Metro Micro is an on-demand shared‐ride microtransit service operated by the Los Angeles Metro across multiple zones in Los Angeles County, California. The service was launched in 2020 as a pilot project to serve “first/last mile” trips and provide mobility in areas where conventional bus routes are less frequent or efficient.
| Parent | Los Angeles Metro |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2020 |
| Locale | Los Angeles County, California |
| Service area | Multiple defined service zones |
| Service type | On-demand microtransit |
| Fleet | Small vans and shuttles |
| Operator | Metro (LACMTA) |
| Website | micro.metro.net |
Service and Zones
editMetro Micro serves eight primary zones, including Watts/Compton; LAX/Inglewood; El Monte; North Hollywood/Burbank; Highland Park/Eagle Rock/Glendale; Altadena/Pasadena/Sierra Madre; Northwest San Fernando Valley; and UCLA/Westwood/VA Medical Center.[1]
History
editIn 2019 Metro launched a pilot called the Mobility on Demand (MOD) program in partnership with the ride-share provider Via Transportation. That pilot operated in zones including North Hollywood, El Monte and Compton, and was funded in part by a grant from the Federal Transit Administration.[2]
The first service zones of Metro Micro launched on December 14, 2020, in the Watts/Willowbrook and LAX/Inglewood service areas. The service operated using Metro-managed small vans, via app or call-in booking, and used the introductory US $1 fare in each zone for the first six months.[3][4] In January 2021 Metro announced expansion of Metro Micro to three additional zones: Compton/Artesia, El Monte, and North Hollywood/Burbank.[5] In June 2021 Metro Micro added zones in Highland Park/Eagle Rock/Glendale and Altadena/Pasadena/Sierra Madre.[6]
Reception
editAs of April 2025, the Metro Micro app only had 16 reviews and a 1.9-star rating.[7]
The program faced significant criticism regarding its cost-effectiveness, ridership levels, and long-term sustainability. According to Metro board reports, systemwide weekday ridership in mid-2024 averaged about 2,305 rides per day, less than half of Metro’s internal target of 5,090 daily rides.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Metro Micro Fares Set at $2.50 per ride, Discounts Available for Some Riders". MyNewsLA.com. March 28, 2024. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
- ^ Sievertson, Makenna (December 9, 2024). "L.A. Metro Expands On-Demand Pilot Project". www.metro-magazine.com. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
- ^ "Metro's $1 Rideshare Experiment Is Expanding to the Westside - dot.LA". dot.la. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
- ^ "L.A. Metro launches new Metro Micro shared ride service along with the first phase of NextGen Bus Plan". Mass Transit. December 14, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
- ^ "L.A. Metro Expands On-Demand Pilot Project". www.metro-magazine.com. January 22, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
- ^ "New L.A. Metro Micro service zones in Pasadena and Highland Park launch June 27". Mass Transit. June 23, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
- ^ "Little-known rideshare program gets users around L.A. County for less than Uber, Lyft". KTLA. Archived from the original on April 9, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ^ "Latest on Metro Micro: Still Few Riders, High Costs - Streetsblog Los Angeles". la.streetsblog.org. June 18, 2024. Retrieved October 26, 2025.