By Daniel Ventura
In the sunny weather of July, going around downtown Oceanside can seem tiring for those who do not seek to walk for long periods of time. The gO’side shuttles have been provided by the community of Oceanside to allow quick transportation to visitors, tourists, and residents all throughout downtown Oceanside. The shuttles are open from Monday through Sunday, from 10 a.m until 10 p.m, bringing about 12 hours of transportation to those who want to go around Oceanside without the inferences.
Having the opportunity to ride on the shuttle was a unique experience, it was a quick and efficient way to get around Oceanside with the usage of the “Ride Circuit” app. The waiting time took around 6 minutes, which added to the efficiency of the transportation. The shuttle has a seating capacity of five people per ride and takes you anywhere from Oceanside Harbor south to Vista Way in the area west of Interstate 5. The ride was smooth, spacious for the size of the vehicle, and had clear windows where downtown Oceanside can be viewed. Something to consider is that the drivers may consider looking at your ID since many youths fake their identity on the “Ride Circuit” app.
Driver John mentioned that at the beginning of the program, most of the individuals accessing the shuttle services were tourists; later on, however, more than 60% of the individuals riding on the shuttles were residents, thanks to the help of advertising. The average driver gives around 110 rides every day, and the busiest days are Thursdays because of the Sunset Market.
An important task many drivers like John have is giving rides to drunk individuals, eliminating the possibility of hurting someone or getting hurt from drunk driving. Additionally, the majority of people riding on the shuttles are older-aged individuals who struggle with walking long distances, allowing them to enjoy the beauty of downtown Oceanside.
The gO’side shuttles should be something to look forward to using when visiting downtown Oceanside as it provides easy access to the city with people who understand the area.
