How To Travel Via Public Transportation

Traveling via public transportation does require some advance planning. Determining the train or bus lines that serve your origin and destination, finding schedules and determining whether tours, biking, walking, car share/rental or taxis will be needed for part of the trip all require advance research to ensure a relaxing and enjoyable trip. Use the "Resources" links to the left or the suggestions below to access information needed to plan your trip such as service operators, timetables and maps. The information provided on these links is updated frequently, but double-check with service operators to be sure there haven't been schedule changes or route adjustments.

Your hotel is a great resource for public transportation information. The hotel staff typically has access to maps, timetables, fare details and can frequently provide helpful hints not otherwise available. Sometimes they are able to sell you transit passes or tickets. The hotel staff can also assist in reserving tours, locating bike and hiking trails and reserving car rentals or locating car share locations.

If you use public transportation for commuting, shopping and other local errands, you are already somewhat familiar with the benefits it provides. Amtrak, VIARail, Greyhound and a number of smaller carriers operate extensive networks of intercity trains and buses offering the same benefits for longer distance trips. Connecting local routes add thousands of destinations to the possibilities. When you combine intercity and local routes with other car-free options such as tours, biking and walking, the possibilities become almost infinite.

Planning Your Trip

A Typical Trip

Transportation Modes

Planning Your Trip

Planning your trip via public transportation doesn't need to be overly difficult. Use the suggestions below as a guide when planning the details of your trip and the links below and to the left to access the necessary details.

Determine the train or bus lines that serve your origin, destination, and any other points you plan to visit.
Visit the operators web-sites to obtain schedules, fares and other necessary information.
If you aren't familiar with how to get to the closest train or bus line, use a mapping site such as Google, Mapquest or Yahoo to find the best route.
Tours - While not public transportation as such, tours frequently provide a convenient option when visiting popular destinations that are not served by public transportation and have the advantage of narration by an experienced guide.
Biking/Walking/Taxis – When public transportation doesn't directly serve the areas you plan to visit, biking, walking or taxis are convenient options for the first or last few miles.
Enjoy your trip and arrive relaxed. With a little advance planning, you will depart on your journey without worries about traffic congestion, road rage and numerous other hassles associated with driving. You will arrive rested and relaxed, ready to enjoy your vacation.

Public Transportation Resources

AIBRA - American Intercity Bus Riders Association. Detailed information on Intercity rail and bus operations in the United States.

Amtrak - Intercity rail operator serving points throughout the United States and Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver in Canada.

APTA - A detailed source of public transportation information with links to public transportation systems throughout North America.

Bundu Bus - Intercity bus and tour operator serving major cities and National Parks in the western United States.

Greyhound - Intercity bus service operator. Serves points throughout the United States and Canada.

NPS - National Park Service. The National Park Service web site has detailed information on each National Park, Monument and Recreational Area. To access public transportation information click on "Find a Park" on the home page to access the park you plan to visit. Then click on "Directions". Some parks have information and links to public transportation on this page while others have a further link titled "Public Transportation".

Public Transportation.org - Public transportation systems in your community.

Routes International - A detailed source of public transportation information with links to public transportation throughout the world.

The Transportation Directory - Directory of transportation systems throughout North America.

VIARail – Intercity rail operator serving points throughout Canada.

Tour Resources

Google Maps - This search engine works well for finding tours. Type in tours and then the area you are interested in (i.e tours new hampshire). You can fine tune the search by specifying a type of tour such as sightseeing tours, walking tours, day tours, etc.

Your Hotel - Most hotels have access to just about any tour available in the surrounding area. Typically, you will find a rack of tour brochures in or near the lobby and the hotel will usually help in making reservations. When making your hotel reservation, check their web site or contact them directly for tour suggestions and reservations.

Tour Booking Services - These sites offer a large number of available day tours. Booking Services do not link to tour operators' sites nor are they tour operators; they are a booking service for tour operators. Once you book with them, they will send you the name of the tour operator along with confirmation and meeting and contact information. Sightseeing.com - United States Tours - Viator

Biking/Walking Resources

Adventure Cycling Association - Detailed bicycling information. Maps of scenic roads and trails in the US. Cyclists' Yellow pages includes links to bike shops, maps, accommodations, trails and other resources.

Bikes on Transit - Detailed bike policy information for transit operators in the US and Canada.

dmoz - Bike Shops in the United States listed by state.

Pedestrian and and Bicycle Information Center – Detailed bicycling and walking information and resources.

