Hampton Hopper Arrives on the East End
Local transportation options continue to expand on the East End this summer with the addition of Hampton Hopper, the region’s newest, app-supported, subscription-based bus line.
Starting Fridays at 4 p.m., Hampton Hopper’s signature light green, converted school buses will be making stops throughout the East End on weekends this summer.
Users can track the Hampton Hopper buses with a corresponding app available for iPhone, and the company is currently developing an Android app, which is expected to be available soon.
Riders who download the mobile app get a free first ride, followed by $20 daily memberships. Additionally, weekend, monthly and seasonal passes are open for purchase, directly from the app itself or on board, if you don’t have an iPhone.
“The app is what makes the Hampton Hopper so convenient and easy to use,” founder Derek Kleinow says, noting that his unique business is as much for locals in need of a ride as it is for tourists.
“Whether you’re a summer visitor who needs to get around without a car, or a lifelong resident just trying to meet friends for dinner in the next village over, getting around the Hamptons can be aggravating, expensive and even unsafe,” he explains. “After years of wishing for another option that’s both convenient and affordable, we finally decided to make one.”
These light green buses can be spotted making stops in East Hampton, Amagansett and Montauk villages. Additional stops in the evenings include popular destinations such as Cyril’s Fish House and Surf Lodge in Montauk.
The first Hopper hit the Hamptons streets on June 27 and operations begin, every week, at 4 p.m. on Fridays, and go all day Saturdays and Sundays until 2 a.m. Because of unpredictable Hamptons traffic, Hampton Hopper uses its app to alert members when buses will be arriving at their various destinations, doing away with inconvenient waits.
Hampton Hopper currently runs around every hour, but the company hopes to halve this wait time to approximately 30 minutes throughout the summer. If the company sees success in its current limited capacity, Hampton Hopper says it intends to expand service with more buses, routes and hours/days of operation.
More information about the app, specific stops, membership fees, advertising and job opportunities, visit hamptonhopper.com, the Hampton Hopper Facebook page, or @hamptonhopper on Twitter and Instagram.