Valley of the Moon Commute Club

Valley of the Moon Commute Club is a privately owned and operated transit system based in the San Francisco Bay Area.^[1]

History

The service began in Sonoma, California as a non-profit during the 1970s oil crises as a cheaper alternative to driving to financial district job centers in San Francisco.^[2][1] There was also no public transit service by Sonoma County Transit no Golden Gate Transit or the Santa Rosa City Bus therefore local residents pooled money together and began their own dedicated subscription and pay-as-you-go commuter service to the city.^[1]

In its heyday the system had a fleet of five buses later three and multiple daily runs and routes, however since the Dot-Com Bust and Economic Downturn of the 2000s service reductions and fare hikes have nearly crippled the club.^[3][2] The service is actually subsidized by local governments.^[2]

In 2011 the service was ready to end^[4] but then Pure Luxury a, Petaluma based wine tour bus company took over the operation of the line at a small loss with the hopes of simply breaking even and giving back to the community. Buses now run from Schellville through Sonoma and along the remainder of the route.^[5] The company owned by a married couple hopes to possibly expand as Golden Gate Transit eliminates more transbay service such as the formerly competing route 90 in 2003.^[6]

Service area

The bus runs one trip starting at around 5:30 AM and arriving at its San Francisco terminal around 7 AM.^[1] The return trip runs arrives back in the Valley of the Moon at around 6:15 PM leaving around 4:00 PM.^[1] The route runs through various locations in Sonoma and Marin such as San Rafael Transit Center and Santa Rosa Transit Mall. This is alongside many stops running the length of city streets of San Francisco including the Golden Gate Bridge.^[1]

For the most part the bus runs along Mission, Battery and Broadway streets in San Francisco. For most of the rest of the line it runs along U.S. Highway 101 and Highway 12 in addition to local streets in several North Bay communities.^[1] In San Francisco the clubline stops by or at Civic Center / UN Plaza, Montgomery and Powell Street BART/Muni stations, Van Ness Muni Metro station and the San Francisco Transbay Terminal.^[1] The bus also serves El Verano and Boyes Hot Springs.^[1]

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} Valley of the Moon Commute Club website. Main page. 2011. Retrieved 20-04-2011.
2. ^ ^{a b c} Sonoma/SF commute club running out of gas. Sonoma Portal. 02-12-2011. Retrieved 20-04-2011.
3. ^ Commute club struggles to break even
4. ^ Monday, February 7, 2011 Sonoma Community Development Agency minutes. Sonoma City Council. Retrieved 24-04-2011.
5. ^ Commuter Club back on the road. Sonoma Valley Sun.
6. ^ Petaluma bus company rescues Sonoma Valley commuter club. Petaluma Press Democrat.

San Francisco Bay Area portal

External links

• Commute Club page Pure. Pure Luxury website.
• Original Valley of the Moon Commute Club website