Officials cut ribbon on free Ride Circuit shuttle service
From left to right: Thandi Nyambose, Josh Faherty and Sarah Corbitt cut the ribbon on the Circuit shuttle. Photos by Nick Mossman
A group of attendees stand for a photo on Onset Pier before cutting the ribbon on the shuttle service.
Faherty gets behind the wheel of the shuttle.
Karen Butler waves while taking a ride in the shuttle.
Town officials take a ride through Onset.
From left to right: Thandi Nyambose, Josh Faherty and Sarah Corbitt cut the ribbon on the Circuit shuttle. Photos by Nick Mossman
A group of attendees stand for a photo on Onset Pier before cutting the ribbon on the shuttle service.
Faherty gets behind the wheel of the shuttle.
Karen Butler waves while taking a ride in the shuttle.
Town officials take a ride through Onset.
Town officials and representatives from Ride Circuit cut the ribbon on a free, on-demand electric shuttle service now available in Onset and Wareham on Wednesday, July 8.
The shuttle service is aimed at reducing traffic congestion and improving transportation amid the area's busy summer tourism season.
Circuit representative Thandi Nyambose said that the shuttle already had over 200 passengers in the first week of operations. Among those passengers, wait times averaged under six minutes for the shuttle.
Ride Circuit shuttle driver and Northeast operations area manager Humberto Facey said it is too soon to determine which shuttle spots are most popular. However, some hot spots have been the Onset Summer of Love concerts and the shuttle has been used by beachgoers.
Facey said he's already made a couple friends driving the shuttle around town.
Officials opted to cut the ribbon without giving their prepared speeches as all attendees already knew about the shuttle service. Director of Planning Josh Faherty shared his speech with Wareham Week after the ribbon cutting.
In his prepared speech, Faherty wrote that the launch of the shuttle is "something we can all be proud of." He said that the town is excited to welcome the shuttle service to the community, particularly to Onset.
"This program represents exactly the kind of forward-thinking, community-focused initiative that Wareham should be pursuing," Faherty wrote.
Riders can download the Ride Circuit app to request a shuttle in its operating areas — primarily Wareham Village and Onset. The shuttle service is part of a 15-week pilot program and is funded by the Wareham Redevelopment Authority and from Onset residential parking fees.
The town plans to use the summer pilot to rider demand, impacts on parking and community feedback.
