible. When the plume of smoke reappeared on the horizon, residents across Southern California turned to tools like Watch Duty. Over the past week, as flames surged, the app gained , new users in just one night, delivering critical, real-time information to help residents stay ahead of danger.
Watch Duty, designed to provide wildfire updates, has proven to be much more than an alert system. The app integrates live data, satellite imagery, and community reports to send updates directly to users. Information includes fire locations, evacuation orders, and air quality indices, empowering quick, informed decisions. Its community-driven ethos—with contributions from locals, firefighters, and volunteers—ensures hyper-local and timely updates, filling gaps where traditional news outlets often fall short.
Image Source: Watch Duty. These features make Watch Duty an indispensable tool during wildfire season.
