Hamptons Transit Options When You Don't Have a Car

While riding with the wind in our hair and Hamptons scenery passing us by is a romantic idea, the reality is often more painful and traffic-heavy. And even when it’s not, there’s something wonderful about having the freedom NOT to drive, especially if you want to add some cocktails or gummies to the mix. Thankfully, there is an array of local options for getting around without owning your own set of wheels.

HAMPTONS TRANSIT OPTIONS

Hampton Hopper

Celebrating their 10^th anniversary this summer, the popular blue-green Hamptons Hopper school buses are still providing hop-on service around Montauk and commuter connection service in Southampton, Bridgehampton, Montauk, Amagansett, East Hampton and Sag Harbor. The iconic Hoppers comfortably seat 32 adults with mood lighting and custom sound with USB and Bluetooth. They also have stylish, white 25-passenger rides for weddings, corporate gatherings and more events. Use the app or hop on during their daily rounds to visit popular destinations all over the South Fork. Free to ride June 28 to September 1. Download the app and learn more at hamptonhopper.com.

PedalShare

Ride a bicycle around the Hamptons this summer to get exercise and truly experience the region without having to lug your two-wheeler out from NYC or elsewhere. The East End’s PedalShare system is strong with multiple pick-up/drop-off spots from Riverhead to Hampton Bays, Southampton, Bridgehampton, Sag Harbor and Sagaponack. Bikes are $4 per hour or riders can get better rates daily ($35 for 24 hours) or annually ($59 unlimited rides up to 1 hour per ride). Download the app, find the nearest bike, scan to unlock it and then pedal away! When you’re finished, return the bike to where you found it or drop it off at any other PedalShare location in Suffolk County. The nearly 20 available stops include busy locations, such as popular local beaches and LIRR stops, like Coopers Beach, Gin Beach, the Sagg Main Beach, Ocean Road Beach, Good Ground Park, the Peconic riverfront, Tiana Beach, Long Beach in Sag Harbor, Agawam Park, the Bridgehampton, Southampton and Riverhead LIRR stations, Ponquogue Beach and more. Visit ridepedalshare.com to download the app and learn more about the PedalShare system, including all available stops.

Circuit

Launched right here in the Hamptons in 2011 and now operating successfully around the country, Circuit (formerly Hampton Free Ride) has a fleet of all electric cars and they’re still free. Use the app to catch a ride in Southampton, East Hampton and Montauk, with stops at LIRR stations, beaches, restaurants and other popular spots. In addition to regular app service in East Hampton, Circuit offers a daily employee shuttle from the Lumber Lane parking lot in Bridgehampton to the Reutershan parking lot in East Hampton from 8–10 a.m. Get on-demand rides 7 days a week between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. all summer. Visit ridecircuit.com to learn more and download the Circuit app.

Long Island Rail Road

If the schedule works for you, the LIRR is a surprisingly pleasant way to travel east and west between Westhampton and Montauk. It will also take you to and from NYC and a dozen other points west — and you’ll never have drive a car or suffer through horrendous Hamptons gridlock. South Fork trains run about every few hours with stops in Westhampton, Hampton Bays, Southampton, Bridgehampton, East Hampton, Amagansett and Montauk. Check out new.mta.info/agency/long-island-rail-road for schedules and info.

Suffolk Transit

Suffolk County Transit’s white, yellow and blue buses will do the job of getting you around the Hamptons and North Fork. Service runs multi-stop routes around East Hampton, Springs and Bridgehampton; East Hampton, Amagansett and Montauk; Riverhead and Calverton; as well as connections to Greenport and Orient. The Southampton Zone, comprising North Haven to Tuckahoe, functions via Suffolk Transit On-Demand, which allows passengers to book rides to the Southampton LIRR station, Sag Harbor Village, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, Stony Brook Southampton Campus and Rogers Memorial Library, among other spots, with a few buttons on your phone. The service is available weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. for just $2.25 per person. Kids under 5 ride free, and seniors and the disabled pay just $0.75. Visit sct-bus.org/ondemand.html to get the app, or visit sct-bus.org/bus_schedules.html for complete schedules and information.