Traffic & Transit
Free SamTrans Van Rides In Half Moon Bay Extended
The free curb-to-curb Ride Plus service, which launched on June 18 with a free promotional period through July, will continue.
HALF MOON BAY, CA — SamTrans has announced it will be extending free rides by van on its "microtransit" service in the areas of East Palo Alto and Half Moon Bay through the end of October.
The transit agency said in a statement Monday that its curb-to-curb Ride Plus service, which launched on June 18 with a free promotional period through July, will continue the free rides for three more months.
According to SamTrans, more than 1,000 passengers have traveled using its microtransit service.
Find out what's happening in Half Moon Bayfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The agency defines microtransit as a transit service similar to ride-hailing apps that offers riders more flexibility, and was identified in SamTrans' strategic plan several years ago as a service model that could be used in areas that pose challenges for fixed-route service due to issues like narrow streets, unique land uses, or gaps in a local pedestrian network.
Ride Plus currently serves two zones, Half Moon Bay and East Palo Alto, which also includes the Belle Haven neighborhood of Menlo Park. Passengers can also use Ride Plus to link with SamTrans bus routes for travel outside their zone, SamTrans said.
Find out what's happening in Half Moon Bayfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Ridership data from East Palo Alto/Belle Haven show the service really picked up in popularity during its first month of operation with 811 total rides. In the zone covering Half Moon Bay, numbers show 371 rides through July 18," the transit agency said.
Those interested can book a ride to their destination through the Ride Plus app or or a quick phone call, as long as the journey is within Ride Plus zones.
After the promotional period, the Ride Plus service will charge the same rate as regular SamTrans buses, according to the transit agency.
"Clipper, cash and passes are all accepted on Ride Plus. Clipper and SamTrans mobile app (available in the Apple App and Google Play stores) users also enjoy free two-hour transfers when paying with Clipper, so connecting to and from fixed route service is easy and affordable," SamTrans said.
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