West Palm Move Starts $1 Rides: What Opens September 15?

West Palm Beach’s new West Palm Move transit network began its $1 fixed-route service on September 8, 2026, with a second, $2 on-demand service scheduled to start September 15. The immediate benefit for visitors is a frequent north-to-south connection between the Norton Museum of Art and Northwood Village, without needing an app for a bus-only trip.

The two launch dates matter: the fixed route is the option available first, while the more flexible service follows a week later. Our West Palm Beach attractions guide groups downtown arts and waterfront stops separately from farther-away destinations, a useful starting point before deciding whether this local network can replace a particular drive.

A New Network, With Two Different Ways to Ride

The city’s September 4 launch notice describes West Palm Move as a permanent mobility program replacing the RideWPB pilot, which ended May 31. It combines an electric fixed route with on-demand trips intended to make short journeys easier for residents, employees, and visitors.

WLRN’s September 8 report independently confirms the two-stage launch and the $1 and $2 fares. That is a new local travel option, not evidence that traffic congestion has already improved or that every destination in Palm Beach County is now reachable for the same price.

For travelers staying near the fixed corridor, the practical change is the ability to make some short outings without moving a car and finding another parking space. For anyone staying beyond it, the relevant question is still whether the specific origin and destination fall within the service’s route or on-demand area.

Where the $1 Fixed Route Goes

The operator’s current service guide identifies a north-to-south route between the Norton Museum of Art and Northwood Village. It also names downtown and Clematis, CityPlace, Palm Beach Atlantic University, and Good Samaritan Medical Center as key destinations along the route, making this a local circulation service rather than an airport express.

Scheduled frequency is every eight to ten minutes, with Monday-to-Friday service from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday service from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday service from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Use those closing times when planning the return journey, especially if dinner or an evening event could finish after the buses stop.

Riders can board at marked West Palm Move stops and tap a credit or debit card, smartphone, or smartwatch to pay the $1 fare. The operator says no app is necessary for a fixed-route-only trip, which removes an account-setup step for someone making a simple museum or downtown outing.

The published frequency is service guidance, not a guaranteed wait for every departure, so check the live tracker when timing matters. A stop sign’s direction and cross streets are also worth checking before boarding: a northbound vehicle and a southbound vehicle serve different immediate travel needs even within the same corridor.

What Starts September 15?

The on-demand service is scheduled to begin September 15, with daily operating hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., according to the city. It costs $2 per passenger and can be requested through the app, online portal, or the phone number listed by the city, 561-264-0458.

Unlike a private, prebooked car transfer, the operator describes these trips as immediate requests made when the rider is ready to go. Pickups are generally corner-to-corner, so a passenger may need to walk to a nearby virtual stop rather than expect collection at the exact doorway entered as the origin.

The app can suggest on-demand travel, the fixed route, or a combination, and the operator says additional passengers each pay the same $2 on-demand fare. For a family or group, calculate the passenger total before comparing the option with another ride, rather than treating $2 as the price for an entire vehicle.

There is also a distance rule with important exceptions: while the bus is running, ordinary on-demand trips have a five-mile cap measured in a straight line. The operator says that cap is removed when only on-demand service is operating and for wheelchair-accessible vehicle trips, so it should not be described as an absolute limit on every booking.

Transfers, Accessibility, and Payment Need a Separate Check

The operator lists free transfers between the two services, bringing a combined trip to $2 total rather than adding the $1 bus fare to the $2 on-demand fare. Follow the current instructions in the app and confirm the transfer with the driver; the published process uses the ride receipt or proposed combined journey.

For wheelchair-accessible on-demand travel, the detailed service guidance directs riders to call 561-264-0458 so that the account can be set up for the appropriate vehicle. It specifically asks riders to call rather than rely on an in-app toggle, a more precise instruction than the general accessibility wording elsewhere on the site.

The operator also says the city is reviewing fixed-route stops for accessibility, so do not assume that every boarding location has identical conditions. Confirm the particular stop or accessible booking arrangement that your trip requires, and distinguish this mobility service from a dedicated paratransit service, which the operator says it is not.

Cash is not accepted on either service, and the launch guidance lists no reduced fares or passes. On-demand payment is handled through the account using a supported card or digital wallet; bus-only riders can tap aboard, so the setup required depends on which part of the network they intend to use.

Build the Outing Around the Actual Service

The most straightforward initial use is a trip that both begins and ends near the fixed route during its operating hours. A visitor choosing the Norton Museum as a stop should separately check museum admission and hours, because a bus operating beside an attraction does not mean that attraction is open at the same time.

From September 15, an on-demand connection may expand the practical options, but it still depends on the service area and vehicle availability. The operator warns that busy periods can leave no nearby vehicle and that calling does not move a passenger ahead in the queue, so avoid relying on an unconfirmed request for a hard deadline.

If plans change before boarding, the operator tells riders to cancel and rebook rather than expect a changed destination once the ride has started. Cancellation charges can apply after a driver is assigned, so read the current in-app terms before requesting a vehicle while your group is still deciding where to go.

For this week, the clearest decision is therefore chronological as well as geographic: use the existing fixed route where it fits, and treat on-demand travel as a September 15 launch. Keep a separate return option if your outing extends beyond the applicable operating hours or the app cannot confirm the journey you need.