10. “Rides are always free,” drivers say. “Tips are always appreciated.”
9. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
8. Call 941-444-2585 for an iRide. (Soon there will be a Gotcha app for smartphones.) There are no set routes; you can hail any of the colorful electric vehicles you see on the street.
7. The downtown service area extends from Mound Street in the south to 14th Street in the north, and from the bayfront in the west to School Avenue in the east.
6. Waits for a ride are often just a minute or two. Service will slow as more people use the system.
5. iRide vehicles have a top speed of 35 mph. They must be recharged every four hours. They carry one to five passengers.
4. Pets are allowed but drinking and smoking are prohibited in an iRide.
3. iRide vehicles have no air-conditioning. There are plans for fans this summer.
2. The Gotcha Media Group, which makes its money with mobile advertising, started with a free ride service at Florida State University and has expanded to the University of Florida and a dozen other colleges.
1. iRide, which debuted March 28, is a Gotcha partnership with the city of Sarasota. It is the company’s first city-based service.
– by Thomas Becnel