Discrepancies between initial applicants and actual users of a new microtransit service: The case of FlexRide Milwaukee

Amid the long-term trend of declining transit ridership in the US, there is growing interest in leveraging on-demand microtransit to complement existing transit service, particularly to improve the accessibility of autoless riders to jobs, health care, or other activities in lower-density areas that are inefficient to serve with fixed-route transit. However, relatively little is known about whether these new microtransit services effectively serve their intended user groups. We studied FlexRide Milwaukee, an on-demand, microtransit service created to connect low-income workers and job seekers from predominantly Black neighborhoods on the northwest side of the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin with predominately white, employment-rich suburbs. This employment-focused service helped FlexRide users reach jobs located in suburbs with limited transit service. Analyzing trip data from the FlexRide pilot study period (April 18 to September 30, 2022), we profiled 713 applicants who showed initial interest in trying the service. Ultimately, 428 of these applicants signed up as participants to use the service and 128 of them actually used FlexRide Milwaukee (80 frequent and 48 occasional riders). Descriptive analyses and logistic regression models showed that participants used FlexRide more often if they were already employed, Black, or did not have access to a household vehicle. However, compared with their high levels of initial interest, people with low incomes and women underused FlexRide Milwaukee. People who were unemployed, used cash, or worked third shift also underused the service. More research is needed to understand the latent demand for this type of microtransit service among these groups.