Any tips for getting cheap non-cab rides out of SJC? I hear that the airport is cracking down on Lyft/Uber/Sidecar/etc services for obvious reasons of being all-around superior for consumers. Do they have a free shuttle that'll go to a cellphone waiting area / similar where the driver won't get hassled by The Man?
Posted Mar 21, 2014, 6:12 PM UTC
Just make sure they pick you up in the prearranged ride area (this is where limos pick up) and you will be fine.
That's fascinating- I hadn't heard that. I wonder what exactly the airport is cracking down on.
Just them picking up in unapproved locations. It's complicated but they can't technically stop them from picking up right now since the state has decided regulate them like limos.
http://www.flysanjose.com/fl/travelers.php
Click on "Ground Transportation" to see all the available options.
It would help if you gave a destination as well as an origin.
Thanks- I'm really looking for tips to use one of the peer-to-peer car services, just back to Los Gatos. I guess I could just take a free hotel shuttle to a close hotel like the Doubletree and arrange a pickup from there. Nice hack.
I thought there was a free shuttle to VTA.
Try taking VTA from downtown to Los Gatos, let me know how that goes for you ;)
For fuck's sake- with the peasants?
Could take the shuttle to the VTA, then just catch a ride share there instead of the light rail.
there is a free bus to the VTA. stops directly across from terminal. I used it last month, was fairly handy.
You could go for shared van service like SuperShuttle.
I live in Campbell and über only costs about $20
There's the #10 VTA bus (Free) which runs every 15-20 minutes and has a nice large luggage rack on the bus. It runs from Metro Airport Light Rail station (so if your destination is along that line, it's a $2 ride, just kinda slow), to the caltrain depot in santa clara (caltrain has a zone based fare system).
Taxis from the airport are a $15 minimum charge, which covers the first three miles, and is $3 - $3.50 per additional mile plus any fuel surcharge now that gas is back over $4 a gallon.
You can take the airport flyer, which is free, to a stop away from the airport and request a rideshare there.
#10 Airport Flyer VTA bus) will take you to the light rail (Airport Metro station) and to the Santa Clara CalTrain station. You can catch a number of VTA buses from the Santa Clara CalTrain station. The #10 Airport Flyer is free.
Edit: OK get the Airport Flyer bus, and it's the #45 or #48, VTA bus to Los Gatos.
Thanks for the tips everyone- SJ Reddit continues to be a surprisingly great resource.
I'm surprised that only two people recommended VTA bus #10. That seems like the most obvious answer. I'm sure Lyft, Uber, Sidecar drivers are watering at the mouth for customers where #10 drops you off.
You can actually walk to the closest hotels no problem. 10 minute walk from the terminal to a hotel lobby, and you never have to cross a road without a crosswalk. Maybe even get picked up at the cell phone waiting areas on airport blvd, assuming thats allowed. Sounds crazy to walk out of an airport I know but that's because it would be crazy at other airports like DFW. If you have tons of bags, VTA 10 bus.
They ought to put a bike rental at the airport.
imo, people commuting to airports usually have some amount of luggage and having bikes doesn't make much sense.
Trikes. Then again maybe it's a terrible idea, airport is a pretty bike unfriendly place.
There is a bike path that leads up to SJC, but overall it's a terrible idea to ride a bicycle to the airport.
Let me strap my 59lb bag to the back of my bike real quick
The GDRT or whatever the acronym does go right by....would be good to have a secure bike storage place right off of that. I typically just have a carry on so I'd be able to sling it over my shoulder.