As you plan your trip, be sure to take the following notes into account, They are important and may affect your trip. Many public transportation system websites have a “Riders Guide” or “How to Ride” page that can be extremely helpful in understanding how the system operates as well as situations unique to its operation.

Footnotes - When reading timetables, you will notice symbols and/or letters which are explained in footnotes below or beside the schedule. Don't ignore them! They refer to specific situations or exceptions regarding the schedule, such as days of operation, pickup and drop-off restrictions and flag stops

Days of operation – The day you are traveling may affect your schedule. Many public transportation routes operate 7 days a week, but some have different schedules on weekdays, weekends and holidays. Routes that serve a mainly commuter market may operate on a reduced schedule or not operate at all on weekends. Routes that serve areas popular with tourists may do the opposite and operate reduced schedules or not operate on weekdays concentrating on weekend and seasonal schedules. Rural and other remote services may operate only 2 or 3 days a week and some only a few days a month. The variations are numerous, so be sure to verify that your planned route operates on the day you plan to travel.

Restricted Routes – Some public transportation systems are restricted to senior citizens, ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) qualified persons or other demographic groups. This is common in rural and remote areas. Some of these systems will offer service to the general public if seats are available once the special needs passengers are accommodated. Usually, these restrictions are clear on the system's website, but if any doubt, contact the service provider for verification.

Stops and Stations – Not every train or bus listed on a timetable stop at every station or stop. Typically, a dash (------) signifies that no stop is made at this location. Also, check the reference marks as some stops may be conditional such as flag-stops or stops only to pickup or drop-off passengers.

Connection Time - When changing from one train or bus line to another be sure to allow enough time to make the connection. Traffic congestion, mechanical problems and numerous other situations may cause delays that can affect the amount of time available for connections. If your connecting train or bus operates frequently you won't have to be as concerned about delays as you can always catch the next one. If infrequent, allow more time than you figure you need-better to wait a little longer than risk waiting hours or possibly until the next day. Sometimes, it is possible to plan an alternative schedule or routing to be used in case of missed connections. Maybe there is an another stop or routing a short walk or taxi ride away that will allow arrival at your destination without excessive delay. Arranging a backup plan is always a wise precaution.

Flag Stops – Some bus routes will flag stop anywhere along the route to pickup or drop-off passengers. Others will only stop at designated stops or stations. Flag stops are common in rural, remote and other non-urban areas. Where available, give the driver a clear signal you want to board as the bus approaches, such as a raised hand. If on board, notify the driver or ring the bell or buzzer when you want to leave the bus. If you are not using a designated stop, it is extremely important to be sure the route you are considering makes flag stops and if so, that it flags in the area you want to board or disembark. Flag stops may be prohibited where it is unsafe to stop or restricted by law. Flag stop policies are not always clear on system websites, so if any doubt, check with the service operator.

Transportation Maps – Many transportation maps are schematic, meaning they only show the train or bus routes and don't include the surrounding area. While extremely helpful in planning your trip, they can sometimes be confusing when determining your route after leaving the train or bus or when connecting from one line to another. On a recent trip, a transit map seemed to indicate that a connecting bus could be boarded at the location served by the arriving bus, but further research showed that the connecting bus operated on a road a few blocks away and around a curve, so was not visible when leaving the first bus. The best way to avoid such problems is to buy a good local map to coordinate with the transit map. Or print a map from one of the popular on-line mapping sites such as Google, Mapquest or Yahoo.

A Typical Trip Via Public Transportation

A typical trip via public transportation usually involves all, some or several of the steps below. Depending on your plans, availability of service and your preferences, variations of these steps may be required. For example, it may be necessary to use more than one local line to get to the intercity train or bus station or you might eliminate the local leg if your origin or destination is near an intercity station or an airport. You may want to combine public transportation with a tour when only tours serve your destination or you want to take advantage of narration by an expert guide. There are almost as many variations as there are transportation routes. Use these suggestions as a general guide when planning your trip. As you progress with your planning, you will discover where you can eliminate, modify or add to these suggestions

Walk, bike or take a taxi from your starting point to the nearest local train or bus line.
Use the subway, light rail or local bus line to get to the intercity rail or bus station
If your trip involves a flight, use local transit or an airport ground service to get to the airport.
Amtrak, VIARail, Greyhound, other intercity bus lines or a flight will take you between major cities and towns.
Once you arrive at the intercity point closest to your destination, reverse the above steps.
Tours, shuttles or car share and rental may be an option if public transportation doesn't serve all the areas you plan to visit.

