As cities across America become more congested, people are facing increasingly time-consuming trips to and from work. Bird, an electric scooter sharing start-up, is aiming to solve the ‘last mile’ problem of public transport to encourage people to leave their cars at home and avoid the gridlock.

Fast food chain Burger King is launching a coffee subscription model that goes head-to-head with established coffee giants in a bid to create a loyal customer base. This shows people’s liking for online direct-to-consumer services is spilling into the physical world via innovative retail approaches.

Uber has launched Uber Rewards, a frequent flyer-style initiative that's organized into four levels: blue, gold, platinum, and diamond. The programme is available in nine areas across the US and is designed to boost loyalty by rewarding regular use.

With car ownership in decline in most American cities, but commuters frustrated with limited transit options and expensive cabs, Uber is expanding with bike-sharing service UberBike and car rental platform UberRental. The move aims to help users’ commutes become more frictionless.