Uber has launched a new service to capture the burgeoning two-wheel market in developing countries. "UberMOTO" was introduced on Wednesday in Bangkok -- one of Southeast Asia's most traffic-choked cities -- where bikes and motorbikes are extremely common.
The rideshare company previously experimented with motorbike taxis in Paris in 2012, but no permanent service resulted. Uber's local competitor in the Southeast Asian market, Grab, already offers a motorcycle service.
Uber users in Bangkok's three central neighborhoods can request a motorbike ride through the app, just as they would a car. Each driver will automatically bring a passenger helmet. No word on whether it will have a functioning buckle.