Transportation Modes

Various modes of public transportation are available in North America. Intercity, Airport Ground Services, Commuter, Local, Ferries, Tours and Shuttles of various types are some of the options. Bicycling, walking, car sharing or rental and taxis offer convenient options for the first or last few miles when public transportation doesn't serve your origin or destination. Depending on your itinerary you may need to combine two or more modes or choose between multiple options.

Intercity	Airport Ground	Commuter	Local	Ferry/Boat
Tours	Shuttles	Bicycling/Walking	Car Share/Rental	Taxi

Intercity

Intercity trains and buses travel between most major cities and some smaller cities and towns in North America, usually operating on an express basis with limited stops. They sometimes serve other points as well, such as universities and colleges, airports, ski resorts and national parks. If time or distance restrictions prevent spending many hours or days traveling long distances on a train or bus, a flight may constitute the intercity portion of your trip. See Airport Ground Services for information and links to public transportation services available after your flight arrives.

Amtrak and Greyhound are the major intercity operators in the United States, both operating nationwide networks.

Amtrak trains operate throughout the United States and to Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal in Canada.

Route Atlas - Schedules - Station Information

Acela Express - High speed service between Boston, New York and Washington offering frequent departures. An alternative to flying, these trains frequently provide faster downtown to downtown service. Cafe service offers drinks, snacks and light meals.

Corridor – Shorter distance intercity service in the Northeast, Midwest and West providing frequent departures between major cities, suburban areas and smaller cities and towns. These trains typically operate in major population corridors such as Boston-Washington, Chicago-St. Louis and Los Angeles-San Diego. Cafe service offers drinks, snacks and light meals.

Long Distance – Long distance trains serving major cities, small towns, national parks and many other popular destinations are a preferred option for longer distances especially when your trip includes an overnight segment. They usually offer a full service dining car, lounge car for drinks and lighter meals and sleeping accommodations. Watching the passing scenery while enjoying a meal in the dining car is an enjoyable and relaxing experience. Imagine watching the sun go down behind the mountains of the West, the plains of the Midwest or the ocean on either coast. After dinner, retire to the lounge for an after dinner drink or coffee while visiting with your fellow travelers before heading to your on-board bedroom for a relaxing night's sleep. A bedroom on the train may seem expensive, but remember, you are saving a night's hotel cost and meals are included, so you also save restaurant costs. You arrive relaxed and refreshed, ready to enjoy the area you are visiting.

"Thruway Buses" – Buses connecting with Amtrak trains serving areas not served by their trains. Ticketing is available from Amtrak and schedules are timed to make convenient connection.

Greyhound buses serve major cities and smaller towns throughout the United States. In addition to bus stations in major cities, Greyhound buses stop in smaller locations at local businesses such as restaurants or shops. These businesses usually sell tickets and occasionally provide a waiting area. Stops are made at meal times at locations with food service . Be sure to check the duration of the meal stop as some are fairly short.

Route Map - United States Locations

VIA Rail Canada and Greyhound Canada are the major intercity operators in Canada.

VIA Rail Canada trains operate throughout Canada.

VIA Rails “Ocean” in Belmont NS

Al Guy Photo - Licenced Under Creative Commons

Attribution Share Alike 3.0 United States

Corridor - Shorter distance intercity service between major cities in the East. Cafe or lounge service offers drinks, snacks and light meals.

Long Distance - Long distance trains serving major cities, small towns, national parks and many other popular destinations are a preferred option for longer distances especially when your trip includes an overnight segment. They usually offer a full service dining car, lounge car for lighter meals and sleeping accommodations. Many long distance trains in Canada also include dome cars for spectacular viewing of the passing scenery. Watching the scenery while enjoying a meal in the dining car is an enjoyable and relaxing experience. Imagine watching the sun go down behind the mountains of the West, the plains of the Midwest or the ocean on either coast. After dinner, retire to the lounge for an after dinner drink or coffee while visiting with your fellow travelers before heading to your on board bedroom for a relaxing nights sleep. A bedroom on the train may seem expensive, but remember, you are saving a night's hotel cost and meals are included, so you also save restaurant costs. You arrive relaxed and refreshed, ready to enjoy the area you are visiting.

Remote Services - Long distance trains serving remote areas, many without highway access. These trains often offer the only transportation to these areas and will usually flag stop anywhere along the route where passengers wish to board or disembark. They normally offer dining service, sleeping accommodations and sometimes a lounge car serving drinks and light meals.

