A Public, Personal Shuttle Service -- For $1.25

"For $1.25, anyone living in [Charleston's Mt. Pleasant or James Island] areas can call CARTA [Charleston Area Regional Transit Authority] and request that a small shuttle van pick them up at their door and, during regular bus route hours, take them to the nearest bus stop."

Too good to be true? Maybe. "'Number one, you don't get to pick who you ride with in our vans,' says [CARTA Executive Director Howard] Chapman. 'You could have five to six people in the van. If you do want to ride by yourself, then you can go ahead and pay for a cab.'" In addition, the new service may only be temporary, used for exploration of potential future fixed routes.