Running errands should not feel like planning a moon landing. But for many people—especially older adults who would rather not drive across town, hunt for parking, or navigate busy streets—it sometimes does.
That’s where Los Al Link quietly enters the picture.
If you have not heard of it yet, Los Al Link is a new on-demand transportation service launched by the City of Los Alamitos to help residents and visitors get around town safely, conveniently, and with a lot less hassle. Think of it as a friendly neighborhood version of Uber—except it’s electric, easy to schedule, and for residents 50 and older, completely free.
Yes, free. Which, in Southern California transportation terms, is practically a miracle.
A Simple Idea: Make Local Travel Easier
Los Al Link officially launched in January 2026 as part of the city’s effort to improve local mobility—especially for older residents who want to stay active, independent, and connected to the community.
The concept is refreshingly straightforward.
Need to go to lunch in Los Alamitos?
Doctor appointment?
Coffee with a friend?
Maybe a quick trip to Target?
Instead of driving yourself, you can schedule a ride and let Los Al Link handle the transportation.
The service operates using a fleet of 100% electric vehicles, making it a cleaner and quieter option for short local trips. (LinkedIn) The program is funded through the City of Los Alamitos along with a Measure M2 Project V transportation grant, part of Orange County’s broader effort to improve community mobility. (LinkedIn)
In other words, it’s a small but smart piece of a larger transportation puzzle.
How It Works
Using Los Al Link is about as complicated as ordering a pizza.
Riders can schedule rides in two ways:
• Call the dispatch line at 562-609-4121
• Use the Ride Circuit smartphone app
Enter your pickup location and destination (both must be within Los Alamitos City limits, the Shops at Rossmoor or the Old Towne Center (Target/Ralphs), and the system connects you with a nearby vehicle—similar to other rideshare services.
Once your ride arrives, you hop in, enjoy the trip, and get dropped off right where you need to be.
Service is currently available Tuesday through Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with extended summer hours from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
The pricing is refreshingly simple:
• Free for all riders
That’s less than most parking meters.
Where You Can Go
Los Al Link focuses on short, local trips within the City of Los Alamitos.
That means it can take riders to restaurants, medical offices, the hospital area, local shops, and other destinations throughout the city.
For Rossmoor residents, there’s a nice bonus.
Pickup and drop-off locations include several nearby retail centers:
• The Shops at Rossmoor
• Old Ranch Town Center (home to Target and Ralphs)
• Rossmoor Village Square (home to Polly’s Pies and The Meat Company)
From those locations, riders can travel to any destination within Los Alamitos—and return when they’re ready.
One important detail: Los Al Link does not provide residential pickups within Rossmoor itself. Riders would simply start their trip at one of the nearby retail pickup locations.
Still, for many residents, that short hop to a pickup location opens the door to easy transportation across town.
Designed with Independence in Mind
Transportation programs often focus on big cities and commuter routes. But local mobility—simple trips to lunch, appointments, or community events—is where many people actually need help.
Los Al Link was designed with that in mind.
The program specifically supports older adults who want to maintain independence without relying entirely on family members or driving themselves everywhere.
That independence matters more than people sometimes realize.
Being able to get to lunch with friends, attend appointments, or run errands on your own schedule helps people stay connected to their community—and that connection is a major part of quality of life.
The service even includes ADA-accessible vehicles, which can be requested when scheduling a ride.
In short, it’s designed to work for real people with real needs.
A Small Program with Big Potential
Los Al Link may feel like a small local service—and in many ways it is—but programs like this are part of a larger shift happening in transportation.
Cities everywhere are experimenting with “micro-transit” services: small fleets of vehicles that provide flexible, on-demand rides for short distances.
Unlike traditional bus routes, which follow fixed schedules and stops, micro-transit adapts to rider demand.
That flexibility makes it especially useful for smaller cities like Los Alamitos, where traditional transit systems don’t always make sense.
It’s transportation designed for neighborhoods rather than highways.
And if the program proves popular, it may evolve and expand over time.
Give It a Try
For Rossmoor residents who spend time in Los Alamitos—whether for lunch, shopping, or medical appointments—Los Al Link might be one of those services that quietly becomes part of your routine.
- No parking stress.
- No traffic frustration.
- No asking someone for a ride.
Just schedule it, hop in, and go.
Sometimes the best community improvements are the simplest ones: a helpful service, a friendly driver, and an easy way to get where you want to be.
And if the ride happens to be free?
Well… that’s just good planning.
2 Responses
I do not understand. Is the write-up implying that the vehicle will only take you between any of the 3 places listed? (The Shops at Rossmoor, Old Ranch Town Center, and Rossmoor Village Square). If yes, I find it hard to understand the value of it but maybe you can explain the value a different way? Will it pick you up at your house if live in Los Alamitos, but not Rossmoor?
Hi Michael.
In short, yes, the Los Al Link will pick Los Alamitos residents up at their homes and take them to anywhere in Los Alamitos and the three retail locations mentioned (Rossmoor Village Square, The Shops at Rossmoor and the Old Ranch Town Center). The service is being paid for through a grant that the city obtained for their city. Rossmoor is unincorporated and therefore not part of the City of Los Alamitos. This is why the Los Al Link service is not available for Rossmoor residential pickup and drop off.
The value to Rossmoor residents is that if you can easily get to one of the retail locations, you can schedule a ride to anywhere in Los Alamitos (doctor visits, restaurants, grocery shopping at Vons, Ralphs or Sprouts, etc.)
It would be extremely helpful to Rossmoor residents if the County Board of Supervisors would use some Measure M or other funds allocated to Rossmoor to expand the City of Los Alamitos Los Al Link program to include Rossmoor residents. With the Los Al Link service in place, that conversation can begin. IT starts with our District 1 County Supervisor Janet Nguyen.