Greyhound Canada buses serve major cities and smaller towns throughout Canada. In addition to bus stations in most major cities, Greyhound Canada buses stop in smaller locations at local businesses such as restaurants or shops. These businesses usually sell tickets and occasionally provide a waiting area. Stops are made at meal times at locations with food service available. Be sure to check the duration of the meal stop as some are fairly short

Route Map - Canada Loca tions

A number of additional regional and state/province-wide systems exist in both Countries. See Resources below for links to these services.

Intercity Resources

AIBRA - American Intercity Bus Riders Association. Detailed information on Intercity rail and bus operations in the United States.

APTA - The American Public Transit Association. A detailed source of information regarding public transportation in the United States and Canada with links to public transportation systems throughout both countries.

Routes International - Public transportation throughout the world.

The Transportation Directory - Directory of public transportation throughout North America.

More Intercity Resources

Airport Ground Services

A long distance train provides a relaxing and enjoyable way to travel and a long distance trip on the bus is an economical option, but time restrictions and the frantic pace of modern life often make long distance train or bus trips impractical and air travel becomes necessary. But this doesn't mean you have to rent a car after your flight arrives. "Ground Services", public transportation directly from the airport is available at most airports. Some of these are part of intercity or local routes, while others are unique to the airports and do not serve the city affiliated with the airport, but operate to nearby towns and points of interest. These airport services are sometimes the only public transportation option to certain destinations.

Intercity - Some intercity trains and buses stop at airports for passengers who are using a flight for part of their travel plans. These routes typically serve major cities, towns and points of interest within several hundred miles of the airport.

Airport Specific - At many airports public transportation services are available to nearby towns and points of interest directly from the airport eliminating a separate trip into the city.

Local - Public transportation systems in most cities offer at least one route that serves the local airport, an inexpensive way to travel between the city and the airport. If your destination in not served directly from the airport, local services provide transportation to a nearby city where you may find service to your destination.

Shared Van - Shared vans offer service for several travelers going to the same general area or direction. Advance reservations are sometimes required. They operate to both nearby areas and more distant destinations, sometimes 100 miles or more. They are usually more expensive than intercity, airport specific or local services, but are frequently faster and serve larger areas.

Air Train at Newark NJ Liberty Airpor

Hotel Shuttles - Many hotels offer free shuttles between the airport and hotel for their guests. Some operate on a set schedule, typically every half hour, while others require a call via a courtesy phone in the airport arrivals area. Groups of hotels in the same general area sometimes contract with a local service to shuttle their guests to and from the airport. These services sometimes charge a small fee, usually a few dollars, and may stop at other hotels before arriving at yours. When making your hotel reservation, inquire about available shuttle services.

Private Shuttles - Private shuttle services are available from almost all commercial airports providing transportation to hotels, businesses, private homes or almost any location. Some are restricted by law or company policy to certain areas or destinations. They almost always require advance reservations and typically have higher prices than intercity, airport specific, local or shared van services but less than a taxi or car rental. This option may be preferable if you have a substantial amount of luggage as the driver frequently meets you at the gate and carries your luggage to the vehicle. They usually wait if your flight is delayed.

Taxi - When all other options fail, taxis are almost always an option, although they might need to be called for pickup if flying into a small airport. They are usually the most expensive option, but can take you to any destination.

Airport Ground Services Resources

AIBRA - American Intercity Bus Riders Association. Airport ground transportation services in major cities in the United States.

Airport Public Transit Directory - Ground transportation from airports in the United States and a few cities in Canada.

Airtimetable - Links to airport web sites in the United States, Canada and around the world where ground transportation information is available.

APTA - Airport ground transportation information in the United States.

To and From the Airport - Detailed information on airports in the United States, Canada and throughout the world. Includes location, phone number, taxi service and airport web site. Public transportation information is included for some airports. For others click on link to the airport web site to get public transportation information.

Transportation Reviews - Reviews of airport shuttles and taxis in the United States with links to the operators websites.

Commuter

MBTA Commuter Rail train in North Scituate MA

Commuter trains and buses typically operate from major cities to nearby towns and suburbs, stopping more often than intercity but not as often as local services. They are used mostly by local residents traveling to the city for work, shopping, etc. but also make a convenient connection to intercity trains or buses for points that the intercity routes don't serve. Some commuter routes operate throughout the day, but in some cities, they only operate during rush hours, so, be sure to check the schedules when making your plans.

Some coastal cities such as Seattle, San Francisco and Boston use ferries for commuter services to nearby towns, islands and other coastal locations.

