Atomic City Transit is offering MyRide, an Uber-like pilot program on Saturdays through Oct. 25. Courtesy/ACT
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
A creative new idea has emerged from discussions with Los Alamos County Council, the Transportation Board and public feedback: a pilot program with Atomic City Transit (ACT) known as MyRide, which kicked off Aug. 2 and will continue until 5:30 p.m. Oct. 25.
ACT Senior Management Analyst Anna Brunson describes the program as being similar to Uber. MyRide users can reserve a bus ride from ACT, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturdays, anywhere in Los Alamos and White Rock. To do this, the ACTMyRide app can be downloaded either from the Apple Store or Google Play or by calling the ACT dispatcher at 505.661.RIDE.
Saturday reservations are made the same day; they cannot be made in advance. The reason, Brunson said, is to ensure all ACT riders can access all its services on Saturdays. Also, she added that since it is a pilot program and the first time ACT has offered this service, it wanted to allow everyone the chance to utilize the program.
“Basically, the intent of this is for people to get their needs met – grocery store, picnics – go have a beer with a friend and not to have to worry about driving there and back … go see a museum – connect with your community and the businesses, really,” Brunson said.
The program is only a few weeks old, but Brunson said it has already seen a lot of interest. During the first weekend, there were 14 people who utilized the bus service, and nine trips were conducted. The second week saw 34 people riding the bus and 22 trips made, she said, adding that 94 percent of riders booked their trips on the app on the second Saturday.
The stats prove that people support this program, she said. “Typically, reading data week to week, that kind of an increase of 140-180 percent is another way that we can see that the public is wanting to see this service.”
Most of the pick-ups and drop-offs are along downtown Central Avenue and Trinity Drive, Brunson said.
Having easy access to public transit is beneficial in so many ways, she said. It helps grow businesses, satisfies human needs like picking up groceries or going to the bank, and encourages social interaction as well as leisure and exercise activities. Plus, it offers bus service for community events such as BearFest this Saturday or Atomicon on Aug. 30.
“Transportation connects us, or it disconnects us if we don’t have access to our community and fulfill our needs and desires,” Brunson said.
One of the great advantages of this program is how easy it is to use. Downloading the app and requesting a ride takes less than a minute, and the bus promptly arrives wherever the user is located: their home, the grocery store parking lot or an ACT bus stop. An even more enticing perk is that there is no charge for any of this.
Brunson said the pilot program is being funded through existing resources in 5311 funding, which is federal government monies. She added that the MyRide hours are matched to Bandelier National Monument shuttle hours to limit additional supervisors and drivers from filling another shift.
If it is decided to continue the program, then more drivers will need to be hired and more money will need to be requested from the federal government, Brunson said. Right now, there are two to three drivers working in the MyRide program. The buses used are 14-16 passenger vehicles. So far, they haven’t reached capacity. Even if a bus reaches capacity, the app will work to notify the user when there will be availability.
Brunson explained that there is a backend AI programming, saying, “It is always looking for the most efficient way to get the most people”.
To determine whether to continue the program, Brunson said a survey is being developed to gauge public feedback. The number of rides and participants each weekend will also be reviewed, and conversations will continue about the program’s feasibility.
Perhaps the best way to help ensure this service continues is to use it; so … hop on the bus!