The City of St. Pete Beach offers a free, on-demand transportation service known as Freebee, designed to provide convenient travel for residents and visitors. This service operates with a fleet of 100% electric, emission-free vehicles and is available for pick-up and drop-off anywhere within the city, from Pass-a-Grille to the Blind Pass bridge. While the service is promoted as free, a significant change in policy was implemented from 1 September 2025, introducing a fare for non-residents and requiring residents to register to continue using the service without charge. This article details the service’s operation, the registration process for residents, payment methods for non-residents, and important policies regarding passengers and children.
Service Overview and Operation
Freebee is a door-to-door, on-demand transportation service operated by the City of St. Pete Beach. The service is designed to be user-friendly and sustainable, utilising a fleet of fully electric vehicles. A unique feature of the service is that drivers, referred to as guides, share information about local happenings and events with passengers.
The service is available to all ages, from children to seniors, and accommodates all types of pets. It is designed to be accessible, with specific provisions for child passengers. Booster seats are provided for children who exceed the size requirements for a car seat. For smaller children and infants, parents or guardians are required to provide a federally approved car seat. Drivers are compensated by the City of St. Pete Beach, and in line with the City’s policy, gratuities cannot be accepted.
The service is primarily cashless. Payment is processed through the Ride Freebee app, which accepts credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. For those without a credit card, the service advises purchasing a prepaid credit card with cash from specific local stores, including Walgreens Pharmacy locations and the Publix Supermarket at Dolphin Village in St. Pete Beach. Reloadable cards, such as American Express “Serve,” can also be used and refilled. The app will not allow a ride request to be fully completed until valid payment details have been added to the account.
Resident Registration for Continued Free Rides
From 1 September 2025, free rides are exclusively available to registered residents of St. Pete Beach. To continue using the service free of charge, residents must complete a one-time registration process. This registration must be completed in person; online registration is not available.
Residents can register at the St. Pete Beach Community Centre, located at 7701 Boca Ciega Drive. The centre is open for registration Monday through Friday, from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. To register, residents must present two forms of proof of residency. City staff will verify the information and link it to the Freebee system. Registration can be completed at any time before taking a first ride after 1 September 2025 to avoid being charged the fare.
Once a resident is successfully registered, their status is confirmed directly within the app. There is no need to show physical documentation to drivers, as they confirm the resident’s status through the app. Registration does not expire on 1 September 2025; residents can sign up at any point prior to their first ride after that date. However, the service advises residents to register before taking their first Freebee ride after 1 September 2025 to avoid the $3.00 charge.
A key benefit for registered residents is that their guests ride for free. As long as the resident requests the ride, all passengers accompanying them ride free of charge. Drivers will not verify whether additional passengers are residents or not. There are no refunds for trips taken by unregistered riders, and refunds are not issued for any unregistered trips. Any issues with payment or requests for refunds should be directed to the service via the contact page on the ridefreebee.com website.
Payment for Non-Residents and Service Charges
For visitors and non-residents, Freebee is no longer a free service. Effective 1 September 2025, non-residents are charged a fare of $3 per passenger for each ride. This fee applies to all passengers who are not registered residents. The fare is payable through the Ride Freebee app at the time of booking, using the integrated payment methods (credit cards, Apple Pay, or Google Pay). The app calculates the final charge based on the number of passengers selected when requesting the ride.
It is important to note that the service expanded its coverage area to the entire city of St. Pete Beach, including pick-up and drop-off locations from Pass-a-Grille to the Blind Pass bridge.
Using the Service: A Step-by-Step Guide
Using the Freebee service involves a straightforward process via the Ride Freebee app.
- Download the App: The Ride Freebee app is available for download on the App Store and Google Play.
- Request a Ride: Once the app is open, users can tap the "Request a Ride" button on the home screen. They will be prompted to enter their pickup and drop-off locations and the number of passengers in their group. Selecting the correct number of passengers is critical, as it directly affects the final charge for the ride.
- Enjoy the Ride: After confirming the ride request, passengers can relax and enjoy the journey. Drivers are instructed to provide safe and efficient transport.
For registered residents, the process is the same, but the fare will be $0. For non-residents, the fare will be $3 per passenger, which must be paid via the app's payment system.
Important Policies and Considerations
Several key policies govern the use of the Freebee service:
- Refunds: The service does not issue refunds for unregistered trips. If a user believes a refund is necessary due to a payment issue, they must contact the service through the official contact channel.
- Gratuities: Drivers cannot accept gratuities, as they are compensated by the City of St. Pete Beach.
- Child Safety: The service adheres to child safety regulations. Booster seats are available for children who are too large for a car seat but require a booster. For infants and smaller children, a federally approved car seat provided by the parent or guardian is mandatory.
- Pet Policy: All types of pets are accommodated by the service.
Conclusion
The Freebee service in St. Pete Beach provides a valuable, eco-friendly transportation option for the community. The transition to a paid model for non-residents, coupled with a mandatory registration process for residents, represents a significant policy shift designed to manage service costs while maintaining free access for the local population. Residents are strongly encouraged to register at the St. Pete Beach Community Centre with two proofs of residency to ensure uninterrupted free service. For visitors, the service remains a convenient, albeit chargeable, option for on-demand travel within the city. All users must rely on the Ride Freebee app for ride requests and payments, as the service is cashless and requires pre-registered payment details.