Metro Transit’s micro service area trips will expand on 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.
The service began in September 2022 and Metro Transit reports results so far have been promising. Through the end of January:
- More than 1,000 micro 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.
“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 will be done to help determine whether or how the pilot may be extended.