Commuter Resources

Commuter Choice - Commuter resources for major cities in the United States. Includes service operators and biking and walking resources. Geared mainly to employers seeking to arrange transit services for their employees.

Commuter Services of North Florida - Commuter transit in Northern Florida.

Local

Local rail, bus and occasionally ferry services are provided in many areas by city or county governments and other local jurisdictions. They typically stop frequently, within walking distance of almost any point in their service area providing a convenient first or last leg of a trip.

Local rail services are available in many cities in North America and are under construction or being planned in a number of others. They usually operate via private right-of-ways, eliminating traffic congestion problems and allowing speedier trips throughout the city and to nearby suburbs and towns.

Local bus services are available in almost all cities as well as many smaller towns, rural areas and tourist destinations. Local buses typically make more stops than rail, usually several stops per mile, sometimes every few blocks. In some rural and non-urban areas, local buses allow flag stops at any safe location on its route. Some also will deviate a certain distance off the regular route to pick-up and drop-off passengers when given advance notice. While taking longer than rail, local bus routes have the advantage of serving much larger areas. Some cities offer "express" bus routes in addition to local services. These buses make fewer stops, sometimes using limited access highways, allowing faster service within the city and to nearby areas. A few cities utilize "busways", allowing buses to operate on a private right-of-way making the speeds similar to that of rail.

Local rail and bus services can frequently be combined to take advantage of the speed of rail and the convenience of getting closer to your destination offered by the bus.

Portland OR MAX Yellow Line leaving Pioneer Square heading south Musashi 1600 Photo-Licenced Under Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 3.0 US

Local bus shuttles are becoming available in an ever growing number of national parks. When people thing of national parks, they think of pristine areas, where nature and wildlife can be enjoyed without the hassles encountered in everyday life. The reality however can sometimes be very different from this idyllic image. The ever growing popularity of the national parks has caused traffic jams to become more common, runoff from paved roads to pollute pristine waterways and even smog to accumulate in some areas, not so different than the conditions encountered in large cities. As a counter-measure, a number of national parks have introduced local shuttle buses to help visitors enjoy the parks. Grand Canyon, Glacier, Rocky Mountain, Zion, Bryce and Yosemite are among those you can enjoy without using a car. These shuttles carry visitors between popular sights, scenic overlooks, hiking trails and hotels and resorts in or near the parks. With the remarkable success of these shuttles, many other parks are planning similar services.

Dial-a-Ride (DAR) services are offered in many areas where regular scheduled service is not justified. Rural areas, small towns and other sparsely populated areas are able to offer public transportation services using DAR that would not be economically feasible otherwise. The localities offering DAR systems use vans or small buses and coordinate services depending on the origin and destination of passengers. Advanced reservations are required, typically 24 hours in advance to give the operators time to coordinate their routes. They generally serve any point within a predetermined area.

Many DAR services are open to the general public, but a number are restricted to specific populations such as senior citizens, AAD (Americans With Disabilities Act) qualified persons, local residents or for medical purposes. Some of these systems will offer service to the general public if seats are available once the special needs passengers are accommodated. Also be aware that some DAR services are only offered on certain days of the week or month. Be sure to check the website of the service operator or contact them directly to be sure the offered service works with your plans.

DAR Van Chapel Hill NC

Local Resources

APTA - A detailed source of public transportation information with links to public transportation systems throughout North America.

Routes International - Public transportation throughout the world.

The Transportation Directory - Directory of transportation systems throughout North America.

Ferry/Boat

HRM ferry departing Dartmouth NS for Halifax

A number of cities offer ferry services as a part of of their local transit or commuter operations, carrying passengers to nearby islands. across bays or up and down the coast offering a pleasant alternative to narrow and congested seaside roads. Similar services are often available in non-urban coastal or lakeside areas with train or bus connections from nearby cities. While most ferries have transportation connections, there are some where the nearest public transportation connection is a great distance away. This is most often the case for remote island ferries where the mainland terminal is not near a major city or population area. Where connecting service is available, it is typically referenced on the ferry company website or by contacting the operator directly

Ferry Resources

USA Ferry Guide - Ferry Services in North America

Tours

Tours are frequently an option when visiting a location not served by public transportation and also have the advantage of narration by an experienced guide, an educational experience involving less planning on your part. When your destination offers both, combining a tour and public transportation is a excellent way to make use of the advantages that each offer. A tour offers narration by an experienced guide as well as a general overview of the area or point visited. This gives you the opportunity to determine what you want to see more of, a better understanding of the history and culture of what you are visiting. Public transportation then offers the means to revisit for as long as desired. Or use public transportation first and then the tour for a better understanding of the area already visited.

