The Wave, Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District’s new service, has rolled into Isla Vista and Goleta after years of planning. 

The on-demand service takes riders to specific destinations within the microtransit zones, which include northern Goleta between Patterson Avenue and Los Carneros Road.

There are also specific pickup and drop off points including the Goleta Amtrak Station, Santa Barbara Airport, UC Santa Barbara Bus Loop, Isla Vista Community Center and some Isla Vista bus stops.

The service has been in the works for the last five years but was delayed due to the pandemic, lack of vehicle availability, and a shortage of bus operators, according to Hillary Blackerby, a spokesperson for MTD.

“I think it helps show that we are trying to innovate and provide more service, whether it’s fixed route or it’s on demand that will help people get where they need to go conveniently, safely, and for a low price,” Blackerby said. 

The Wave has two vans operating from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Blackerby said if they have drivers available, they hope to extend service hours to 9 p.m.

The service is starting as the Isla Vista Community Services District is looking to decrease the need for students to have cars in Isla Vista in order to alleviate parking congestion and illegal parking practices. 

Blackerby said that when they talk to students about why they have a car, one of the biggest reasons is so they can leave Isla Vista to go get groceries. 

“There are a lot of people that want to get to Trader Joe’s or Fairview Center, all that stuff, from Isla Vista; both seniors and students have been interested in that whole shopping area because there’s not direct service,” Blackerby said. “You can get there on a bus but if you’re coming from Isla Vista you need to take two buses.”

The Wave is free through the end of May, and after that the standard fare will be $3, or $1.50 for seniors 65 and older and for people with disabilities.

For now there is a one-year grant to fund the program but in Isla Vista and Goleta but MTD hopes it can also make a splash in Carpinteria.

The microtransit zone in Carpinteria would include everything in city limits and some unincorporated areas like Santa Claus Lane. Carpinteria used to have the Seaside Shuttle that followed a fixed route but it shut down during the pandemic, Blackerby said.

“We generally don’t see this as a replacement for fixed route service, but in Carpinteria, we think we can just cover the whole area and have it be a lot more convenient for everyone, no matter where they want to get, and it’s just more efficient in that case,” Blackerby said. 

There are also long term plans to have The Wave in Santa Barbara, but that will depend on funding for vehicles and drivers. 

Riding The Wave

While living in Isla Vista last year, getting groceries was a pain. I would have to plan out my trips; you can’t just spontaneously run to Target at 8 p.m. because finding parking when you get back will be nearly impossible.

Even during a Saturday morning I would have to drive around for 10-15 minutes, circling nearby streets several times to find a parking spot, and then lug my groceries back to my apartment. 

So I decided to test The Wave and see what it would be like to use the service to get groceries from Isla Vista.

I downloaded the TransLoc app, easily set up an account, and booked a ride from the Isla Vista Community Center to the Trader Joe’s at 5767 Calle Real in Goleta around 5 p.m. Riders can also book a ride by calling the transit service at 805.963.3366. 

I waited approximately 10 minutes. My estimated pickup time was pushed back several times but I was able to see where my driver was and received a notification when they were a minute away. 

My driver, Michael Mendoza, a MTD driver for the past 12 years, was a friendly and safe driver. As a woman I often feel uneasy riding in Lyfts or Ubers on my own but I felt completely comfortable on The Wave, even though I was the only passenger throughout my ride. 

The seats were comfortable, with plenty of legroom, and I was pleasantly surprised to see cup holders and USB charging ports. The vans also have a ramp for wheelchair users. Passengers have the option of selecting an accessible van when they book their ride. 

Because I was the only passenger, we went straight to Trader Joe’s. However, if it’s busy, other passengers could be picked up and dropped off along the way. 

I was dropped off right in front of the store. After I got what I needed, I booked a ride back to the community center and was picked up within a minute in front of the store.

When I got off the van, my only disappointment was that the service didn’t launch sooner.

If the service was available when I lived in Isla Vista, I would have used it all the time to get groceries, go to Michael’s and the Dollar Tree, and save myself from the stress of dealing with parking.