One Third of DC’s Circuit Rideshare Trips are to Grocery Stores

A rideshare program in Southwest Washington, D.C. helped local residents access grocery stores, with data from its two-year pilot showing that 32 percent of trips made using Circuit Rideshare were made to and from grocery stores.

In a piece in Greater Greater Washington, Zachary Baldwin outlines the history of the project, which was developed by the Southwest Business Improvement District as part of its DC Mobility Innovation District (DC MID). The pilot was funded for 25 months, but needs external funding to continue. 

As Baldwin explains, “Circuit offered a dedicated fixed route in Buzzard Point, in partnership with DC Central Kitchen, in addition to an on-demand service accessed via mobile app or phone number. The program initially provided free service to gain traction, and a $2-per-ride fare was introduced after three months.” The system served over 125,000 passengers with average wait times of under 10 minutes, and 15 percent of trips were taken by people enrolled in the RideWell program who receive government assistance.

According to Baldwin, “The Circuit Rideshare program served a wide range of the Southwest community, including low-income residents, employees, and tourists, offering essential and low-cost transportation with opportunities to improve transit connectivity.”