appy fourth!

Lone Star State's biggest 4th of July celebration now has a new app

Want a better seat for the fireworks? There's an app for that.

Courtesy photo

It’s a day of gleeful national pride and shock-and-awe fireworks, but admittedly, the annual Freedom over Texas celebration — Houston’s annual Fourth of July extravaganza — can be a challenge for even the most eager attendee. Traffic is arduous, parking is one part strategy, one part hail mary, plus the pressure of finding just the right spot just in time to take in the concert and fireworks — amid hundreds of thousands of fellow locals.

Aware of the potential logistical nightmare, the City of Houston’s IT department and the Mayor’s Office of Special Events have created FOT 2018, a new app designed to make navigating the Lone Star State’s biggest Independence Day celebration a breeze. Available today, FOT2018 will offer patrons the ability to purchase tickets, view performance schedules and maps, parking tips, and other helpful hints to enhance the CITGO Freedom Over Texas experience.

The Freedom Over Texas is available on Google Play for Android devices running 4.1 and higher, or at the Apple App Store for iPhone and iPad devices running iOS 8.0 or later. Users will also have access to insider information on activities in each zone. The app will feature FAQs covering everything from what can and cannot be brought onsite, to the timing of the fireworks. Guests can even find a personal message from Mayor Turner.

The release of the app coincides with news of the Freedom Over Texas schedule; festivites begin at 4 pm Wednesday, July 4. Advance admission (July 3) is available online for $8; day-of admission is $10 online and at event. For more information, or to volunteer, visit the official CITGO Freedom Over Texas site.

apps technology holidays

accessibility brings empowerment

Autonomous cab company cruises into Houston with wheelchair-accessible rides

Courtesy of Cruise

The six month program is available is more than 90 Houston-area ZIP codes.

A California company with autonomous cabs has announced a new pilot program in partnership with a provider of wheelchairs and mobility solutions.

Cruise has teamed up with Numotion for a six-month wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) pilot program in Houston, offering free transportation for qualifying Numotion customers, according to the companies. The program will operate in over 90 Houston-area ZIP codes.

“Numotion is excited to partner with Cruise to offer a seamless and convenient solution for wheelchair users in the Houston area. By providing transportation to and from repair appointments, we're alleviating a significant stressor and providing a way for our customers to receive their service and repair faster,” says Mike Swinford, CEO of Numotion, in a news release. “We're constantly striving to innovate and improve the lives of our customers, and this collaboration demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing beneficial customer experiences."

Cruise entered the Texas market last year, with Houston services launching in October 2023 before the company put all operations on pause following a California crash. This is the first Texas announcement for Cruise since the pause.

"Accessibility is core to our mission at Cruise. This pilot program with Numotion is doing more than providing accessible rides – it’s about empowering people in the community with greater mobility and independence, while also building learnings to better our service in the future," says Craig Glidden, president and chief administrative officer at Cruise about the new pilot.

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The story originally was published on our sister site, InnovationMap.