Montgomery starts on-demand ride service similar to Uber or Lyft. Here's how it works.
The city of Montgomery on Wednesday unveiled two of its micro-transit vans, which allow people to call for rides similarly to how they order Ubers or Lyfts.
How can you call a ride?
To call a ride, people can download the The M - Microtransit app from the app store. The app is free to download. They can also call the dispatcher at 334-625-4075 to book a trip.
People who call through the dispatcher can only pay for the ride with cash. Those who order through the app can pay with cash or with debit or credit cards. Rides cost $1.50 per person. Kids 5 years and younger ride for free.
From the app, riders can book a trip immediately or schedule one for the future. Riders have two minutes to board the van after their scheduled trip time arrives.
“It gives the people more flexibility, another transit alternative and it gives them some privacy," said Samuel Tensley, general manager of The M Transit.
Where and when can people ride?
The micro-transit vans operate Monday to Friday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The two vans in service run in the downtown area. People can also take ride from the Montgomery Regional Airport.
Tensley said people can take advantage of the new system by riding one of the fixed-transit buses into downtown and then using a micro-transit van to get wherever they need to go in the area.
What are the micro-transit vans?
The Ford F-350 transit vans cost the city $92,500 each. They can carry nine passengers, offer charging stations and are wheelchair accessible.
The micro-transit drivers use tablets to get where they are going, just like drivers do on any ride-sharing app.
What's next?
Mayor Steven Reed chose to start the program in the downtown area as a way to boost the region and compete with other cities, Tensley said.
The plan is to expand to other parts of Montgomery. The next location that officials are looking to add the micro-transit vans is around the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing plant.
“We’ve got to get the word out," Tensley said.
The micro-transit vans had a handful of bookings in the first few hours of the program's launch Wednesday morning.
More: Previous Coverage City spending $6.5 million to revamp, expand public transportation
Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser's public safety reporter. She can be reached at agladden@gannett.com or on Twitter @gladlyalex.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: How to use Montgomery's new ride-sharing program
