Local News

Mt Bachelor Shuttle To Increase Frequency

BEND, OR -- The Mt. Bachelor shuttle started the season running once an hour, but will expand to every 15 minutes on Friday. Also Friday, "Mt Bachelor is opening Sunrise Lodge and we’ll be adding that as a stop," CET's Eric Lint tells KBND News, "We’re currently stopping at West Village, and as of this Friday, we’ll also stop at Sunrise Lodge. And, of course, the end point here in Bend is at the Mt Bachelor Park and Ride, and that’s near the skating rink." Lint says, shuttle buses will also soon be equipped with wifi for riders.

Tickets are $12 for a roundtrip or $7 one-way. Tickets can be purchased in-person using exact change (one-way only) or in advance with the Umo Mobility app. Cascades East Transit manages the shuttle, but the service is funded by Mt. Bachelor. "The cost of the ticket doesn’t cover the full cost of the service and Mt Bachelor is subsidizing this because it helps their employees get up to the mountain as well," says Lint, "Mt Bachelor employees ride for free." 

Last year, the shuttle carried about 200 people a day to the mountain. Lint expects that number to grow this winter, and he says congestion on Cascade Lakes Highway has already started, "I’ve seen a lot of chatter from my friends. One took an hour and a half to get down the mountain. No one likes to be in traffic, but if you’re going to be in traffic, at least let someone else do the driving, right? And then, you don’t have to worry about parking either. With all the changes happening at the mountain, this offers a convenient way to get out there and play."

To handle that increased demand and manage an ongoing driver shortage, CET and Mt Bachelor are offering an additional incentive for new hires. "If you get hired on to this route, you get a ski pass for yourself and a friend. And that’s not just a one-time thing. That’s, you can go up there as much as you like," says Lint. Many of the buses used for the shuttle do not require a Commercial Driver License.

The first bus leaves at 6:30 a.m. from the Mt. Bachelor Park and Ride, near the Pavilion. The last bus down the mountain is at 5:15 p.m. Click HERE for a full schedule. 

 

 

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