As summer travel picks up, one Southern California city has introduced a new electric shuttle that provides flat‑fare rides to any location within city limits.
The Manhattan Beach City Council approved the six‑month pilot program on April 7 in partnership with Circuit Transit, the Daily Breeze reported. The council will review the service before deciding whether to extend it. Full operations began earlier this month.
The service, called Wave Rider, operates more like a rideshare than a traditional shuttle. There are no fixed routes, stops, or schedules.
Fares are $5 per person, per ride. Older adults aged 55 and up will pay $2.50 starting in July.
Here’s how residents can ride the Wave
- Download the Circuit app (available on IOS and Android)
- Request your ride — Enter your destination anywhere in the city
- Pay in app
The shuttle runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays.
Trips must remain within Manhattan Beach’s city limits, with one exception: riders may travel to the Metro K Line’s Douglas Station in El Segundo.
The fleet includes two neighborhood electric vehicles serving denser commercial areas west of Sepulveda Boulevard, two sedans covering the broader city, and one wheelchair‑accessible van, according to the city.
“It’s from your home to where you want to go and back again,” Erik Zandvliet, the city’s traffic engineer, said. “There are shorter wait times. It’s similar to Uber and Lyft — and it’s less expensive.”
The pilot is funded by the Proposition A Local Return account, a restricted fund generated by Los Angeles County sales tax revenue designated for local transit purposes, according to city officials.
