Free Shuttle Service in Daly City’s Bayshore Community Starts Today

Residents of the Bayshore community in Daly City are celebrating the launch of a free shuttle service, which connects locals to vital resources like hospitals, grocery stores, clinics and pharmacies.  The service kicked off today with a ribbon-cutting event at the Bayshore Community Center.

The Daly City Bayshore shuttle bus fills a crucial need in the area, where lack of viable transportation options has been a concern for years. Based on feedback from the Bayshore community, the shuttle route and schedule was designed to transport local residents to previously-isolated sites such as the Safeway Grocery Store on Mission Street in San Francisco.

The San Mateo County Transportation Authority, along with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County will provide funding for the free shuttle service. The agencies collaborated with Daly City on establishing the new shuttle.

 “Residents of the Bayshore Community, particularly ones with mobility issues, have been unable to reach critical services that should be a part of their everyday life,” said Daly City Mayor David Canepa. “This shuttle will improve the quality of life for these residents by providing a transportation link to important new resources.”

Because of the hilly terrain and lack of transportation options in the area, many residents in the Bayshore do not have access to healthy grocery stores, leading the community to be called a “food desert.” A food desert is a place considered to be particularly difficult to access and purchase affordable and high-quality fresh food. By connecting the community to the Safeway Grocery Store and the North Peninsula Food Pantry, the free shuttle will address a major issue in the community.

“Daly City has one of the highest rates of childhood obesity in San Mateo County,” said ST Mayer, Director of Public Health Policy and Planning in San Mateo County. “A key strategy to address this issue is to make it easier for people to purchase healthy food. With nearly four food stores and restaurants selling unhealthy food for every one with healthier options, the shuttle service being implemented in Daly City is an innovative solution to give residents easy access to a full service grocery store. This is a great step to help reduce obesity and ensure a healthy community for everyone."

The shuttles, which carry 20 passengers and come equipped with a bike rack, will complete five roundtrip routes throughout the day. They are scheduled to stop at the Seton Medical Center, the North Peninsula Food Pantry, the Daly City Department of Motor Vehicles as well as a local Walgreens and the Safeway in San Francisco, among other destinations. Additional details about scheduling and route information can be found here.

“Shuttle services funded by the Transportation Authority provide flexible transportation alternatives that fill critical gaps in the local transit network, particularly in isolated communities like the Bayshore,” said Carole Groom, chair of the San Mateo County Transportation Authority. “We are so proud to work with our various partner agencies and the Bayshore community to establish this important new service.”

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About the TA: Created to administer Measure A, San Mateo County’s ½ sales tax, the Transportation Authority provides funding for transportation and infrastructure improvement projects. In 2004, more than 75 percent of San Mateo County residents voted to reauthorize Measure A for an additional 25 years.