OH: Lorain County’s new on-demand transportation service sees strong ridership

Sept. 3—Lorain County’s new on-demand public transit service has provided more than 5,900 rides to public transit since it launched July 15, according to a news release.

That number includes more than 2,400 rides in the city of Elyria and nearly 3,500 rides in the city of Lorain, the statement said.

The goal of the Microtransit Pilot Program is to expand access to easy, affordable, and environmentally friendly transportation in the two cities by allowing community members to book shared rides on-demand through the viaLC app or by calling 440-901-5554.

The Microtransit Pilot Program provides residents, visitors and employees with a new way to get to work, run errands, access healthcare, education centers, transit hubs and more without needing a private vehicle, the statement said.

The statement noted that the vast majority of trips were to essential needs points such as grocery stores, local employers, schools and community resources.

The service opens the door to a new and sustainable form of mobility that will complement Lorain County’s existing mobility option: Lorain County Transit.

Powered by smart software from Via, a global leader in TransitTech, the service pairs passengers heading in the same direction into a single vehicle and directs them to “virtual bus stops” within walking distance to minimize rerouting for others.

For seniors and disabled travelers, direct-to-destination trips are available in the app (select the menu item labeled “Discounted Fare” and open the appropriate description) or request a “head-to-head” routing for seniors or disabled travelers by calling 440-901-5554

New figures show how the Microtransit Program has performed in its first six weeks.

It shows:

Average driving score: 4.9 out of 5 stars
Average wait times are under 13 minutes
An average of three passengers were carried per hour

How to ride

Residents who want to travel on the system must create an account

Download the Lorain County Microtransit app (viaLC) from the App Store or Google Play Store and follow the simple steps.

Alternatively, you can call 440-901-5554 for installation assistance.

Book a trip

Passengers must provide their pickup and drop-off addresses. Select the trip you want by selecting “Book This Trip.” If you require a wheelchair accessible vehicle, make sure to select the wheelchair icon.

Meet the driver

Citizens need to check the app to find out where the vehicle will meet them at a “virtual bus stop,” which could be a short walk from the entered address.

The service operates from Monday to Friday between 06:30 – 18:30.

Regular fare trips cost $2 per person.

Discounted rare rides for the disabled, low-income, seniors and youth are available for $1 each.

Veterans ride for free.