BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — The Golden Empire Transit board has approved a six-month extension of the Toucan Trolley pilot program, which connects Downtown Bakersfield and Old Town Kern.
GET officials say the extra time will help them gather more ridership data, measure community interest, and see how well their outreach efforts are working before making any long-term decisions. Early numbers are trending in the right direction.
Ridership grew from 371 boardings in March to 455 in April, with many people using the trolley to visit restaurants, shops, and entertainment destinations.
Jamillah Omar, a customer experience and engagement specialist with GET Bus, said Fridays and Saturdays are the busiest days for the service.
"Those are the peak ride times."
The goal remains the same as when the pilot launched in January — making it easier to explore Downtown Bakersfield and Old Town Kern without having to worry about parking or moving a car.
"It makes it really cool because you don't have to figure it all out yourself. It's an easy way just to learn about Bakersfield, Downtown Bakersfield, Old Town Kern, explore the area, low pressure. It's the same cost as our regular buses, so it's not like there's an upcharge," Omar said.
A single trip costs $1.65, and an all-day pass is $3.55. Omar said GET is encouraging more people to give the trolley a try. Businesses along the route can also support the program by advertising on the trolley's onboard entertainment screens as officials continue building awareness of the service across the community.
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