Los Angeles is famously a car-first city, but getting around without one is becoming a little easier. New rail projects, subway extensions, bus improvements, and other transit options are gradually giving Angelenos more ways to move around the county.
And for people who still want the convenience of getting around on four wheels, there’s Metro Micro, an on-demand rideshare service that can cost as little as $1 for eligible riders.
Who can get $1 Metro Micro rides?
Metro Micro is a publicly operated, app-based rideshare service that works somewhat like Uber or Lyft, except you share a small vehicle with other passengers and travel between designated stops rather than getting picked up at your front door. Vehicles can accommodate up to nine passengers and include accessibility features.
The $1 fare is available to seniors age 62 and older, riders with disabilities, and eligible K-12 and college/vocational students with the appropriate reduced-fare TAP card.
For everyone else, a standard one-way Metro Micro ride costs $2.50 and includes transfers to Metro buses and trains for up to two hours. Children under 6 ride free with a paying adult. Riders with an EZ Transit Pass can pay $0.75, while qualifying LIFE participants can use their free LIFE rides on Metro Micro.
The service currently operates in eight LA County areas:
- 🌳 Altadena/Pasadena/Sierra Madre
- 🏙️ El Monte
- 🌆 Highland Park/Eagle Rock/Glendale
- ✈️ LAX/Inglewood
- 🎬 North Hollywood/Burbank
- 🎓 UCLA/Westwood/VA Medical Center
- 🏔️ Northwest San Fernando Valley
- 🚇 Watts/Compton
How to get the $1 fare?
Eligible riders need to sign up for the appropriate Reduced Fare TAP card. Seniors and riders with disabilities can apply for a Senior/Disabled Reduced Fare card, while students can apply for the applicable student reduced-fare card.
Once approved, riders can book Metro Micro through the app, online, or by calling 323-GO-METRO. Trips are stop-to-stop, with pickups and drop-offs at major intersections, transit stations, and points of interest.
