Nevada City, Calif. – Nevada County is launching a new River Shuttle Pilot Program to help reduce unsafe and overcrowded parking conditions while supporting responsible, low‑impact access to the South Yuba River during peak summer months. The pilot will run from July 3 to Sept. 6, Fridays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with shuttles every 30 minutes.
The 14-passenger shuttle will depart from the Nevada County Government Center (950 Maidu Ave., Nevada City) and transport riders to the Highway 49 bridge crossing, one of the region’s most popular and parking-impacted river access points. This shuttle will be $2 per person per one-way trip, and only electronic payments will be accepted.
It is estimated that the South Yuba River has hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. “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,” said Supervisor Sue Hoek.
In addition to improving safe and sustainable access, the pilot aims to reduce traffic and lower emissions.
“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,” said Supervisor Heidi Hall.
The program is intentionally structured as a community-informed pilot, meaning rider participation and public input will play a critical role in determining whether the shuttle becomes a long-term service. Nevada County will be collecting feedback to evaluate ridership, user experience and overall impact.
The shuttle provides transportation only. Visitors remain responsible for their own safety, understanding river conditions, and following all Leave No Trace and stewardship practices.
The River Shuttle pilot was developed through collaboration among agencies and organizations participating in the South Yuba River Public Safety Cohort, a partnership focused on addressing visitor safety, transportation, stewardship and emergency access challenges associated with increasing visitation to the South Yuba River.
For more information, schedules, and updates, visit nevadacountyca.gov/rivershuttle.