Sunnyvale, California, a city with a median household income of $186,170, has introduced a public, on-demand rideshare service called Beam, offering rides anywhere within the city limits for a flat rate of $3.50. The service officially launched on September 1 and aims to complement the existing public transit network, providing residents with more freedom and independence for daily travel.
The Beam fleet consists of six Kia Niros and three Ford E-Transit vans, operated by Via Transportation. The service runs Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Teens and seniors receive a discounted rate of $1.75, with an additional $1 charge for each extra passenger. Gratuity is not accepted, and drivers are paid by the hour, with pay rates listed between $23 and $25 per hour.
During a two-week soft launch period prior to the official start, the service averaged approximately 65 rides per day, serving around 2,000 users. Wait times for a Beam ride can be up to 15 minutes during peak demand.
The pilot program is partially funded by a $4.2 million grant from the California Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program, with the city covering the remaining costs as part of a five-year contract. Sunnyvale has a history of similar initiatives, including the Peery Park Rides service in the northwestern part of the city. Nearby cities such as Cupertino and Santa Clara also operate their own microtransit services.