What is the Birmingham Microtransit + how do you use it? Here’s what you need to know

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What if we told you there’s a super-affordable, easy-to-use ride service in Birmingham that can get you where you need to go—for just $1.50? It’s called Via Microtransit, and if you haven’t heard of it yet, now’s the time to get in the know.

Thanks to support from the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, this transportation service is helping connect people in underserved areas to jobs, healthcare, education, government services and entertainment—all while making the city more mobile and accessible.

Read on for how to use it and where it can take you across The Magic City.

Getting around in Birmingham is now easy + affordable

Think of it like a smaller version of a bus system that works more like ride-share. Via Microtransit is an on-demand, shared ride service operated by the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA).

You book your ride using the Via app, and a clean, comfortable van picks you up in your zone and takes you where you need to go within that zone.

It’s not point-to-point like Uber or Lyft, so don’t expect door-to-door drop-offs—but it’s reliable, cheap and designed to get you where you’re going without the long wait times of traditional transit.

“We started to take a look at the MAX transit, and we had some issues to address—low ridership, empty buses, old routes that weren’t in use. I thought, let’s take the Via Microtransit, which costs way less than a bus to operate, and let’s focus on making that easy and functional.

Because it’s prioritized for low ridership routes, it cuts down on ride times; some routes have been trimmed down from 45 to 30 minutes.”

Charlotte Shaw, Executive Director, BJCTA

Where it goes + what it does

Thanks to a $500K grant, the Community Foundation helped launch the service in 2019 and bring real transportation solutions to communities that need them most.

It focuses on specific zones across Birmingham, especially in areas considered “high need” or underserved by existing public transportation.

“The microtransit has been growing like a weed ever since its launch, with an increased ridership rate of 9% a month!”

Charlotte Shaw, Executive Director, BJCTA

In fact, in May 2025 alone, 15,598 riders took advantage of the service—a 16% jump from April’s total of 13,396.

One of the most popular zones is Downtown Birmingham, which sees the highest ridership.

Its route could also expand to Homewood soon, Shaw told us, with plans to spread throughout the Greater Birmingham area in the future. The Community Foundation continues to work with BJCTA on potential expansion efforts. 

How to ride:

Here’s how to get started:

1. Download the Max On-Demand app (available on iOS + Android)
2. Set your pick-up + drop-off locations—must be within the same service zone (meaning you select one of the numbered stops within the same zone’s borders)
3. Pay just $1.50 per ride
4. Hop in + ride! Vans are shared with others heading in the same direction

Wheelchair accessible rides are also available. To request wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAV), fill out this form, or call 205.236.0768.

Use the Microtransit to get to these Birmingham events

Want to try the Microtransit for yourself? Use it to attend these local events:

• World Police and Fire Games coming to Birmingham
• Sloss Tech 2025 returns June 25-27—here’s what to expect at the South’s premier tech event
• Join the magic of Disney’s “Frozen” live on stage
• 37 June events to plan for now, including the Alabama State Games + Zoo Brews

The Via Microtransit pilot is just one example of how the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham is investing in a more connected, equitable city.

Visit their website to learn more about their grantmaking + the many local initiatives they’re powering to improve lives across our region.

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