In an effort to promote more microtransit options, the City of Santa Clara and Silicon Valley Power have partnered with the City of Cupertino and the State of California to launch a new public, on-demand rideshare service called Silicon Valley (SV) Hopper. Phase 1 of the expansion in Santa Clara will serve the southern half of the City, with a future Phase 2 expansion to cover the northern half of the City.
In 2022, the two cities were awarded approximately $8.5 million by the California State Transportation Agency to continue Cupertino’s existing on-demand shuttle program and expand service into Santa Clara with a zero-emissions fleet. Service is now underway in Santa Clara.
SV Hopper is an on-demand transportation service similar to ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft, except that it is sponsored through state and city funds.
To book a ride with SV Hopper, you must first download the app. You can find it at the following link: https://city.ridewithvia.com/hopper. Once you have downloaded the app and created an account, you will book a ride. Your driver will pick you up.
If you do not have a smartphone, you can call (669) 201-1892 for a ride.
The SV Hopper runs Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
To gain more riders on the app, the City is currently offering the first five rides for free, provided they are used before Dec. 20, 2023. After that, it’s a flat rate.
Rates:
Discounts are available to seniors 65 and older with a photo ID. Students can also receive a discounted ride if they show a valid student ID. There is also a low-income discount for riders who have Cal Fresh or Medicare/Medicaid cards. People living with disabilities can receive a discount if they show a valid disabled placard and registration card.
There are vans to accommodate wheelchairs. People living with disabilities will be provided door-to-door service in Santa Clara and Cupertino.