West Hollywood will continue to offer weekend partiers free transportation along Santa Monica Boulevard.
The City Council agreed Monday to continue the service on a month-to-month basis and hire a consultant to study whether it makes sense to extend its hours and days of operation and extend its service father east along Santa Monica Boulevard to La Brea Avenue.
The PickUp shuttle, which launched in August last year, runs along Santa Monica Boulevard from from Doheny on the west to Fairfax on the east. It provides free rides from 8 p.m. until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Its goal is to reduce the need to drive to and find parking at nightlife destinations on the city’s Westside and reduce the likelihood of driving under the influence.
With the opening of new apartments, restaurants and other businesses on the city’s Eastside, some residents are asking that it be extended in that direction. The service currently costs the city $22,000 a month.
According to a report by the city’s Economic Development Division, an average of 1,200 people board the trolley each weekend. Surveys of trolley users in January and late February showed that the vast majority like the service. Eighty-four percent “love everything” about the PickUp line and 16 percent are “mostly satisfied.” The trolley runs from along Santa Monica Boulevard from Doheny on the west to Fairfax on the east.
The surveys show that the PickUp is mostly used by young gay men. In fact, 81 percent of riders are men, 66 percent are 34 years old or younger and 76 percent identify as gay. Survey respondents said they would like to extend the service to Sundays (90 percent) and have access to a mobile telephone app that shows the PickUp Line’s 20 stops (79 percent said they would use that).
The day city line is great, would be great on Sundays but face it most people won’t ride it for a few reasons, they don’t know its free, the hours, etc., they think its for seniors which its not. I ride it all the time and have a car, because of the benefits. I know that’s off subject but just adding that in for those who don’t know. The trolley hours are a little on the late side I think 7pm would draw more dinner crowds but its getting people to want to park in one place and enjoy boys… Read more »
@weho where did u get those numbers Id love to look at them and get in the know. Also do you know the same break down for the “Day” city line ?
Thx
22,000 / 4800 rides a month = 4.5 dollars per ride per person ! More expensive then Uber or Lyft !
Oh like no one saw this coming.. wait just long enough for people to forget how you take away parking spaces and raise the time for meter parking… oh wait someone did… or was it a dream that we had this same thing happen back in the 80’s. Hundreds of millions for a robo garage that so few people will use.. well at least those that try to get into city hall when it is not closed for a special event…ugh
ANY GOVERMENT SERVICE THAT RECEIVES A 100% APPROVAL SHOULD BE EXPANDED,AS THE COMMUNITY REQUESTS IT.I UNDERSTAND THAT A REVENUE SOURCE IS EVENTUALLY GOING TO BE NEEDED.THAT’S ANOTHER DISCUSSION.
A study? We need a study? Puhleeze. Extend the damn thing and set up an app. End of story. Typical bonehead, money wasting muggles at the wheel.
1. I and my friends are always using this shuttle. It’s great. It’s clean, safe and always fun. 2. I live at SMB and La Brea, so YES, it should come to that intersection. Especially with the hideous new construction of apartments…more residents = more riders
3. Even if I had to pay $1, I would…
What about getting some companies to sponsor it? That would help fund the program. Just an idea..
If the purpose is to get people to spend money in WeHo without the need of their cars, wouldn’t it make sense to extend it to the Hollywood/Highland subway station?
Is the citys own interests in their parking lots, parking tickets and the taxi lobby why our city council is moving as SLOW as possible on this service that the #nightlife community biz and visitors love? Do we really need to spend our citys money on a STUDY?
The service, enhanced safety, lower emission’s, less cars and better mobility for West Hollywood residents and visitors can be packaged any way that works. The Eastside has been ready and needs all the extensions to La Brea. Residents on the eastside have and are asking for this service.
Isn’t ridiculous that it took a trolley-like vehicle with cartoons, bright colors and loud music to get people riding a free bus?
I guess it takes what it takes.
Sunday during brunch hours would be a hit as would a telephone app. I’m not sure the eastside is ready for the trolley but in a years time it will be.