Downtown San Diego shuttle service no longer offering free rides

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — FRED , an electric shuttle program that provides service in downtown San Diego, is known for its free rides. However, that has changed since Monday as a fare was added to rides.

With a limit of five passengers per request, it will cost each customer $2.50 per ride, capped at $5 per ride, Circuit, the company that runs the service, said on its website.

FRED has averaged over 16,000 rides per month.

The reason for the change? The fee is meant to “help improve the ride quality by reducing ride cancellations and shortening wait times,” the city told the San Diego Union-Tribune , FOX 5/KUSI’s reporting partners, in a statement.

The electric shuttle service, which started in August 2016, provides short-distance trips to top attractions like the Gaslamp Quarter, Seaport Village, Petco Park, USS Midway Museum and local shops and restaurants.

Pooled rides are also available to riders who can share the vehicle with others outside of your party.

FRED is offering three rides free by using the promo code FREDSUMMER2024.

Service hours for FRED run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

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