The City of West Hollywood has temporarily halted its beloved free weekend trolley service, The PickUp, effective immediately, as it seeks a new vendor to take the reins. Announced on Tuesday, July 01, 2025, at 6:02 PM PDT, this interruption is part of an effort to refresh the program, with the city promising to resume service as soon as possible.
Launched in 2013, The PickUp has been a vibrant part of West Hollywood life, offering more than 50,000 passenger trips each year along Santa Monica Boulevard. The trolley loops between N. Robertson Boulevard and N. La Brea Avenue, serving the Rainbow District, Center City, and Eastside with stops that connect residents and visitors to bars, clubs, restaurants, and entertainment spots. Beyond its fun, lighthearted vibe, The PickUp plays a key role in reducing drunk driving, easing parking woes, and cutting traffic congestion—a mission that has defined its decade-long run.
The city is actively searching for a new vendor to ensure the service’s future, with updates to be shared on wehopickup.com and the trolley’s social media handles (@wehopickup on Instagram, Facebook, and X). Temporary signs will also appear at PickUp stops across West Hollywood to keep the community informed. While the trolley is on hold, residents and visitors are urged to turn to alternatives like Metro buses and rideshare options, with details available at weho.org/transit.
This pause comes as a surprise to many who rely on The PickUp, especially during busy weekend nights from 8 PM to 3 AM on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 PM to 10 PM on Sundays. The city’s commitment to safety and convenience remains strong, and the transition aims to maintain that legacy, though no specific timeline for the new vendor or service resumption has been set. Community feedback will likely shape the next chapter of this popular transit program.
So the City knew a vendor switch was coming, but didn’t plan ahead to keep service running without interruption? Halting The PickUp with no backup in place feels like avoidable disruption. Sadly, it’s not surprising—this kind of last-minute scramble has become all too common in how West Hollywood manages things. Residents deserve better.
What will the drunks do? This is outrageous.
The PickUp isn’t just for people out drinking—it serves a wide range of residents, including workers, visitors, and those who rely on it for safe, affordable transportation on the weekends. Reducing its value to just “drunks” misses the point and ignores the broader impact of the city’s lack of planning. This isn’t about nightlife—it’s about accountability and public service.
OK. So what is the kickback, backroom deal scandal we’re not being told about? Are they switching vendors because they cut back on the kickback to whatever city council members are on the take about that vendor? Pay up or shut up, vendors, money talks. Bullshit walks. that’s the motto of our city council. In order for you to take our citizens for a ride, we have to take you for a ride first.