CATS Micro provides point-to-point travel / Photo by Jason Benavides

June 10. By Dave Vieser. As expected, the North Mecklenburg Village Rider bus route will be discontinued effective Monday July 7. The Village Rider is a local bus route which has served Cornelius, along with Huntersville and Davidson for many years. Also ceasing operation July 7 is the Davidson Shuttle.

Charlotte Area Transit Service’s (CATS) Micro, the recently launched on-demand shared ride service, replaces them.

CATS Micro provides point-to-point travel within very specific North Mecklenburg service zones and follows standard local bus fare rates.

Riders can use the service by downloading the CATS-Pass app, selecting Plan, and entering their trip details.

If the trip falls within a service zone and operating hours, CATS Micro will appear as a travel option. The expected wait time for ride requests is up to 30 minutes. Prospective riders can also call 704-336-7433 for more info or to arrange for a trip.

To assist riders in making a smooth transition, CATS is offering fare-free rides on CATS Micro from June 1–7. They are hoping that previous bus passengers will explore the benefits of this microtransit service.

CATS Micro offers point-to-point trips within a defined service zone currently in North Mecklenburg—for the same price as a local bus fare. This is the first of 19  microtransit zones planned for the CATS system.