Hampton Hopper Will Help Teens Get To The Beach

The Hampton Hopper hopes to make Sagg Main Beach just a hop away for teens this summer: The shuttle bus will make trial runs for teens on the next two Tuesdays from Sag Harbor to Sagaponack.

This new transportation route arises from a request this spring at a “Speak Out” in Sag Harbor, a forum where local teens talked with community leaders about what kind of resources they wished they had. Transportation was a main concern.

Acting on the request, the Hopper will run a continuous loop on June 30 and on July 7. The bus can hold as many as 20 people and will depart for Sagg Main Beach starting at 11:30 a.m. from the Jitney stop outside the Sag Harbor Cinema. The last 15-minute trip will leave the beach at 4:30 p.m.

Other details have yet to be determined, for example whether the bus will continue to run for the rest of the summer, or if it will continue to be free for teens. Benito Vila, a member of the Pierson PTSA and volunteer at the Sag Harbor Speak Out, said those details will depend on the turnout.

Mr. Vila had approached the Hampton Hopper about helping the teens out in addition to running its normal, adult-oriented routes, and the company agreed to give it a go. Hampton Hopper Operations Manager Rob Dunn said that the company will cover all costs for the first two weeks of service and that they hope to find a company willing to sponsor the project to make it affordable or even free for adolescents.

Heidi Bucking, 12, and Lulu DiPaolo, 13, got to ride the Hopper on June 22 in Sag Harbor. “I would use this a lot,” Heidi said. “It is so much better than a school bus—the seats are much more comfortable.”

Anyone between the ages of 13 and 17 is free to hop on for a ride this coming Tuesday. The rain date for the trial run will be Wednesday.