CATS Micro now runs daily 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. along the West Boulevard corridor, including the airport. A ride costs $2.20, booked by app or phone. How it works.

People in West Charlotte can now book a shared, on-demand ride for $2.20 anywhere inside a new zone along the West Boulevard corridor. The Charlotte Area Transit System marked the launch Friday at the Renaissance West Community Initiative.

The service, CATS Micro, runs daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the zone. It is part of the first wave of improvements from the transit referendum Mecklenburg County voters approved last year, CATS said in its Oct. 16 release. Leaders of CATS and the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority spoke at the event.

Where it goes

The zone covers West Charlotte neighborhoods around Wilkinson Boulevard, Freedom Drive and Billy Graham Parkway, between I-77 and I-85, according to the CATS Micro rider’s guide.

CATS named these destinations in the zone:

  • Charlotte Douglas International Airport
  • the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market
  • the South Charlotte Veterans Affairs clinic
  • the Walmart on Wilkinson Boulevard
  • Woodlawn Station on the Lynx Blue Line

Every trip has to start and end inside the zone. For trips farther afield, the Woodlawn Station stop links to the Blue Line.

How to ride

CATS Micro is a shared ride you book ahead, not a bus. You cannot flag one down. The CATS Micro page and rider’s guide set out the rules:

What Detail
Fare $2.20 each way, per passenger
How to book The CATS-Pass app, or call 704-336-7433
When to book The same day only; rides cannot be booked in advance
Wait CATS aims for no more than 30 minutes from booking to pickup
Pickup point The app sends you to a safe spot, usually a nearby corner or within a block
Paying The app, or weekly and monthly paper passes. No cash

A few more points from CATS:

  • Riders 13 and older can ride alone. Children 12 and under need an adult.
  • Children under 8 need a car seat or booster, and you must bring it.
  • Vehicles have bike racks. Service animals are welcome; pets are not.
  • Ask for a wheelchair-accessible vehicle when you book.
  • Cancel before the driver arrives or the fare is not refunded.

What else changed

CATS also started other changes on Oct. 5, it said:

  • more frequent service on some bus routes
  • longer CATS Micro hours in the North Mecklenburg zone
  • a new weekday connector route in northern Mecklenburg County

The release did not list which bus routes run more often.

“The new West Charlotte microtransit zone is a clear example of public investment turning into real service for the community,” Mayor Rob Harrington said.

What it means for you

  • If you live or work along West Boulevard, Wilkinson Boulevard or Freedom Drive, you can get to the airport, the farmers market or the Blue Line for $2.20.
  • Download the CATS-Pass app and set up payment before you need a ride. Cash is not taken.
  • Light rail riders should note separate work on the Blue Line in November. See our story on Blue Line single-tracking in South End and our guide to getting around Charlotte.