The Squeeze, Lakeland’s free microtransit service, is gearing up for a major change starting Monday, Oct. 5.
Citrus Connection will introduce an Uber-style mobile on-demand system through its app, CC PIM, short for Citrus Connection Progress In Motion. The app replaces the previous fixed-route model, allowing riders to request trips from 15 designated pickup and drop-off points.
Riders select their to-and-from locations in the app where they will then be given an “accurate ride time,” said Tom Phillips, CEO of Citrus Connection.
“There’s no more waiting on the curb for 10 or 15 minutes craning your neck, wondering where the squeeze is,” Phillips said. “You’ll know now.”
Squeeze Hours
Weekday Lunch: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Downtown only)
Friday Night: 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m to 2 a.m.
The update also expands service into Dixieland on Fridays and Saturdays, a move advocated for by business owners in the area, adding stops near Hillcrest Coffee, Union Hall, and Cob & Pen.
“The difference between us and Uber and Lyft is, it’s a shared ride service. So if there’s still room on the cart, we may stop and pick up or drop off other people on the way,” Phillips said.
Launched in 2021 by Citrus Connection, Polk County’s public transit agency, the shuttle service aims to reduce traffic congestion and offers a safe and reliable way to explore Lakeland during lunch hours and night-time weekend hours.
Dig Deeper into the Evolution of the Squeeze
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