SCOOT (bus service)

San Carlos Optimum Operational Transit, frequently abbreviated as SCOOT and stylized as S.C.O.O.T., was a free, On-Demand, shuttle bus service that operated in San Carlos, California, between 2002 and 2005. It was intended to assist local residents, especially those living in the San Carlos hills, with errands, commutes to school and work, and access to other sites in the city. In addition to 9 fixed bus routes, SCOOT operated a service in which passengers could request a pick-up and drop-off site anywhere in the city, operating almost as a shared taxi. Although the service was popular for 3 years, with monthly ridership reaching 19,000 passengers, San Carlos voters rejected a parcel tax that placed the entire financial burden of the service on property owners. With insufficient funding, the program was dismantled on June 17, 2005.