Uber to Europeans: Invest more in public transport

Uber Technologies Inc. is making a new pitch to Euro- pean officials: invest in pub- lic transportation.

On Tuesday, the company published a blog post urging European authorities to spend more on transit infrastructure, as the San Fran- cisco-based company seeks to transform its app into a one-stop-shop on-demand transport service for rides on bikes and cars, as well as public buses and trains.

The message comes at a delicate time for Uber, as it labors to mend its difficult relationships with European officials, and seeks to portray itself as part of a larger tran- sit solution for cities.

Uber is prepping for an initial public offering slated for this year. As part of its pitch, it is stressing its poten- tial to grow in some overseas markets as well as its role facilitating more transit than just ride-sharing. Uber acquired bike-share startup Jump last year, and recently began offering scooters. It says these services work best as a compliment to public transportation.

“We are convinced that the best solutions will come from new mobility services providers and public trans- port working together,” Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty, Uber’s head of Europe, Mid- dle East and Africa, wrote in the blog post. “As mobility needs are rapidly changing, this is the moment to rein- force investments.”

Uber’s relationship with European regulators has historically been rocky. Local regulators have scrutinized the company over its data protection practices and previously aggressive expansion efforts. And the European Union’s top court has ruled that Uber should be treated like a transport com- pany, not as a pure digital service provider.

If Uber makes progress toward more seamlessly linking public transit with private ride-hailing, it would reinforce the message of Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi that the company can work well with governments. It could also promote the interests of Uber’s competitors in the region, like Taxify OU or MaaS Global Oy’s Whim app. Those and other players in the industry are seeking to partner, or already have agreements, with public transportation agencies.

Taxify, an Estonian ride-hailing company backed by Daimler AG and Chinese ride-sharing service Didi Chuxing, plans to combine different mobility options on its app, including public transport, as it expands in Europe and Africa, its founder and CEO Markus Villig said in December.