Explore the LBC Car-Free

If Earth Day has you searching for a way to make a positive impact on the planet, consider stepping away–at least sometimes–from something that has one of the most devastating effects: your car. As part of the transportation sector, cars and trucks generate a large share of greenhouse gas emissions; more than 25%. Fortunately, Long Beach has numerous alternative forms of transportation–scooters to shuttles to buses–using everything from electricity to natural gas to get you where you need to go in a much more Earth-friendly way.

DRIVER

Driver (235 E. Broadway) provides a safe, convenient and, dare we say, fun alternative to gas-powered cars. Utilizing a convenient, virtual rental process, Driver’s fleet of all-electric vehicles seat up to four or six passengers and look like a pumped up golf cart, complete with windshield, meaty tires and headlights. They also come with or without doors. They are terrific for getting around town or taking to the beach, since they can also be used to tote bags and boards.

Credit: Driver

VEO

With a mixed fleet of more than 1,000 sit-down and stand-up electric scooters, Veo offers its services in every neighborhood across Long Beach and is easily accessible by downloading the company app. In order to make their vehicles available to as wide a population as possible, Veo offers city residents a discounted fare program–Veo Access–available to anyone who qualifies for a Long Beach local, state or federal assistance program such as CalFresh or Medi-Cal.

CIRCUIT

Long Beach is one of the innovative cities that Circuit works with across eight states. Its fleet of nimble, 100% electric shuttle cars operate now in Downtown Long Beach as well as Belmont Shore/Naples and are accessible through the company app. Working closely with cities as well as transportation partners and advertisers to subsidize their service, Circuit is able to offer either very affordable fares or completely free. Currently, Circuit is available in the city Thursday through Sunday.

Credit: City of Long Beach

GREEN FLEET

Long Beach Transit’s Green Fleet is 100% alternatively fueled and includes battery-electric buses (BEB), near-zero emission compressed natural gas buses (CNG) and gasoline-hybrid buses. LBT has been rapidly growing its electric bus fleet to an eventual 44 vehicles which will make up about 20% of the agency’s active fleet. There are also 122 CNG buses and 76 hybrids. The fleet travels about seven million miles per year–the equivalent distance covered by more than 600 cars–and is able to offset more than 312,000 gallons of gas every year with the Green Fleet.

METRO A LINE (BLUE)

The A or Blue Line was Metro’s first rail line. Opened in 1990, it provides rail service between Downtown Los Angeles and Downtown Long Beach, just a block from Ocean Boulevard. The Blue Line can be used to access such popular destinations as the Aquarium of the Pacific, Queen Mary and Long Beach Beach Performing Arts Center, as well as Crypto.com Center and the Los Angeles Music Center. Metro reduces far more greenhouse gas emissions than it generates and has set a goal of being completely carbon neutral by the year 2050.

About the Author

Steve Lowery

Steve Lowery is a longtime local. Over the years he has written for the Los Angeles Times, ESPN, and others. If you're looking for the hidden gems of Long Beach, Steve is your go-to.