Ditching My Car and Testing Mableton's New $2.50 Uber Alternative

When Cobb County expanded the Cobblinc Go microtransit zone to reach deeper into northern Mableton, I knew I had to test it out firsthand. So I decided to completely ditch my car for a day to see if it is actually a viable way to get around northern Mableton.

Cobblinc Go is essentially a local Uber alternative where you drop a pin and a community transit vehicle comes right to you. I wanted to see exactly how this $2.50 option holds up in the real world, so I booked four separate trips across town, trading my keys for the app to find out if the service truly connects our neighborhoods.

If you've ever used a major rideshare app, you already know exactly how to use Cobblinc Go. You simply type your destination into the "Where to" field and request a pickup. The only catch is that you have to make sure both your starting point and destination fall within the designated service area. Fortunately, that footprint just grew significantly when Cobblinc Go officially expanded to cover a larger part of Mableton on October 29. My route for the day focused on bridging the gap between Floyd Road and the East-West Connector over near Tramore Park.

Your wait time seems to heavily depend on the time of day. For my morning run, I booked a ride from Glenn's Cafe on Floyd Road over to the Lowe's on the East-West Connector. The wait took no more than 15 minutes for the vehicle to pull up. The afternoon, however, required a bit more patience. When I requested a pickup from Regions Bank on Floyd to head over to the LGE Credit Union, the wait time stretched closer to 30 minutes. Instead of waiting on the curb, I used the extra time to chat with the bank staff and do some nearby shopping.

Once the vehicle arrived, the cabin was very clean, and the driver was incredibly welcoming. Because Cobblinc Go operates as a community transit system rather than a private car service, you might share the route with a few neighbors. On my afternoon trip, we swung by the Chick-fil-A on Austell Road to pick up two other riders, dropping one of them off at their house before finally making our way to the credit union. 

I ended up having some fantastic conversations with my fellow passengers along the way. One of my co-riders, Marcia, summed it up: 

"It's very convenient and it's much, much cheaper than an Uber. And with the expansion, I was able to go to my bank yesterday rather than having to Uber there for triple the cost."

I had a pleasant conversation with Marcia on my way to LGE Credit Union.

The drivers themselves appreciate this community feel just as much as the riders. During my trip, I spoke with my driver, Toussaint, who has been navigating the microtransit routes for a year and a half. He noted a stark contrast between this local shuttle and traditional gig work, pointing out that "people respect people driving" on Cobblinc Go. "It's not the same like Uber [or] Lyft... that's too crazy. But these people are so nice," he shared.

When asked who is utilizing the expanded service the most, Toussaint explained that his daily manifest is full of neighbors running essential errands. "They use it to go to the hospital... to the Publix, Walmart, you know, to shopping," he noted. He added that while some high school students use the service, his riders are mostly elderly, and that "they love it. They're so happy with it".

While the wait times are slightly longer than the big rideshare giants, getting safely across town for a flat fare of $2.50 is a steal. The service is currently limited to specific geographic zones, but it successfully reaches the key commercial areas in the northern part of Mableton. 

This expansion is a big win for older residents who prefer not to drive, younger folks who don't own a car, and neighbors who use wheelchairs or have limited physical mobility. I calculated that if a person took four rides every day for a month, that would equal less than $320, which could be far cheaper than the average $542 used car monthly payment.

If you are gearing up to book your first ride, I highly encourage you to simply allot a little extra time for the wait, especially during the afternoon rush. Treat it like a leisurely community shuttle rather than an on-demand racecar, and you will find it to be a fantastic new asset in our own backyard.