In the months after Metro Transit micro opened, driver Yassin became pretty familiar with regular riders who used the on-demand service to get to school, work and appointments.
Lately, he's been meeting a lot of new people. “I used to know everyone on board, but now I get new customers every day,” he said.
The rise in interest is encouraging, and one reason why the area where micro trips can be requested will expand on Monday, Feb. 27. After the expansion, customers will be able to request rides in a roughly five square mile area of North Minneapolis.
Like other rideshare services, micro customers use a mobile app to request a ride. The difference is the cost – the fare is the same as taking a local bus.
Results so far have been promising. Through the end of January:
- More than micro 1,000 accounts have been created
- Nearly 7,000 rides have been provided
- The average wait time has been just under seven minutes
- The average trip is about 1.4 miles
Among those who have come to rely on micro is 68-year-old Charles Hallman, who said the on-demand service has helped him avoid slippery sidewalks he'd normally traverse on his way to regular route bus stops.
After three weeks of use, Mattie Henderson has also become a strong supporter. “This service is a godsend,” she said.
As a mother of two with a cleaning business, Sara Wood said micro has become her go-to for trips to the grocery store and appointments, and another way to reach the METRO C Line. “And the price is amazing," Wood said. "Other rideshares would cost over $10 for the same ride.”
micro is a one-year pilot. Later this year, an evaluation of ridership and costs compared to other services we provide will be done to help determine whether or how the pilot may be extended.
