Miami, FL — A new mobile platform designed to streamline commuting across Miami-Dade County could offer a fresh approach to the region’s persistent traffic challenges by connecting existing transportation options into a single digital interface. Dubbed RideKel, the app was developed by South Florida–based startup ProKel Mobility and is already being piloted in North Miami Beach.
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The core idea behind RideKel is to eliminate the friction commuters face when navigating multiple transportation services. Traditionally, riders must switch between separate apps for buses, commuter trains, trolleys, and on-demand rides: a process that adds time and complexity to everyday trips. RideKel aims to consolidate this experience so users can plan, book, and track an entire journey in real time using a single application.
Logan McLeod, Senior Vice President at ProKel Mobility and a former executive at ride-hailing company Lyft, described the existing fragmentation of transit services as a major barrier to public transit use. “Everyone complains about congestion, but the real issue isn’t just cars, it’s that public transportation options don’t talk to each other,” McLeod told Refresh Miami.
North Miami Beach is serving as the first major rollout site for RideKel in Miami-Dade County. In this pilot, the app integrates traditional local transit (including Miami-Dade Transit buses and the regional Tri-Rail commuter service) with free, on-demand electric vehicles that connect riders directly to transit hubs and stops.
By creating seamless connections between modes of transportation, RideKel is attempting to reduce reliance on single-occupancy vehicles without sacrificing convenience or travel time. McLeod emphasized that the app’s goal is not to replace public transit but to enhance its usability and appeal by delivering a familiar digital experience similar to popular ride-hail apps.
Miami-Dade has long been characterized by heavy commuter traffic and a high dependence on personal vehicles. Efforts to encourage alternative mobility solutions (such as expanding bus networks and improving last-mile connections) have gained traction in recent years.
Initiatives like the Better Bus Network, which increased frequent bus service coverage across the county, and county-funded demand-responsive programs like MetroConnect, reflect growing interest in transit options that reduce congestion and expand accessibility.
RideKel adds another layer by integrating these and other transportation modes into a unified digital experience that could appeal to everyday commuters who might otherwise default to driving. Accessibility, real-time planning, and on-demand micro-transit features could help increase transit ridership while potentially lowering the number of cars on local roads.
ProKel Mobility operates more than a dozen mobility programs nationwide and plans to scale RideKel to up to 45 cities by 2028, according to company executives.
City planners and transportation experts in Miami and surrounding counties are watching closely, as successful adoption could inform future strategies for integrating technology with traditional transit infrastructure: a priority for regions grappling with population growth, traffic congestion, and sustainability challenges.