Palmetto Bay riders looking for a quick hop across town should start seeing their Freebee rides show up faster, thanks to a quiet but major upgrade to the village’s free electric shuttle fleet.
Village officials say they have doubled the number of Freebee on-demand vehicles on local streets, a move they expect will trim wait times and make it easier to snag a ride during the busiest parts of the day. The fleet jump from two to four vehicles was announced by the village and reported by Community Newspapers, which noted that transportation staff are banking on the added cars to deliver shorter waits and quicker trips for Palmetto Bay riders.
Freebee has been operating in the village since July 22, 2019, according to the Village of Palmetto Bay. The service offers free, on-demand, door-to-door rides within village limits, with passengers able to request trips through the Ride Freebee app or by phone. Freebee promotes its fleet as fully electric and emission free in communities around Florida.
What riders can expect
With twice as many vehicles in circulation, riders should see less competition for seats and better coverage for short trips, from errands and school runs to quick stops at local shops. A community sponsor reported more than 6,400 Freebee rides in Palmetto Bay during 2025, highlighting growing demand for this kind of microtransit in south Dade, according to Panter, Panter & Sampedro.
Local leaders say the expanded fleet is meant to give residents a faster, more reliable way to move around town without adding fares or switching to larger, more traditional buses.
How to ride
Riders can request a trip by downloading the “Ride Freebee” app or by calling 855-918-3733. The village lists service Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with door-to-door pickups available within village boundaries, per the Village of Palmetto Bay. For service maps and additional details, including the local service area, Freebee directs riders to its Palmetto Bay information page at Ride Freebee.
Background
Palmetto Bay debuted Freebee with a ribbon-cutting on July 22, 2019 that featured Mayor Karyn Cunningham, according to MiamiHal. From the outset, the idea was to supplement the village’s I-Bus circulator and give residents a no-cost, short-trip option so they would not need to drive for every quick outing.
Regional context
The latest Palmetto Bay upgrade lands as nearby towns and business districts continue to lean into Freebee and similar microtransit pilots, hoping to cut down on short car trips and keep shoppers close to home. Partnerships and shared funding models have helped cities scale service in areas where ridership and downtown activity support it, according to Panter, Panter & Sampedro.
Village officials say the extra Freebee vehicles are already in service and are intended to boost reliability without raising fares, as reported by Community Newspapers. Riders can check the Ride Freebee app for the latest pickup rules and real-time availability.
