MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) said Monday that increased ridership with their Groove and Ready! On-Demand services have been a "tremendous success," and the increased demand has them looking into expanding the coverage area of each.
MATA runs Groove On-Demand in a partnership with the Downtown Memphis Commission. The service covers downtown and the medical district, reaching as far as the Crosstown area and President's Island.
Since Groove launched in 2021, MATA said they've given over 55,000 rides on the service, which caused them to expand hours and start offering it seven days a week.
Ready! service is provided in three different areas: Southwest Memphis, Cordova and Northaven/Frayser.
MATA officials said they've seen as much as 500 riders per day in Southwest Memphis alone.
Each service is similar to rideshare apps like Uber or Lyft, where riders request a pickup at their location inside the service area, and can be dropped off anywhere inside the service area. The key difference is, because each service is provided by the city, costs to ride are significantly cheaper for riders, $1.25 for Groove and, currently, free for Ready!
This difference in cost, MATA said, has provided those in need of more flexible public transportation the means to get around the city without relying on fixed bus routes, giving people more access to jobs and essential services.
MATA said 62% of Groove riders reported making under $50,000 per year, and 67% do not own a personal vehicle. According to MATA, 38% of Groove riders report they are traveling more due to the service.
MATA said the success has them looking into expanding the coverage area of each service.