South Yuba River Shuttle Service Launches in Nevada County

Nevada County begins operating a weekend shuttle service to the South Yuba River on July 3, targeting dangerous parking conditions and traffic congestion at the popular recreation site.

The River Shuttle Pilot Program runs through Sept. 6, Friday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with departures every 30 minutes. The 14-passenger shuttle departs from the Nevada County Government Center at 950 Maidu Ave. in Nevada City and goes to the Highway 49 bridge crossing. Riders pay $2 per person, one-way, with electronic payment only.

The South Yuba River draws hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, overwhelming parking and creating traffic hazards. Supervisor Sue Hoek said people walk along the highway to navigate around illegally parked cars, blocking emergency access.

"Every weekend during the summer months, we see people walking in the highway to get around hundreds of illegally parked cars and sharing the road with moving vehicles," Hoek said.

Supervisor Heidi Hall added that the shuttle reduces the environmental impact of multiple cars heading to the river. County officials will collect data on ridership and user experience to decide whether to continue the service beyond this summer.

The South Yuba River Public Safety Cohort, a partnership of multiple agencies and organizations, developed the pilot program.

Schedules and updates are available at nevadacountyca.gov/rivershuttle.