SAN DIEGO — A small community in San Diego County now has another alternative to get around the neighborhood: a rideshare-style shuttle service.
The busy life of being a mother just got a little easier for Ana Gonzalez, thanks to a free electric ride-share service.
Mid-City GO gives free rides to people living in the communities of City Heights and North Park. Gonzalez said she shares one car with her husband, so having another reliable and free mode of transportation helps her stay on top of things.
“I can do like my daily things that I do in the neighborhood, going to groceries, pick up my kids, going to after-school programs, sports and things like that, and I don’t need to have my card or spend money on gas because I have this service,” she said.
San Diego’s Mid-City region has been cut in half by highways, separating City Heights from North Park. The goal of the shuttle is to reduce emissions while restoring connection for residents to travel within their community lines.
“With this service, it’s just faster, like if I had my own car,” Gonzalez said.
Jesse Ramirez works for City Heights Community Development Corporation and lives in City Heights. He said the shuttle aims to solve the “last mile” problem: getting people to places that aren’t on bus routes, including their home.
“So it’s not necessarily set up to take folks from here super far," he said. "It’s a micro-transit service so essentially it fills in the gaps and it allows for our folks who travel within the City Heights and North Park area."
Ramirez noted that Mid-City Go is funded through a $1.5 million state grant as a four-year pilot program. Their fleet also has a large van and a handicap accessible vehicle. He’s excited to see his community become more connected.
“It’s really great when we hear our community members talk about how it has really made their lives easier, whether it’s going to the doctor, going shopping, maybe out to help them take transit," Ramirez said. "It’s just really great to hear the impact that it’s having on our community and this project will continue to improve the lives of people here in City Heights and in the Mid-City area.”
On days when it's raining, Gonzalez said she is thankful to have a ride to complete her errands and stay dry. She said having access to free transportation has eased some of the worry about keeping her family on track.
“With high cost of groceries and rent in the neighborhood, it’s just an expense that you don’t want to have extra and having it free, it’s amazing,” she said.
The shuttle operates from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Rides can be scheduled through the Via San Diego smartphone app, which is available through Google Play or Apple Store.