BellHop was launched in August 2023 with an announcement from Visit Bellevue’s Executive Director, Brad Jones, promising that "this point-to-point, on-demand, all-electric connector transportation service signifies a meaningful stride towards our commitment to sustainability, and we are eager to see how it revolutionizes last-mile travel while enhancing the visitor experience in Bellevue.”  

With over 28 years’ experience as an Executive Director / CEO of destination management organizations, Brad provides oversight and guidance to Visit Bellevue. Brad is originally from the Midwest, but after over five years here, he is passionate about working in Bellevue. “I love the people, the spirit of growth and innovation in everything we do, and the opportunities to explore the Pacific Northwest,” he says.  

Brad and his team at Visit Bellevue had been planning the BellHop service for some time before being stalled by the pandemic. He explains how it works, saying, “We contract with Circuit, an organization that runs similar services on their mobile app for 30 other markets around North America. The service operates in a geofenced area: Our service district is about six square miles running from Meydenbauer Bay Park in the West to the Botanical Gardens in the East; from the KidsQuest Museum over to the Spring District in the North; then down to the Mercer Slough in the South. The City Center including the Bellevue Collection and all our hotspots are covered.”  

Users download the Circuit app and enter their destination, similar to other ride-based apps. BellHop has eight electric vehicles, six of which are in operation at any time. A driver of one of these eight colorful electric vehicles confirms receipt, then arrives to pick up and take the user to their destination - for free. The service operates from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Some journeys may be shared, but as Brad notes, the service is always user friendly and flexible. “Everybody has their own seat, door, and window. Kids can ride with adults. Small pets are welcome, too,” he explains.  

The BellHop program is fully funded by hotel room taxes and the cost does not impact the taxpayers or residents of Bellevue. Looking to the future, Visit Bellevue is seeking partners in the community to participate in funding BellHop, including corporations with a significant presence in the city and construction companies with apartment building projects. Brad’s goal is to keep the service free, even as demand expands with the growth of Bellevue.  

The service is already a success, attracting three principal groups of riders: People living in downtown apartments and townhomes using it to go to work, meetings, or grocery shopping; people who work in Bellevue but do not live in the city who use it to get around; and tourists and other visitors to Bellevue.  

Brad and the team at Visit Bellevue are planning for potential expansion of the service as far as the area covered, the number of users, and the types of vehicles. “We certainly want to expand. Of course, that must be based on future funding. Bellevue is growing, BellHop is a sustainable way to reduce the traffic and pressure on parking space, and we have a lot of creative ideas as to how to benefit the community,” says Brad.

The launch of light rail is expected to increase demand, with four light rail stops within the BellHop service district. As Brad says, his team has a lot to consider: How do we help people working here to manage that first and last mile to their places of work? How do we make the experience seamless for locals and visitors arriving from Sea-Tac? How do we support every business in our city, including the new ones setting up in the Spring District? How do we make Bellevue more welcoming and accessible to everyone throughout the Greater Seattle area? 

 

This January, Brad celebrated the success of BellHop, posting on LinkedIn: “Congratulations to our BellHop, powered by Circuit, for celebrating our 40,000th rider. This amazing all-electric free point-to-point service is changing the game for our first mile - last mile transportation.”