DEGO Ride’s bike taxi business is teaming up with MPs to expand its services, create job opportunities and provide cost-effective public transport, its founder Nabil Feisal Bamadhaj said.

Nabil told The Malaysian Insight that the transport service could also help ease the worsening traffic congestion in the Klang Valley.

This, he said, was one of the reasons Dego Ride engaged the help of lawmakers to promote a cheaper and faster mode of transport for their constituents who want to travel short distances. The e-hailing company also hopes to get assistance for its recruitment drive.

“Our main issue is getting riders. So, we decided to reach out to the MPs to help us hire riders and create job opportunities for their constituents at the same time,” he said.

“They (the MPs) also want to create awareness among people facing parking issues, accessing public transport and the disabled who are hampered by the lack of transport options and mobility.”

Nabil said to date Dego Ride has already been in touch with Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil and Bandar Tun Razak MP Kamarudin Jaffar.

“We have also sent letters to more than 20 MPs in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.”

Nabil added that his team is also planning a Dego Ride affiliate programme to create a fund for the MPs where they would be able to utilise the money to create job opportunities, upgrade facilities, and to assist the disabled and other groups in their area.

He said the main issue the company is facing now is a lack of riders as it currently employs only 20 full-time riders.

Nabil restructured Dego Ride’s operations in May, discontinuing the services of its part-time riders. It now only employs full-time riders.

Previously, Dego Ride maintained a stable of around 1,000 full-time and part-time riders.

This, he said, was because when there was high demand for its service, part-time riders were selective in which rides they wanted to take, which in turn disrupted their operations.

“We were faced with challenges in providing the service. So, now we are only employing full-timers.

“It is also to reduce the cancellation rate and give us better control and service for our customers.”

Nabil said the company is planning to organise a recruitment drive, where there would also be a “try Dego Ride day” where the public can test out the service for free.

High demand, few riders

Nabil said Dego Ride had seen a spike in demand for rides since April but could not take on all the requests.

“Demand shot up by more than 50% prior to the opening of all sectors in April.

“Now we are getting about 1,000 users daily on the app but our pool of 20 riders can only service about 80 to 100 rides a day.

“Customer demand is higher than what we can fulfil, so it is difficult to meet the volume of requests.

He said his team is also on the lookout for more female riders as the number of female customers requesting for the service is comparable to that of male customers.

“It’s not easy hiring riders as all sectors have opened and people are seeking other opportunities,” Nabil said.

“We are looking to get in about 200 full-time riders by year-end for the six zones that we operate in the Klang Valley.”

Dego Ride is offering a basic pay of RM1,500 with RM900 allowance, along with EPF and Socso benefits.

He said the difference between Dego Ride and other e-hailing services is that bikes are cheaper and easier to maintain, and they are easy to manoeuvre on congested roads.

“It also brings great savings for customers if they want to travel a short distance.”

Nabil said surveys he had done indicated that some people spent as much as RM800 a month on e-hailing rides.

“We have a monthly pass that only costs RM150 for unlimited rides. You could also purchase a RM50 pass that gives you RM75 in value, or buy a RM100 pass that comes with an extra RM100 worth of credit.”

Charges begin at RM3 with an additional 85 sen chargeable for each kilometre.

Dego Ride current operates around a 9km radius in five zones: Zone A – Sungai Buloh, Kepong Damansara, Bukit Subang; Zone B – Selayang, Batu Caves, Sentul, Setiawangsa; Zone C – Petaling Jaya, Kelana Jaya, Subang Jaya, Puchong; Zone D – Shah Alam, Klang; Zone E – Ampang, Cheras. – August 6, 2022.