RIIDE, the Gold Coast’s free-floating (“drive-and-drop”) car-share service, will open access to 18–20-year-olds holding a P2 (Green Ps) licence, reducing its minimum age from 21. The change aligns with RIIDE surpassing 30,000 trips since launch, reflecting strong local demand for affordable, flexible mobility.
Key facts
- Minimum age lowered from 21 to 18 for P2 (from 25 September 2025).
- 30,000+ trips completed across the Gold Coast.
- Free-floating model: locate and unlock hybrid cars in the RIIDE app, end trips within a home-zone.
- Fuel and basic insurance included in every trip.
- Hybrid fleet designed for short urban trips with lower emissions.
What RIIDE says
“Dropping the minimum age to 18 gives students, apprentices and young workers a fair, affordable way to get around without the cost of owning a car. We’re widening access while keeping standards high with ID checks and clear community rules.”— Ricards Staks, CEO of RIIDE
External perspective
“RIIDE is a real solution for students who arrive car-free… it’s perfect for less frequent trips,” said Professor Matthew Burke, Cities Research Institute, Griffith University. Griffith University News
How it works
Members locate, unlock and drive hybrid cars via the RIIDE app, then end trips within a designated home-zone with fuel included. Usage has been consistent around Griffith University precincts since early 2023, where a floating model offers on-demand access without the cost or admin of a full-day rental. Griffith University
Why it matters
Independent studies of one-way/free-floating car share have found members sell or defer private car purchases and reduce driving, helping cut congestion and emissions. Councils also report car-share users typically avoid or curtail ownership, easing parking pressure. See sources in Notes for editors.
Media assets
Logos, car and app images: Media kit (Box)
Interviews available on request.
Notes for editors
- Student use cases: Griffith University profiled RIIDE’s floating model and campus relevance. Griffith University News
- One-way car-share research: Martin & Shaheen (UC Berkeley TSRC, 2016) reported each car-share vehicle associated with 1–3 vehicles sold and 4–9 deferred purchases, with reductions in VMT and GHG emissions. Summaries via the US EPA, California Air Resources Board, and SSTI.
- Local policy: City of Sydney notes car-share users typically avoid or reduce ownership, reducing cars on streets, emissions and competition for parking. City of Sydney
- Cost-of-living context: The AAA Transport Affordability Index shows the typical Australian household spent 15.7% of income on transport in the June quarter 2025. Australian Automobile Association
- Definition: Free-floating (one-way) car share lets users pick up and drop off within a service area, not a fixed bay. Background: iMOVE Australia
RIIDE is Gold Coast’s first A to B / free-floating car share and offers an all-inclusive, affordable, and sustainable service with cars located around the Gold Coast, ready for users to drive and drop off at popular destinations around the city — paid by the minute. Pick up the car using your phone, use the app as the key and drop it off across zones on the coast.
Note the difference between ride-sharing and car-sharing. RIIDE offers a carsharing service that allows cars to be shared. All cars provided by RIIDE are owned by RIIDE and are hybrid.
Contact Information: Ricards Staks, [email protected].