# TART Connect — On-Demand Rides

> Free on-demand shuttle service for select Tahoe and Truckee areas. (iPhone/iPad app by Via Transportation, Inc..)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tart-connect/id1566632029 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Via Transportation, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/657777018)
- Category: Travel, Navigation
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.10/5 from 186 App Store ratings · 43 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.0 · 133 MB
- Languages: American English, European Spanish
- Released: 2021-06-01
- Data updated: 2026-08-28
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tart-connect/id1566632029/reviews.md

## What is TART Connect?

TART Connect is a free on-demand transportation service. The service operates in select service areas:

 - Tahoe City / Kings Beach, CA (includes West Shore, Olympic Valley and Northstar)
 - Truckee, CA
 
It's easy to use!

- Input your ride info to view the estimated wait time. Then, just tap to confirm your request.

- Track your driver’s progress. We’ll let you know when we’re getting close!

## Key features

- On-demand transportation
- Free service
- Real-time driver tracking
- Estimated wait times
- Easy ride booking

## What do users think of TART Connect?

Overall sentiment: negative

**Pros**

- 👍 Great service for getting around
- 👍 Friendly and nice drivers
- 👍 Convenient door-to-door pickup
- 👍 Helpful during emergencies
- 👍 Free service
- 👍 Easy to use app
- 👍 Reliable ETAs provided
- 👍 Quick service
- 👍 Safe rides home
- 👍 Game changer for transportation
- 👍 Awesome service for Tahoe

**Cons**

- 😞 New app is a downgrade
- 😞 App designed for larger cities
- 😞 Limited operating hours
- 😞 Cannot get rides near closing time
- 😞 Inflexible app routing for drivers
- 😞 Strict app doesn't make sense for drivers
- 😞 Potential hazard in winter driving
- 😞 Confuses addresses
- 😞 Unreliable wait times
- 😞 Drivers sometimes forget pickups
- 😞 System is funky/illogical
- 😞 Long wait times
- 😞 Drivers sometimes drive past
- 😞 Service is barely working
- 😞 Inaccurate ETAs
- 😞 Car location not updating in real-time
- 😞 Slow service
- 😞 Drivers don't always pick up at exact location
- 😞 Can't control pickup times
- 😞 Not reliable for work/appointments
- 😞 App is frustrating and useless
- 😞 Wait times are too long
- 😞 Account hacked

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App not accepting new rides
- App not recognizing addresses correctly
- Drivers forgetting to pick up passengers
- System is illogical
- App ETAs are inaccurate and fluctuate wildly
- Drivers driving past without picking up
- App not updating car location in real-time
- Account hacked

**Most requested features**

- Allow drivers more flexibility in routing
- Improve app's understanding of local roads and construction
- Extend operating hours, especially during winter
- Improve accuracy of driver ETAs
- Real-time car location updates like Uber/Lyft
- Better handling of bike transport
- More efficient assignment of rides to drivers

## Recent user reviews (10 of 43)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tart-connect/id1566632029/reviews.md

### 1/5 — The new app

*2026-06-23*

I believe this new app was designed for a larger city application not a small community. 

All of North Lake Tahoe is connected by two roads branching out from Tahoe city. 28 eastbound and 89, both south bound(west shore) and northbound(Olympic valley). I personally had to walk 3 hours one night recently cause the new app wasn’t accepting new rides down wlakeblvd well within the “operating hours”. I’ve heard other stories of friends getting off of work in Olympic valley “palisades” and not having a way home within the “operating hours”. The old app would notify me of whether or not I missed the “official cutoff”. Now I’m being told to keep trying, so I’m supposed to sit there at the end of my shift/ after work and press the reset button for an hour or more and hope I get home? It was never like this with the previous app. 

I haven’t been able to order a ride home from work in Tahoe city after 8:15pm cause the app tells me the soonest ride is a walk to the transit center at 6:30am to hope on the regular tart bus. The previous app would plug me in and say I’d have to wait. Sometimes on busy holiday weekends that wait time might be two hours plus but atleast I’m in the queue. I know I have a way home. 

Road construction/tourist traffic is a huge part of north Lake Tahoe. Often times drivers that are local and know the area can avoid this road construction by making a turn that’s not on the apps “path”. The strictness of the app for the drivers simply doesn’t make sense. Sometimes drivers have to back track into a 30 minute road construction stop that they just waited in for 30 minutes and then straight back into that road same road construction for another 30 minutes or more. This adds up quickly when the driver can’t deny a possible ride,also  a rider might be in that van for a very long time.  Every ride time down the line will be affected by this. This could be mitigated by trusting the local drivers to know where to go and when. 

Winter driving. We trust our local drivers to transport us safely in blizzards. We live in the mountains. Driving in the snow is a regular occurrence I’d hope that my driver is an experienced local that knows how to navigate those conditions and won’t have to be mislead by this app. At this point in time I believe the new app will be a hazard for anyone on the roadways this coming winter. 

Listen to the local drivers and riders.

