Hitch a ride on The Squeeze, Citrus Connection’s free downtown service

Hop on a golf cart for a ride that’s “Fast, Frequent, and Fun.”

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Look for these signs around downtown Lakeland to find a stop near you.

Photo by LALtoday

If you’re heading into downtown Lakeland for a lunch meeting or community event, you might spend more time searching for a parking spot than usual. That’s where The Squeeze comes in.

This shuttle service from Citrus Connection aims to be “fast, frequent, and fun.” The Squeeze has offered fare-free rides throughout downtown Lakeland on weekends since 2022, and it’s recently added weekday lunch hour service with quicker routes.

The service is free to riders thanks to funding from the City of Lakeland.

Photo by LALtoday

The Squeeze is available on Fridays, 4-11 p.m., and on Saturdays, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. and 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Hop on at one of 12 boarding points, including stops near the RP Funding Center, Florida Southern College, and Lake Mirror. Golf carts can hold up to seven riders and hit each stop every ~20 minutes.

The Lunch Squeeze runs Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. This service is more of an express route, offering fewer stops and quicker rides. Carts run from The Joinery to The Squeeze Park & Ride (at the corner of South Tennessee Avenue and East Walnut Street).

This is just part of The Squeeze’s weekend coverage — see the full route .

You can also find The Squeeze operating during special events. In the past, it’s been available during Mayfaire by-the-Lake, the Lake Mirror Classic car show, food truck rallies, and downtown night markets.

Ready to ride? Here are a few pro tips before you leave your keys and ride The Squeeze:

  • Save our downtown parking guide to find more places to park before heading to your boarding point.
  • Check the full routes for weekday and weekend service.
  • Let your driver know your destination so you can hop off at a safe + convenient stop.
  • There’s a “super-stop” at the corner of East Lemon Street and South Kentucky Avenue within walking distance of most downtown points of interest.
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Connor is a lifelong Floridian based in Lakeland who joined LALtoday in 2022. A Southeastern University alum, her background is in marketing and writing. When she’s not bringing you Lakeland’s top stories, you can find her shopping at the downtown farmers market, searching local coffee shops for the best hazelnut latte, or performing comedy shows with Swan City Improv.