Lifestyle

BEACH REACH SHUTTLE WILL RUN MEMORIAL THROUGH LABOR DAY WEEKENDS

NORTH CHARLESTON (May 18, 2022) – The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) today announced that the Beach Reach Shuttle, a free seasonal park-and-ride shuttle providing a connection between Mount Pleasant and Isle of Palms, will return to service on Saturday, May 28, 2022.

How to ride: Beach Reach riders can board the shuttle at stop No. 715, located behind the Belk Mens store in Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, and disembark at 9th Avenue and Ocean Boulevard, adjacent to the Isle of Palms beach access. 

Parking will be available along Market Center Boulevard in Mount Pleasant Towne Centre. Connections to Route 40 Mount Pleasant and Route 42 Wando Circulator will also be available.

Full route details and bus tracking can be found in the Transit App, which is available for download in the Apple and Google Play stores. Riders can also view traffic conditions and municipal information for all area beaches via the Beach Reach app, which is also available for Apple and Google smartphones.

When to ride: Beach Reach will operate on Saturdays and Sundays from May 28 through Sept. 5, 2022, as well as on Memorial, Independence and Labor Days. 

Each Saturday, the shuttle will run every hour from 9:15 a.m. (first departure from Towne Centre) to 5:30 p.m. (final departure from Isle of Palms). On Sundays, in order to improve efficiency and ease necessary transfers, the shuttle will run every hour from 9:40 a.m. to 5:55 p.m.

Riders should plan to arrive at least 5 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time.

Word on the beach is … 

“We work hard at CARTA to make sure we’re providing a cost-effective and efficient way of getting people where they need to go – and, in the summer months, that includes the beach,” said CARTA Board of Directors Chairman Mike Seekings. “Thanks to our Isle of Palms, Mount Pleasant and Towne Centre partners, we’re able to once again make that happen, and we look forward to re-introducing our riders to the Beach Reach Shuttle.” 

“Now in its second year, we’re proud to announce the highly anticipated return of the Beach Reach Shuttle,” said City of Isle of Palms Mayor Philip Pounds. “This has been a team effort in the truest sense of the term, and we’re glad to be working alongside our remarkable partners to increase beach access and share the beauty of the Isle of Palms shoreline this summer.”

“The Town of Mount Pleasant is proud to stand alongside CARTA, Isle of Palms and our very own Towne Centre to bring the Beach Reach Shuttle back into service,” said Town of Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie. “I hope folks throughout our community and beyond will join us in taking advantage of this exciting opportunity to make the most of this summer.”

“On behalf of everyone at Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, we’re happy to be back on board as Beach Reach partners this summer,” said Mount Pleasant Towne Centre Marketing Director Kathleen Herrmann. “We look forward to not only providing convenient and affordable beach access, but also to welcoming riders to explore our wide variety of shops, delicious restaurants and summer-long events.”

Rules of the ride: In order to maintain the safety of all riders and provide adequate space for those on board, Beach Reach passengers must adhere to policies outlined below.

1. All drinks must be in spill-proof containers. A cup with a spill-proof lid is sufficient per CARTA system policy.
2. No alcoholic beverages are allowed on any CARTA vehicles.
3. Limited bags and large items are allowed. Riders may bring up to four regular shopping-sized bags.
4. Items brought on board must be held by riders or stowed safely beneath the seat. Items may not block the aisle or prevent seats from being used by other passengers at any time.
5. No large, bulky items are allowed, including, but not limited to: tents, large beach umbrellas, surf boards, etc.
6. Items such as chairs, small umbrellas, and boogie or body-boards are allowed but must adhere to the size-related rules listed above. Coolers are welcome, but must also adhere to the aforementioned policies.
7. Shoes/flip-flops, pants/shorts and a shirt are required while riding the bus. Cover-ups are also acceptable.
8. Riders who have not fully dried off when departing the beach must sit on a towel or mat once on board the bus.
9. Bikes should be placed on the bike rack located at the front of the bus and are not allowed inside the vehicle at any time.
10. No eating while on board. As mentioned above, drinks are permitted only in spill-proof containers.

Riders found to be in violation of any of the aforementioned policies may not be permitted on board the shuttle. 

ABOUT CARTA

The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority is a public transportation system dedicated to providing affordable transit in the Charleston community through local fixed routes, on-demand paratransit service and express commuter routes. For the latest on CARTA, visit ridecarta.com, like us on Facebook or follow on Twitter at @RideCARTA. All customers are encouraged to plan rides and track buses with the CARTA-endorsed Transit app.