NICE Bus will launch a new pilot service this fall aimed at providing a safe, reliable and affordable public transportation alternative to private ride services in East Meadow, North Merrick, North Bellmore and Bellmore.
The Mini MILE service, scheduled to begin Sept. 21, will provide additional north-south connections to schools, shopping centers, community centers and major public transportation hubs.
The service is a hybrid of NICE’s South Shore MINI microtransit program, combining the flexibility of an on-demand shuttle with the regularity of a fixed-route bus schedule.
Scheduled Mini MILE service will operate weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., traveling from the Bellmore Long Island Rail Road station along the Bellmore Road and Bellmore Avenue corridors to Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow.
Riders may wait at designated “super stops” along the corridor for scheduled service or request a ride through the NICE Mini mobile application. Rides will be provided within the Mini MILE service area but will not offer direct door-to-door transportation.
“NICE Bus is always innovating to remain current with shifting models and trends in transportation, most recently the advent and acceptance of private ride services,” NICE CEO Jack Khzouz said. “While we provide robust east-west service along Hempstead Turnpike and Jerusalem Avenue, the new Mini MILE service is a way to provide north-south connections within these vibrant communities.”
To introduce riders to the new service zone, Mini MILE rides will be offered free for the first month, through Oct. 31, Khzouz said.
The service will use smaller buses and operate through a shared-ride model, meaning passengers may experience additional pickups and drop-offs during their trips. All Mini MILE buses are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and can accommodate riders who use wheelchairs.
Customers may reserve a ride by calling a reservationist at (516) 228-4173 or downloading the NICE Mini app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Customers using the app must create an account, select the Mini MILE service zone and enter their requested pickup and drop-off locations, similar to the process used by private ride services.
The service can be used for trips beginning and ending within the designated zone. It is also intended to help riders connect from their homes or workplaces to the broader bus and rail transportation network.
Beginning Nov. 1, a one-way Mini MILE ride will cost $3, the same fare charged on NICE’s fixed bus routes. Riders may pay onboard with coins, OMNY or a NICE transfer, or pay in advance with a credit card through the NICE Mini app.
Unlike private ride-sharing companies, the Mini MILE service will not charge surge pricing or impose higher fees during peak travel periods.
More information about the service and its coverage area is available at ridemini.com.
