Plaza Midwood Merchants Association + Jaunt Partner To Offer Free Rides In Plaza Midwood
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Plaza Midwood Merchants Association and Jaunt, Charlotte’s leading micro-transit service, have announced a new partnership providing free, on-demand electric vehicle rides within a one-mile radius of the popular Plaza Midwood Business District.
From Friday, June 7th, through Sunday, July 28th, residents, and visitors can request a free Jaunt ride during weekend service hours by texting (704) 980.2742.
- Fridays & Saturdays: 4 pm – 10 pm
- Sundays: 12 pm – 6 pm
This partnership aims to enhance accessibility to the local shops, restaurants, and businesses in Plaza Midwood while reducing parking congestion and promoting eco-friendly transportation.
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with the Plaza Midwood Merchants Association on this initiative,” said E.J. Drayton, CEO and Head of Partnerships at Jaunt. “Our energy-efficient, zero-emission EVs provide a sustainable solution for getting around one of Charlotte’s most popular districts hassle-free.”
Phil Gussman has lived in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood for 18 years. He has seen the district’s popularity skyrocket – along with the constant parking issues.
“One of the things we really need notice in Plaza Midwood and if you’ve been here you’ve noticed it too is parking,” said Gussman. “Parking is a pain in the neck.”
Business owners in the area are also feeling the pressure of limited parking. Michelle Castelloe owns Betty and Moxie Mercantile in Plaza Midwood.
“During the evenings when we’re open till six, that’s when everything starts getting really tight,” she said. “People just don’t come out to shop after that because parking is tough.”
The same goes for Will Bigham, the owner of the Pizza Peel.
“Talking to people that live in other parts of the Charlotte area and they’re like, ‘We just don’t go in that area because there’s no parking,'”
That’s why Gussman and other members of the Plaza Midwood Merchants Association created a new partnership with a free rideshare system known as Jaunt. They will be available for a ride in Plaza Midwood starting Friday.
This will allow locals to get around the area with ease, that way the few parking spaces there are will be available for visitors.
It will only be a weekend experiment for the first eight weeks, but the Plaza Midwood Merchants Association are hoping it’s popularity will open the door for week long access down the road.
“We’re trying to make sure we don’t feel we need to drive cars down here when we have the worst parking problems,” said Gussman.
Business owners are thrilled about the new option coming for Plaza Midwood neighbors and visitors.
“Without the local people taking up the parking spots, the others will be able to come in and, you know, park and there’ll be spaces said Bigham.
“I live about a mile away,” said Castelloe. “It actually comes to my street. So it would be a solution for me not having to drive to work. I could just take Jaunt in and then I’m here and didn’t take up a parking spot.”
To request a free Jaunt ride within the designated zone users simply text their pick-up location to the dedicated line (704) 980-2742. One of Jaunt’s friendly drivers will promptly arrive to transport passenger’s door-to-door in a comfortable, emissions-free EV during set service hours.
