The Idyllwild Shuttle Bus has arrived. Funded from a Riverside County Transportation grant and Supervisor Chuck Washington, the local shuttle makes three round-trip runs between Pine Cove and Mountain Center four days a week.
Beginning Sept. 29, the bus will operate five days a week, Monday through Friday, for six weeks, then the usage and schedule will be evaluated, according to Reba Coulter, Forest Folk president, who helped organize the transportation with Sue Harper.
“Then we drop back to a 20-hour week schedule — four-hour shifts Monday, Wednesday and Friday with one full day each week, Tuesday or Thursday, depending on the need for off-the-Hill trips,” she said.
“We don’t know the anticipated ridership, but encourage people to use it,” said Coulter. “People have deplored the lack of public transportation. We will find out now if the service will actually be utilized.”
The group is still seeking qualified drivers (CDL B with passenger endorsement).
