Getting around Bainbridge Island without getting behind the wheel just got a lot more convenient for residents and tourists, thanks to a new technology-powered app similar to one used by Uber.

Starting Wednesday, those who download the Ride Pingo mobile app can book, track and pay for a trip on BI Ride, Kitsap Transit’s on-demand bus service for getting almost anywhere on BI.

BI Ride will continue to make scheduled departures from the BI ferry terminal; travelers can reach the rest of the island by using the app or by calling BI Ride. Learn more at kitsaptransit.com/pingo.

Launched in 2008, BI Ride has been offering same-day trip scheduling since June 2014; customers book a trip by calling 1-844-4BI-RIDE. Regular fare is $2. The service operates weekdays from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Saturdays from

9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

KT also is conducting a survey of BI residents and workers through the end of July to understand their travel needs and attitudes and perceptions of its services. To take the survey, go to surveymonkey.com/r/BIRide.

KT is the first transit agency in the United States to launch a paid pilot program with The Routing Co. a startup spun out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Pingo platform includes a fleet-management dashboard, a rider app and a driver app. The rider app, “Ride Pingo,” is available from the App Store for iPhone and Google Play Store for Android.

BI Ride could have a dramatic impact if more residents, workers and tourists use it. The city’s Climate Action Plan sets an overall goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2045 compared to 2014 levels. In 2019 the city increased vehicle license fees from $20 to $30 annually to provide up to $100,000 to support marketing of BI Ride.