The Coop Hop On Hop Off (HOHO)

Seriously, this could work.

The issue; The Coop is pretty spread out and difficult to cross pollinate businesses; why? Well, because we were developed as a suburb with each land owner kind of doing their own thing from property to property (well within their property rights).  The result is a place where we get in our cars to go from parking lot to parking lot. 

In many cases we often see people literally driving from Target to Panera Bread (yes, I'm guilty of such silliness as well). The other day I actually got in my car at Bitter+Sweet and drove to Wells Fargo a hundred yards or so away.

What if the City of Cupertino had a small fleet of Hop On Hop Off, natural gas powered, double deck buses? The line of flight would run from the corner of Wolfe and Homestead down to Stevens Creek where it turned and traveled on to the Post Office.

A second line would begin at the corner of Homestead and S. De Anza Boulevard and run in a direct line to Bollinger and S. De Anza. Riders would pay a small fee to hop on; the buses would have regular stops, except for the handicapped who could request a stop at any time.

I envision myself walking to the Post Office and hopping on to get to my first coffee of the day with friends at Peet's. Then hopping back on to the corner of S. De Anza Boulevard where I would hop on the S. De Anza loop bus to again hop off for the second cup and some writing at B+S.

With this route configuration I could spend a healthy day of walking, riding to get all my chores completed as well and have some fun which might include a nice lunch at the Red Crane. 

The concept saves gas, creates jobs, makes us a more business user friendly place to live and work, and it would be FUN. Hotel guests would have easy access to many of the hi-tech companies in the City and be able to easily jump on the bus to go to the pharmacy to get that tube of toothpaste TSA took from them, take in a movie, work out at the new athletic club, have a meal in one of our fine dining establishments or just ride around and see the sites. Donut at the Wheel guys?

How would this HOHO be financed? Complicated; but, I believe it can be done.  Cupertino is not just about the schools, there are other considerations for bond issues, donations, and sponsorships to make our City more of a community and environmentally friendly place. 

In the ole days I rode my bike around town, it is too dangerous now. Just had dinner last night with a friend who has a piece of his elbow missing from a car bumping him off the road earlier in the day.

Yes, there is a County bus system and it works pretty well. However, it is not ours and the riders have a different mission in mind as they travel from all over the County to attend De Anza College or visit the Flea Market once a month.

We'll see! This is probably a more feasible concept than the Coop Big Dig or the Monorail.