City to city transportation has long been a problem in Texas, though a new transportation app called Shofur has now made traveling to five Texas cities easier. Shofur (a play on the word “chauffeur”) works with charter bus companies to offer 12 daily routes between Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Waco, while giving riders amenities such as wi-fi, power outlets, and the option to choose your seat, all with the ease similar to ride-sharing companies such as Uber.
Armir Harris, founder of Shofur, was inspired to start the company after his family started a charter bus service for the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
As with Uber, riders on Shofur can track their bus in real time and will be notified if it is late. The company does not own its buses, but uses charter services under the company’s name. Riders are asked to rate their driver and travel experience on the Shofur app.
Harris has promised that his company will take this kind of travel to the next level, while also saying that he chose Texas to launch the company due to the close proximity of the major cities. “Texas is a great market because there are cities that are a little too far to drive to and too close to fly,” Harris said at a media event.
To book a trip, you can purchase tickets on Shofur’s website, their app, or by calling 1-800-436-8710. A one-way ticket from Houston to Dallas will cost about $20 to $50 depending on when the trip is booked. A trip from San Antonio to Austin is $9, $11 from Waco to Dallas, $19 from Houston to Austin, and $33 from San Antonio to Dallas. While Shofur does not have any brick and mortar locations, Austinites can catch a Shofur bus at 35 Brazos Street.