### 1/5 — Via update is terrible

*2026-06-21*

Huge downgrade from the previous app, which is shocking seeing as via is a billion dollar company vs the old tiny one. The app and algorithm itself is worse, with stupid decision-making and map provision, but so is the service. You can’t get rides close to closing time unless you are going to kings beach. You can’t make reasonable adjustments. 5 years in and the app developers haven’t been able to master the basics of what tart connect needs.

### 5/5 — This new version is absolute garbage.

*2026-06-20*

This has gone from the only good use of our TBID money, to an absolute lazy and damaging update. Do better, Cindy. No one is happy about this, and what worked two weeks ago, no longer functions properly. Our community relies on this. Get it together.

### 1/5 — confuses addresses in Sierra Meadows

*2026-06-19, version 4.27.2*

Puts in wrong address for home so I can’t schedule rides thru app. Have to call. 

Definitely not a service improvement

### 2/5 — Unreliable

*2025-12-03, version 3.1.15*

Drivers are oftentimes very friendly but the system is super finicky and oftentimes overpromises for wait times. Also sometimes the drivers just forget to pick you up.

### 3/5 — Amazing service - app/system no

*2025-09-19*

My driver mentioned that the tart system is being funky (illogical) so drivers work around the system picking up people before other scheduled people to not go back around but the problem with that is that you might have a 30 min wait and you order the tart c because that would mean it would pick you up from the bus stop when the bus arrives but then all of a sudden the tart connect arrives wayyy before and you have to order another one which it will very likely be almost 2 hours wait. Also if you’re ordering a tart c to make it to the tart mainline and the driver decides to work around the system and pick someone scheduled for after your drop off before then you won’t make it to bus stop and to work.

### 3/5 — Dave is terribcal..Nick is my bestie ❤️❤️

*2025-09-09*

I’m a very busy man with a very tight schedule, when I came to Truckee with my three wives,  just have a normal vacation. It says that tart would take three hours. This is unacceptable for my alpha male status. Then it says that heart only allows five people when my child showed up from the gutter, so in term, I have to sell two of my wives. It’s OK though because I picked up a couple girls off of the side road that was hitchhiking. I am writing this review because I am angry and dissatisfied with my experience. This is where my Bestie Nuck comes in. When he showed up, with my two wives that he was picking up and dropping off at the lake. Let me tell you, I have so much aura and rizz that I was able to pick up my wife’s.

### 5/5 — Awesome Service!!!

*2025-08-22, version 3.1.15*

Best Local Service For Getting Around!!!!!

### 5/5 — Amazing service

*2025-07-23*

Wow, what a great service. It works reliably and costs nothing. The driver was kind, the ride was smooth, and we made it to our destination. This is not an easy accomplishment in such a mountain town, I am impressed!

### 1/5 — HORRIBLE  but it’s okay

*2025-04-12, version 3.1.15*

Some of the rides can be better. I do not like this new policy they have that doesn’t make any sense. It’s letting people be stranded which is not good but I get it 3 driver for 3 DRIFFRENT PLACES BUT OKAY I SEE YOU TART

## Frequently asked questions about TART Connect

### What is TART Connect?

TART Connect is a free on-demand transportation service operating in select areas around Lake Tahoe and Truckee. It allows users to book rides and track their drivers in real-time.

### What are the service areas for TART Connect?

The service operates in Tahoe City/Kings Beach, CA (including West Shore, Olympic Valley, and Northstar), Truckee, CA, and Incline Village, NV.

### How much does TART Connect cost?

TART Connect is a completely free service. There are no charges for booking rides or using the app.

### How do I book a ride with TART Connect?

Booking a ride is simple. Input your ride information to see the estimated wait time, then confirm your request with a tap. You can also track your driver's progress as they approach.

### Is TART Connect available on all devices?

The provided information does not specify compatibility with different operating systems or devices. However, it is presented as a mobile application, implying it is designed for smartphones.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 4.29.0 — 2026-08-02

Performance improvements and bug fixes

### 4.27.2 — 2026-06-15

Performance improvements and bug fixes

### 3.1.15 — 2024-12-17

General enhancements to the rider experience.

### 3.1.5 — 2024-09-05

General enhancements to the rider experience.

### 3.0.51 — 2024-04-05

General enhancements to the rider experience.

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## More apps by Via Transportation, Inc.

- [Via — smarter mobility.](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/via-smarter-mobility/id657777015)
- [Via Driver](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/via-driver/id1121194508)
- [ArrivaClick - Powered by Via](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arrivaclick-powered-by-via/id1200453687)
- [Newcastle Transport On Demand](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/newcastle-transport-on-demand/id1329380356)
- [Keoride NSW](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/keoride-nsw/id1351762596)
- [Shuttle - powered by Via](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shuttle-powered-by-via/id1409632394)

All apps by Via Transportation, Inc.: https://appshunter.io/developer/657777018

## Related topics

[tart](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/tart) · [tart connect](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/tart-connect) · [delux transportation](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/delux-transportation) · [bcta connect](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/bcta-connect)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-28.*