Dan’s Papers August 26, 2011 danshamptons.com Page 33
East Hampton Beach Shuttle, Is it a Hit?
Photo by TJ Clemente
By T.J. Clemente One of the new things in East Hampton Village this season is Hamptons Free Ride, the wonderful Chrysler Gem electric six-seater vehicles that take passengers from nine designated pickup spots to Main Beach and back in about 20 minutes. Former East Hampton students James Mirras and Alex Esposito took their banking and consulting job skills and somehow came up with the concept of providing this free eco-friendly service, which is paid for by advertising fees from major and local sponsors. Ads are played on a 13-inch TV screen mounted inside the electric minibus and played in a loop during the ride in a very tasteful way. I finally took my first ride on the shuttle, taking the ride with 21-year-old Kyle White, one of four drivers. White said the service runs seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., “but not during thunderstorms.� Weekday service is scheduled until the week after Labor Day, with weekend service through the end of September. “As of now, we may extend into early October,� said White. I was picked up in front of the East Hampton
C’mon and take a free ride.
Library off Route 114 and Main Street. There was one seat left. The lightweight minibus/ golf cart-style vehicle goes around 26 miles per hour. I clipped on my seat belt and off we went. I enjoyed the unique feeling of being whisked down Ocean Avenue on the way to the beach,
feeling relaxed and enjoying the summer breeze through the open windows. Chad, a young 20-ish professional from New York City was sitting next to me and was spending his first day ever in East Hampton. He had come out by train and was going to the beach to hook up with friends who were saving a spot for him at Main Beach. When we arrived at the beach everyone jumped out with their beach bags, and I had the feeling I was in a place like St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Before I could ask White a few more questions, the minibus was filled with passengers to go back to the village. Two young ladies wanted to go to the historic section and were planning on going back to the beach while the other two passengers were heading to long-term parking to fetch their cars for their drive back to the city. The official stops going from Main Beach to the village and back are The Palm Restaurant/ Hunting Inn, East Hampton Middle School; the East Hampton train station, the Y.M.C.A.East Hampton RECenter, Gingerbread Parking long-term parking lot, Herrick Park, Park (continued on page 50)
Test our Commitment to Excellence... ...THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH JUST DID. An annual inspection by the New York State
3 (;065
Department of Health, found each community
=06 9,, -
of The Bristal 100% violation-free. Superb news
IRU WKH VWDII %HWWHU QHZV IRU \RX :H DUH FRQÀGHQW WKDW \RX ZLOO ÀQG QR HTXDO ² LQ OX[XU\ GHGLFDWLRQ RU TXDOLW\ RI FDUH /LIH LV EHWWHU DW The Bristal. Call for your visit to our 100% violation-free community today!
NORTH HILLS
99 SOUTH SERVICE ROAD (516)
869.1300
NORTH WOODMERE LYNBROOK
(516)
EAST MEADOW WESTBURY
(516)
MASSAPEQUA
(516)
336.2600
593.2424 (516)
542.0800
333.9828
(516)
EAST NORTHPORT
691.0706 (631)
858.0100
Care Beyond Compare thebristal.com
Q u a l i t y C o m m u n i t i e s B y 7 K H ( Q J H O % X U P D Q * U R X S ‡ L i c e n s e d b y t h e N Y S D e p t o f H e a l t h . E l i g i b l e f o r M o s t L o n g Te r m C a r e P o l i c i e s .
xxxx