Gastonia unveils new public transportation

Gastonia's new rideshare service was unveiled this week with a fleet of 14 minivans that carry people around the city for as little as $2.

The new on-demand microtransit service will replace the six city bus routes, and it is designed to expand transit coverage to more of the city, the city said in a press release.

The city’s transportation department estimates that riders take approximately 144,000 trips on its buses annually, and the new model will better serve current riders and others seeking to use public transportation, the city said.

Riders can access the service through the GoGastonia app or by calling 704-753-7439.

The fare will be $2 for a one-way trip or, for people 65 and older and people who are disabled, $1 per one-way trip. On-demand microtransit provides a similar convenience to private rideshare services, allowing riders to book and pay for on-demand rides online or by phone – for the same cost as public transit.

Algorithms will match others headed in the same direction into one shared vehicle, and riders are directed to a "virtual bus stop" near their pickup and drop-off location, the press release said. Riders who struggle with mobility will be picked up at their exact location.

The service allows riders to take spontaneous trips and can reach more areas than the city buses currently access.

Dwayne Burks, director of Gateway Gaston, said that he likes the ride sharing service. He said the fact that the service is accessed using a phone will not be a barrier for those who are homeless, as most who are homeless, in his experience, have a phone.

"I love the system. I thought so much of it that in my pastoral role we featured it in our church newsletter that goes out," he said. "Think about a family, you're working, and you've got a mom with a doctor's appointment ― two bucks, round trip. It's the same as Uber. That's pretty cool."

Some rules for rides include:

• Hours of operation: Monday - Friday, 5:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Service not available on holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
• Service operates 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Good Friday, Friday after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve
• Minimum age for riders is 13 years old (to ride solo) or must ride with an adult. Riders provide their own car seat for children.