Curb expands ride aggregation platform into Seattle to boost taxi utilisation and driver earnings
- Perry Richardson
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Mobility platform Curb has launched its Curb Flow marketplace in Seattle, aiming to improve taxi utilisation rates and driver earnings in a city facing sustained congestion and high visitor demand.
The rollout introduces a unified system designed to aggregate trip demand from street hails, traditional dispatch systems and app-based bookings into a single network. The company said the move is intended to reduce driver downtime and improve access to fares, while offering fleet operators greater operational visibility.
Seattle presents a significant testbed for the platform. The city recorded around 40 million visitors in 2024 and remains among the 10 most congested urban areas in the United States. Drivers lose an average of 63 hours annually to traffic delays, according to figures cited by the company, creating inefficiencies in vehicle utilisation and service availability.
Curb Flow seeks to address these pressures by consolidating demand streams in real time. For drivers, this is expected to translate into more consistent trip volumes and reduced idle time between fares. Fleet operators, meanwhile, gain access to improved dispatch coordination and demand pattern insights, which could support more efficient allocation of vehicles across high-demand zones.
Launch of Curb Flow targets congestion pressures and rising demand in one of the fastest-growing US urban transport markets
The platform is also positioned to respond to demand surges linked to major events and seasonal activity. Areas surrounding Lumen Field and Climate Pledge Arena, along with the city’s waterfront during cruise season and downtown convention activity, typically experience sharp and unpredictable increases in transport demand.
Dorel Tamam, Vice President of Curb’s Mobile Business Unit, said the system was designed to adapt to fluctuating demand patterns driven by commuting flows, tourism and large-scale events.
“Seattle is a dynamic mobility market where demand shifts quickly based on commuter flows, tourism, and special events,” said Tamam. “Curb Flow was designed to help drivers earn more and help fleets operate more efficiently, while strengthening the overall transportation ecosystem. By bringing demand into one intelligent network, we’re enhancing reliability for riders and improving urban mobility citywide.”
A key component of the strategy is integration with third-party platforms, including collaboration with Uber, enabling broader access to licensed taxi supply. Curb said this approach allows taxis to participate more fully in app-based demand channels while maintaining a driver-focused operating model.
Seattle becomes the latest addition to Curb Flow’s North American footprint, joining established deployments in New York City, Chicago and San Francisco. Since the platform’s introduction in 2023, the company reports a fourfold increase in network volume, reflecting growing demand for integrated urban mobility systems.
Curb said further investment in its technology platform will focus on strengthening licensed taxi integration, improving fleet performance metrics and supporting more responsive urban transport networks as cities continue to face rising demand and infrastructure constraints.
