A new central city hop-on/hop-off bus route begins June 22, and it aims to provide a low-cost shuttle service between restaurants and bars on the weekends, according to owner Laura Allen.

Called the Lil' Hopper, the 27-seat bus will make 30-minute loops throughout downtown and Midtown. It will likely start at 7:15 p.m. and end at 1 a.m.

The scheduled route will begin at 12th and J streets and make stops along J, K and L streets and Capitol Avenue on its loop. Stops include 15th and J, 18th and J, 23rd and J, 24th and K, and 18th and Capitol Avenue.

Image by: Courtesy Sactown Hopper

The Lil' Hopper will run Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets are $10 for the night, and they can be purchased from the bus driver.

“People have asked for the new route,” Allen said. “Some people get on downtown, and they don’t want to ride back to Sac State before going to the next stop. This is more of a bus for people who want to hop between different locations on the grid.”

The bus comes from Allen Transportation, the same company that launched the Sactown Hopper in March. The Sactown Hopper transports riders between stops in the central city and the area around the Sacramento State campus, and is also expanding its operation to run Wednesday through Saturday beginning next week. A single ticket allows unlimited rides on both buses.

“We’re trying to keep people safe, let them have fun and make sure they don’t drink and drive,” Allen said. 

h/t: Story tip via The Gridizen Facebook page.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.