Mid-City GO, the rideshare shuttle for City Heights and North Park going live Friday

State of play: Funded through a $1.5 million state grant for clean mobility, the four-year pilot program is managed by North Park Main Street and the City Heights Community Development Corporation.

• It's expected to formally launch at 9am Friday after a soft launch last week.

How it works: The transit tech company Via will operate the service, and riders can request on-demand rides through their Via San Diego app, available on both Apple and Google devices.

• The "microtransit" offering is pitched as a way to bridge gaps in the transit.

The intrigue: Two other neighborhood shuttles — the Beach Bug in Pacific Beach, and Free Ride Everywhere Downtown (FRED) — use a fleet of electric golf carts, but Mid-City go will use a transit van that is wheelchair accessible, and an electric car (with a backup available).

• Beach Bug finished its pilot period in October and is currently out of service.