Ride the Wave

Ride the Wave - Manhattan Beach's new on-demand electric ride service is coming

MB Wave Rider launches June 4. Here's everything you need to know.

Something new is coming to the City this summer - and it only costs $5 ($2.50 for older adults ages 55+) per person per ride.

On April 7, the Manhattan Beach City Council approved the MB Wave Rider, a six-month on-demand electric microtransit pilot program bringing affordable, app-based rides to every neighborhood in the City. Operated by Circuit Transit, Inc., Wave Rider launches June 4, 2026.

Unlike a traditional shuttle or bus, the MB Wave Rider has no fixed routes, stops, or schedules. It works like this:

1. open the Circuit app,
2. request a pickup at your location, and
3. a driver takes you directly to your destination - anywhere within Manhattan Beach City limits, or all the way to the Metro K Line's Douglas Station in El Segundo.

Key Details:

• Flat fare per ride: $5 per person, per ride ($2.50 for older adults ages 55+)
• Fleet size: 5 EVs
• Pilot duration: Six months, with City Council review before any extension
• Funding source: Proposition A Local Return Funds
• No fixed routes, stops, or schedules - fully on demand

Service hours:

• Monday to Thursday: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
• Friday and Saturday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
• Sunday: 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Service area:

• Manhattan Beach City limits
• Metro K Line Douglas Station

How to Ride the Wave

1. Download the app - Get the Circuit app on iOS or Android at ridecircuit.com
2. Request your ride - Enter your destination anywhere in the City - no fixed stops or schedules
3. Pay in-app - $5 ($2.50 for older adults ages 55+) per person per ride, charged through the app - no cash needed

Learn more about the new microtransit program

The fleet includes two neighborhood electric vehicles for denser commercial districts west of Sepulveda Boulevard, two full sedans for broader Citywide coverage, and one wheelchair-accessible van - ensuring Wave Rider is available to all residents regardless of mobility needs. All drivers are W-2 employees of Circuit Transit, not independent contractors, enabling consistent training and a higher standard of service.

The City is funding the pilot entirely through its Proposition A Local Return account - a restricted fund generated by Los Angeles County sales tax revenue designated for local transit purposes. The total contract value does not exceed $540,626 over the six-month term, with the City's net cost reduced by fare revenue and potentially offset further by corporate sponsorships and advertising during the pilot period.

Throughout the pilot, Circuit Transit will provide the City with real-time ridership data - tracking peak demand times, popular origins and destinations, and rider demographics. That information will inform a staff report to the City Council before the contract concludes, when elected officials will decide whether to extend, modify, or conclude the program.