Meet the SouthPark Skipper: Freebee Launching Eco-Friendly Rides in Charlotte

Freebee is heading to the Queen City! Beginning in late 2024, SouthPark visitors, residents, and workers will be able to catch a ride on the SouthPark Skipper, a new free electric vehicle service designed to ease traffic and improve mobility in one of Charlotte’s busiest districts.

Funded by a mix of public and private dollars, the SouthPark Skipper will provide on-demand, app-based rides in six-passenger electric vehicles, helping connect people to retail, restaurants, offices, and nearby neighborhoods without the need to drive or park.

This innovative service is the result of a partnership between SouthPark Community Partners, the City of Charlotte, and the nonprofit Sustain Charlotte. Freebee will operate the service, bringing our award-winning microtransit model to North Carolina for the first time.

“The SouthPark Skipper will make it easier for people to get around without a car — and reduce the number of short, unnecessary car trips that clog our streets,” said Erin Chantry, executive director of SouthPark Community Partners, in The Charlotte Ledger.

The service will cover the heart of the SouthPark district, including Phillips Place, SouthPark Mall, and Piedmont Row, with potential future expansion to surrounding areas. Riders will be able to request a ride using the Ride Freebee app, just like in our other communities across the country.

As the SouthPark area continues to grow, the Skipper will play a key role in making local transportation cleaner, more accessible, and more convenient.

More information on the program can be found via The Charlotte Ledger.