Bicyclists and pedestrians who need to get between Lake Merritt BART Station and Alameda’s West End have reason to rejoice. A new free shuttle bus service began August 15, linking the BART station to two stops near the College of Alameda.  The shuttle makes runs every weekday between Lake Merritt BART and two stops near the College of Alameda every 30 minutes from 7 to 11:30 a.m, and from 3:30 to 7 p.m. The shuttle seats 18 passengers and can carry 13 bicycles.

“Safe access to transit is absolutely essential for Alameda residents,” BART Director Robert Raburn said. “The Estuary Crossing Shuttle provides safe, convenient and free connections directly to the Lake Merritt BART station, not to mention welcoming bicyclists and linking the College of Alameda with Laney College.”

A grant from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District pays for the shuttle. The City of Alameda, in cooperation with the City of Oakland, the Peralta Community College District and BikeAlameda, won the grant for one year of funding with an option to apply for future funding.

For more information, log on to www.EstuaryXINGshuttle.org.