Nevada County Launches Summer South Yuba River Shuttle

NEVADA CITY — Nevada County will test a seasonal shuttle to the South Yuba River beginning July 3, offering weekend transportation from the Nevada County Government Center to the Highway 49 bridge crossing during the river corridor’s busiest time of year.

The River Shuttle Pilot Program will run Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays through September 6. Nevada County Connects will operate the 14-passenger shuttle from 9 AM to 6 PM, with shuttles expected about every 30 minutes.

Riders can park for free at the Mile One Parking Lot at the Nevada County Government Center, 950 Maidu Avenue, in Nevada City. The route begins at the roundabout at the government center and includes stops at Rainbow Market, The Willo, and the South Yuba River State Park entrance at Highway 49.

The fare is $2 per rider for each one-way trip. The shuttle will accept only electronic, card, or tap-to-pay payments; cash fares will not be accepted. The last scheduled pickup from the river is 5:56 PM.

The pilot is aimed at one of Western Nevada County’s most popular and parking-impacted river access points. County officials said the South Yuba River draws hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, and summer crowds often lead to full parking areas, illegal roadside parking, and people walking along Highway 49 near traffic.

“Our Yuba River is majestic, but 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. It creates a real safety hazard and limits emergency access for accidents and fires,” Supervisor Sue Hoek said in the county’s announcement.

Supervisor Heidi Hall said the pilot gives visitors a way to reduce pressure on the river corridor. “As visitation has grown, we’ve seen more traffic, safety issues and congestion. This pilot lets visitors reduce those impacts by lowering the number of cars heading to the river and supporting ways to care for and protect this incredible place,” Hall said.

The county describes the shuttle as a community-informed pilot, not a permanent service. Ridership, rider experience, public feedback, parking impacts, and environmental and safety effects may be used to decide whether a longer-term shuttle program is feasible.

The pilot also follows earlier public outreach. In September, Nevada County asked residents and visitors to complete a river-use survey as the South Yuba River Public Safety Cohort studied whether a low-cost shuttle at the Highway 49 crossing could make river visits safer, easier, and more enjoyable.

The shuttle provides transportation only, and riders will still need to walk from the drop-off area to river access points. The shuttle vehicles are ADA accessible and can accommodate at least two wheelchair passengers at a time, but Nevada County warns that the river itself does not have ADA access.

Passengers may bring towels, small coolers, backpacks, folding chairs, flotation devices, and strollers, but storage space is limited. Larger items should be labeled, inflatable items should be deflated during transport, and pop-up shade structures are not allowed. Bicycles cannot be carried on the shuttle.

Alcohol is not allowed on board, and glass containers are not allowed at the river under State Parks rules. Pets are not allowed on the shuttle, except for service animals.

Nevada County also cautions riders to prepare for an undeveloped river environment. Cell service can be limited or unavailable; visitors are responsible for their own safety, and the shuttle does not provide life jackets or safety equipment. A limited number of life jackets may be available at the Highway 49 crossing through the South Yuba River Public Safety Cohort, but availability is not guaranteed. County officials also remind visitors to check river and weather conditions, bring water and sun protection, wear sturdy shoes, follow fire restrictions, and supervise children closely.

Nevada County plans to collect public feedback through a rider survey during the pilot. Schedule changes and real-time shuttle information will be available through Nevada County Transit, NevadaCountyCA social media, 530-477-0103, 888-660-RIDE, or nevcoconnects@nevadacountyca.gov.