Milan finally has its first van pooling service

In the last ten years, carpooling has become a central component of daily transportation habits in many Western countries. This mode of transportation aims to share a car or a van with other people traveling the same route to reduce travel costs. It’s similar to sharing a taxi with friends to split the cost but in a more structured and organized form. In Italy, the first vanpooling service, called Wayla, has recently arrived. The start-up began its operations in Milan on October 31, aiming to offer citizens an effective and safe alternative in Milan's transportation landscape. These are non-line minibuses that adjust the route based on requests received through a dedicated app, at a cost of 11 euros per passenger. During the initial phase, the service is available only within the 90/91 ring road limits and operates from Thursday to Sunday, from 7:00 PM to 3:00 AM. As co-founder Alessandro Villa stated: “Our goal is to gradually expand the service to cover the Milan hinterland in the medium term. The decision to start from the center stems from the need to serve a densely populated area comprehensively, allowing the pooling model to work effectively. We also consider that the gap between supply and demand exists in the city center and increases significantly in the evening hours, when shared vehicles tend to remain in the suburbs after being used by commuters.”

Unlike other European metropolises, Milan's transportation, although among the most functional in Italy, presents several challenges. Public transportation is often canceled, delayed, or subject to strikes, while private services are hard to find and expensive. Taxis, in particular, are experiencing a significant period of crisis. Anyone who lives in Milan or frequently visits the city knows it’s often impossible to find a taxi during peak hours, and waiting times at designated taxi stands can exceed 40 minutes. Many cities worldwide have adopted private ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft to address these gaps. However, in Italy, such services have been restricted since 2017 due to regulations labeling them as unfair competition, making chauffeur services (N.C.C.) the only alternative to traditional taxis. The main issue, for both taxis and N.C.C.s, remains the high cost. On a typical weekend night, crossing the ring road can easily cost 30 euros, a figure that increases significantly during events like Salone del Mobile or Fashion Week. Perhaps Wayla will finally shake up a transportation landscape that is, at times, dramatically lacking.