This California City Has $3.50 Rides Across Town

Have you ever opened a rideshare app, looked at the price, and decided you didn't need to go anywhere, after all? One California city is offering an intriguing alternative.

Sunnyvale has launched an on-demand transportation service where a ride across town costs only $3.50. Better yet, the first three rides are currently free.

It's called Sunnyvale Beam, and it's giving residents a rideshare experience at a public transportation price.

A Ride Costs Just $3.50

Sunnyvale Beam began operating in August, with the city officially celebrating its launch on September 1st. The service uses all-electric vehicles to take people around Sunnyvale, and it works a lot like the rideshare apps we already use.

You simply request a ride, meet the vehicle nearby, and head toward your destination.

There’s just one huge difference. The bill at the end isn't going to make us reconsider every decision that led to leaving the house. According to the City of Sunnyvale, a standard ride is $3.50.

And some passengers pay even less.

Some Rides Cost Only $1.75

Seniors aged 65 and older, people with disabilities, low-income passengers, and teens between 13 and 18 can ride for $1.75. Passengers can also bring up to four additional people for $1 each. So, this isn't simply a cheap ride home. 

The idea is to make getting around town easier for folks who may not drive or don't always have convenient access to other transportation.

Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are available, too.

It Isn't Exactly a Private Rideshare

There’s one small catch, although $3.50 doesn't leave us much room to complain. Beam is a shared service. Rather than picking people up at one exact address and delivering them directly to another, it provides what the city calls corner-to-corner transportation.

Riders may also share the vehicle with other passengers heading in the same general direction. The city also recommends booking about 15 to 20 minutes in advance.

You Don't Even Need the App

There's another nice touch here. People can request a Beam ride through its app, but a smartphone isn't required. Rides can also be booked by phone.

The service runs from 7 am to 9 pm, Monday through Friday, and 9 am to 5 pm on weekends. And, since the first three rides are free, Sunnyvale is making it rather difficult to come up with a reason not to give it a try.

Suddenly, $3.50 Goes a Long Way

Public transportation isn't always convenient enough to get us exactly where we're trying to go, while traditional rideshare prices can turn a short trip into quite an expensive outing.

Sunnyvale Beam lands somewhere in the middle. It's on demand, affordable, and gets people around town without requiring everybody to have a car.

Will the idea work everywhere? Probably not. But, in Sunnyvale, $3.50 can still buy something pretty wonderful. A ride home.

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