The Manhattan Beach City Council has voted to extend the MB Wave Rider - Manhattan Beach’s on-demand electric ride service - for an additional seven months at a reduced frequency.

Beginning on December 1, the vehicles will run for 30 hours per week: on Fridays from noon to 10:00 p.m., Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 9:00 p.m. That schedule reflects a decrease from the current operating schedule, which runs through the week for a total of 70 hours, and a decrease in the number of vehicles, from five down to three.

Under the new terms, the $5.00 per ride cost will remain the same. The city is funding the project through Proposition A revenue (revenues designated for local transit programs through a half-cent sales tax in L.A. County) and will seek additional (non-alcohol) advertising options.

The MB Wave Rider has no fixed routes or fixed stops; it is an on-demand service run through the Circuit app. It takes passengers anywhere in Manhattan Beach, or to the Metro K Line Douglas Station. In its first three months, the average wait time for a ride was eight minutes and 28 seconds.

Previously, from June through August, the MB Wave Rider transported 6,531 total passengers. A total of 54.6% of those trips were made to Manhattan Beach restaurants; 5.2% were made to retail or shopping destinations, and 3.9% were made to hotels.