Carlsbad Electric Shuttle - Good Ride - Ended August 2024

Having a Beer at Pizza Port Brewery in Carlsbad

Whether your plans took you to family friendly places or a brewery for date night, Carlsbad Good Ride would take you there.

Inside the Circuit Electric Shuttles

How Riders Requested a Ride

Riders downloaded the Ride Circuit app, chose Carlsbad under locations, selected a destination, and requested. Visitors without a smart phone could have a hotel concierge call Circuit on their behalf.

Family and Group Friendly Rides

The Carlsbad Good Ride fleet offered both ten-passenger vans and five-passenger sedans, so everyone in a group was covered.

Safety first

Good Ride followed California's state requirements regarding child passenger laws: seat belts for children over 49 inches, and a guardian-supplied car seat or booster seat for children smaller than that.

Inside Back of the Circuit Electric Shuttles

Were Rides Private?

The shuttles worked much like an Uber Pool. Other riders could request a ride and join yours, and vice versa.

Pets

Pets were allowed at the discretion of the driver and any other riders, under Circuit's pet etiquette:

• Pets did not sit on the seats
• Pets sat on your lap or on the floor
• Pets stayed inside the shuttle

Accessibility

A wheelchair-accessible ride could be requested through the app.

A Pilot, With Kinks

Carlsbad Good Ride was always a pilot program, so there were kinks along the way as it rolled out, and with a small fleet, delays were possible.

Cargo

Good Ride was designed for short local rides. There was no space for a surfboard, but smaller cargo like a boogie board could be accommodated.

The Sun Setting in the Carlsbad Village

Both the summer and holiday seasons see a surge of visitors in the Carlsbad area.

Circuit promised a Good Ride within 8 - 15 minutes, but peak seasons and rush hour could make waits longer.

Personally, I thought the fleet was the perfect alternative to ride sharing options and renting a car. For what fills that role today, see how to get around Carlsbad now.

The shuttle service was free to ride.

The one-year pilot program was funded by a grant from the Carlsbad Tourism Business Improvement District and promoted by the Visit Carlsbad board to help visitors get around easily while reducing emissions and traffic.

The Village Corner in Carlsbad

Tipping

Tipping your driver was neither expected nor required, though it was appreciated if you enjoyed your ride.

For what a ride costs today, see how to get around Carlsbad now.

The shuttle ran on a seasonal schedule.

From September 1st to March 31st, the shuttle ran:

• Wednesday - Sunday: 10AM-8PM

From April 1st to August 30th, the shuttle ran:

• Monday - Sunday: 10AM-10PM

Those hours are history now; see how to get around Carlsbad now.

Pool Side Rooms and Beach Front Pool at the Beach Terrace Inn

Where Should You Stay?

I would recommend the Beach Terrace Inn for your next trip to Carlsbad. It's located directly on the beach and the location is superb.

This boutique hotel is family-owned and delivers big on Southern California hospitality.

The Beach Terrace Inn is approximately 10 minutes or so from LEGOLAND California and just a few minutes' walk to Carlsbad Village.

From the hotel, it may take you about 45 minutes with a rideshare or rental car to get to the San Diego International Airport (SAN), and a touch more time to arrive in Downtown San Diego, Balboa Park or the Gaslamp Quarter.