Of the 30,625 users of the Freebee ride-share service in Miami Lakes last year, more than two-thirds of the passengers were women, and 46 percent of those were over 50 years old.
What makes Miami Lakes one of the highest-rated service areas, with growing demand for rides in the electric vehicles that it has offered since January 2018?
Perhaps it’s the safety and convenience of not having to drive or park. Or, enjoying the quiet ride in an electric vehicle, knowing that you are not polluting the environment.
Miami Lakes Principal Town Planner Susana Alonso said amenities of the free, on-demand ride service include:
--Connections from Town Hall and Veterans Park to county-wide transit and the Palmetto Metrorail Station in Medley, for commuters to downtown Miami and Tri-Rail to Broward and Palm Beach Counties or south to Dadeland.
--The Freebee is easy to use for short trips to grocery stores and medical or beauty appointments around town.
--It’s also good for workers to make quick weekday trips to local restaurants for lunch.
--Freebee helps to reduce drunk driving by taxiing people from restaurants and bars to their homes.
--And it’s a carefree ride to church, town events and shopping.
--Parents rely on the service to bring home their kids from school; riders under age 20 made up about 13 percent of passengers last year.
A Freebee vehicle is summoned by using a smartphone app, which will also be available in Spanish later this year, the company said.
Elders who don’t use cell phones can call for rides by dialing the dispatch line at 855-918-3733.
Users may wait between 10 and 20 minutes to get picked up.
Currently there are two bright blue transit vans and the smaller cars that resemble open-air golf carts. The smaller vehicles will be replaced with Tesla cars, the company said.
One of the vans is ADA accessible, the town said.
The service is 100 percent subsidized by state and county grants, the town said.
Companies that wish to sponsor a Freebee vehicle or wrap one in an ad may contact Alonso at AlonsoS@MiamiLakes-fl.gov.
Freebee Hours of Operation
Monday - Thursday: 6 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday: 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
For more information go to: https://ridefreebee.com.
Are you a Freebee rider? How was your experience? Send photos and tell us about it, at LindaT@MiamiLaker.com.