By Denise Starling, executive director of Livable Buckhead
One year ago, four black Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans with multi-colored swooshes all over them hit the streets in Buckhead. These vans had a mission as unique as their paint jobs – to make it easier for people to travel short distances in Buckhead without a car. Commuters who travel to Buckhead by MARTA train, for example, need a quick, reliable way to get from the station to their workplaces. So do people who want to make a quick shopping trip or try out a new restaurant on their lunch hours without the hassle of fighting traffic and searching for parking.
Enter The Buc, the first on-demand, app-based micro transit service in a major Atlanta business district. The Buc offers the sustainability and affordability of transit with the convenience and flexibility of a ride-hailing service. Using the Buc app, riders can book an on-demand, shared ride to any destination within the service zone. Rides to and from Buckhead’s two MARTA train stations are free and other trips are just $3 each.
The Buc’s first year has been successful, filling an important gap in local transportation options, building a growing ridership base and offering local businesses new opportunities to promote themselves and bring customers through their doors.
The number of trips taken on the Buc has increased by an average of 34% each month since its launch, and the service sets new ride records nearly every week. Recent weeks have also seen strong growth in the number of people setting up Buc accounts in the app and activating their accounts by taking a trip on the Buc. Momentum is on our side, and we are adding to our ridership base every day.
One of the somewhat surprising developments of the Buc’s first year on the road is its popularity among Buckhead residents. Three multi-family residential locations made the top 10 list of pick-up points in the Buc’s first six months. That strong demand as well as interest from…
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