The price of just about everything is up, but you can still get a free ride in parts of Plymouth.
The Plymouth Growth and Development Corporation has announced a $175,000 grant to fully fund Ride Circuit for the 2025 season. The electric vehicle program provides free shuttle service to residents and visitors, primarily in the downtown and waterfront areas.
Ride Circuit – entering its fourth year – will also be expanded, offering transportation on more days, and for longer hours.
The PGDC oversees Park Plymouth, the private entity thast manages town-owned parking spaces. The corporation is run by a seven-member volunteer board of directors appointed by the Select Board.
Park Plymouth director Desmond Egan said in a press release that the free shuttle “has grown in popularity over the years so adding additional days of service is great way to assist
residents and visitors to get around Plymouth and experience all it has to offer.”
To call more attention to the service, Egan said, the PGDC plans to install added signs in parking lots around town.
Trips are scheduled to begin March 14 with a Friday through Sunday schedule, from 1 to 10 p.m., until June 15. On June 28, the service will expand to seven days a week through Sept. 21. Daily hours will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday through Wednesday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday through Saturday.
From Sept. 26 to Nov. 23, it will revert to the Friday through Sunday schedule.
In addition to making pick-ups and drop-offs in the Plymouth Historic District, shuttles will go to Plimoth Patuxet Museums off Warren Avenue, the Route 3 exit 13 bus stop, and Cordage Park.
You can flag down a Circuit Ride vehicle, but users are encouraged to download the app, which is available in Apple’s App Store or through Google Play. The vehicles can hold five passengers. Tips are “appreciated but never required,” Circuit said.
“We have been so lucky to have funding partners that truly see the value in this important addition to transportation for our tourist areas,” said Lea Filson, president and CEO of the tourism organization See Plymouth. “This is a win-win for our visitors and our locals and we thank PGDC for this year’s funding.”
Mark Pothier can be reached at mark@plymouthindependent.org.