The San Mateo County Transit District is extending its free promotional period for its on-demand service through the end of the year, the agency said.

The Ride Plus program offers on-demand public transit for people living in Half Moon Bay, El Granada, East Palo Alto and the Belle Haven area of Menlo Park. 

Originally set to expire at the end of October, the program will now be extended through Dec. 31.  

According to SamTrans, Ride Plus saw steady ridership growth of its microtransit vans in East Palo Alto and Belle Haven.  

Ride Plus has recently approached nearly 2,800 trips per month, marking a steep increase from its first full month of service back in June and July. 

Starting Jan. 1, Ride Plus adult one-way fares will be $2.25 if paying with cash and $2.05 for those using Clipper. Youth and eligible discount fares will be $1.10 for cash and $1.00 with Clipper. Passes are also accepted. Fares are per person and fixed, regardless of distance. 

Trips on Ride Plus must begin and end within each of the service areas, but passengers can transfer to connecting SamTrans routes serving all of San Mateo County and portions of San Francisco and Palo Alto.  

“For trips to and from destinations not already served by our new van, Ride Plus has filled a very important mobility need for our seniors living in the Half Moon Bay area,” said Senior Coastsiders Executive Director Sandra Winter. “We’re thrilled that our community now has until the end of the year to continue sampling this valuable and convenient service.” 

Katy St. Clair got her start in journalism by working in the classifieds department at the East Bay Express during the height of alt weeklies, then sweet talked her way into becoming staff writer, submissions editor, and music editor. She has been a columnist in the East Bay Express, SF Weekly, and the San Francisco Examiner. Starting in 2015, she begrudgingly scaled the inverted pyramid at dailies such as the Vallejo Times-Herald, The Vacaville Reporter, and the Daily Republic. She has her own independent news site and blog that covers the delightfully dysfunctional town of Vallejo, California, where she also collaborates with the investigative team at Open Vallejo. A passionate advocate for people with developmental disabilities, she serves on both the Board of the Arc of Solano and the Arc of California. She lives in Vallejo.