Metro Micro

Metro Micro is an on-demand shared‐ride microtransit service operated by the Los Angeles Metro across multiple zones in Los Angeles County, California. The service was launched in 2020 as a pilot project to serve “first/last mile” trips and provide mobility in areas where conventional bus routes are less frequent or efficient.

Service and Zones

Metro Micro serves eight primary zones, including Watts/Compton; LAX/Inglewood; El Monte; North Hollywood/Burbank; Highland Park/Eagle Rock/Glendale; Altadena/Pasadena/Sierra Madre; Northwest San Fernando Valley; and UCLA/Westwood/VA Medical Center.

History

In 2019 Metro launched a pilot called the Mobility on Demand program in partnership with the ride-share provider Via Transportation. That pilot operated in zones including North Hollywood, El Monte and Compton, and was funded in part by a grant from the Federal Transit Administration.
The first service zones of Metro Micro launched on December 14, 2020, in the Watts/Willowbrook and LAX/Inglewood service areas. The service operated using Metro-managed small vans, via app or call-in booking, and used the introductory US $1 fare in each zone for the first six months. In January 2021 Metro announced expansion of Metro Micro to three additional zones: Compton/Artesia, El Monte, and North Hollywood/Burbank. In June 2021 Metro Micro added zones in Highland Park/Eagle Rock/Glendale and Altadena/Pasadena/Sierra Madre.

Reception

As of April 2025, the Metro Micro app only had 16 reviews and a 1.9-star rating.
The program faced significant criticism regarding its cost-effectiveness, ridership levels, and long-term sustainability. According to Metro board reports, systemwide weekday ridership in mid-2024 averaged about 2,305 rides per day, less than half of Metro’s internal target of 5,090 daily rides.