Tour operators generally visit areas and schedule stops according to the preferences of their typical customers, but that may not allow enough time when visiting something of particular interest. You might have a particular interest in historical monuments and sites, or maybe you are interested in nature, religious sites or places related to your occupation or hobby. Some people prefer more active tours such as white water rafting or biking while others prefer or are only able to participate in more low key tours.

To be sure of visiting and allowing enough time at points of special interest, you may want to consider one of the many specialized tour operators that concentrate on a particular topic spending more time at areas of significance to their customers and using guides with extensive knowledge of the areas visited.

Private guides provide an opportunity to spend as much time as desired at a point of interest and to arrange the itinerary to suit your preferences. While more expensive than scheduled tours, this is great way to arrange a tour exactly as desired.

Tours of many lengths exist, anywhere from a few hours to many days or weeks. This website concentrates on tours of one day or less as a supplement to public transportation with a few overnight or multi-day tours as distance or circumstances require.

Great Canadian Tour Bus

Tour Resources

Your Hotel – Most hotels have access to just about any tour available in the surrounding area. Typically, you will find a rack of tour brochures in or near the lobby and the hotel will usually help in making reservations. When making your hotel reservation, check their web-site or contact them directly for tour suggestions and reservations.

Tour Booking Services - These sites offer a large number of available day tours. Booking Services do not link to tour operators' sites nor are they tour operators, but are a booking service for tour operators. Once you book with them, they will send you the name of the tour operator along with confirmation and meeting and contact information. Sightseeing.com - United States Tours - Viator

Shuttles

Shuttles of various types are offered by hotels, businesses, malls and shopping centers, colleges and universities, parks, hospitals and are frequently available to special events. Many offer transportation services not available otherwise. Check the resources below or check with your hotel, the park you are visiting or the meeting you are attending.

Hotel – Many hotels and inns provide shuttles to the airport, shopping and other nearby attractions. Frequently, these shuttles are free of cost or for a reasonable fee to hotel guests. When making your hotel reservation, check the properties web site or contact them directly about shuttle possibilities. The hotel staff also can provide information about non-affiliated shuttles as well as local transit services and tours

Malls and shopping centers - Malls, shopping centers and individual businesses frequently provide shuttles for their customers from public transit stations or stops, hotels and remote parking areas. Check the website of the store or business you plan to patronize or call directly. Parking lot shuttles, while geared mainly to drivers, may still be useful if they are near public transportation.

Colleges and Universities - Colleges and universities frequently offer shuttles around their campuses, to nearby cities or towns and to nearby transportation centers. Some are restricted to students, faculty and employees of the university and may not be open to the public or may require a special pass or ticket.

National Parks - Local bus shuttles are becoming available in an growing number of national parks. The National Park Service web site includes detailed information. To access, click on "Find a Park" on the home page to access the park you plan to visit. Then click on "Directions". Some parks have information and links to public transportation on this page. Others have a further link titled "Public Transportation".

Grand Canyon South Rim Shuttle Bus

Special Events - Shuttle services are often offered to special events such as fairs, historical events and conventions. Large business meetings also frequently offer shuttles for their attendees from hotels, businesses or transportation terminals as well as between locations when portions of the meetings are held at multiple locations. Check with the organizer of your meeting or event to see if any such service is available.

Shuttle Resources

APTA Universities - University buses and shuttles in the United States. Some of these systems are restricted to students, faculty and employees of the university and may not be open to the public or may require a special pass or ticket.

Google Maps - This search engine works well for finding shuttles of many types. Type in shuttles and then the area you are interested in (i.e shuttles new hampshire).

Google Directory - Shuttles and limousines in the United States.

Yahoo Directory United States - Shuttles and limousines in the United States.

Yahoo Directory Canada - Shuttles and limousines in Canada.

Bicycling/Walking

Many popular destinations that are not served directly are within a few miles of public transportation services. Bicycling and walking are convenient options for those last few miles whether used by themselves or in combination with public transportation. Biking and walking are both great exercise, a great way to improve your fitness, health and well being. Many doctors recommend biking and walking as alternatives to the gym.

Biking and walking provide the opportunity to experience an area more intimately. Scenic vistas, unique architecture, beautiful wildflowers or wildlife just off the road are often missed when speeding along the interstate. The slower speed of biking and walking allows time to experience the surrounding terrain and is conducive to meeting people along the way unlike the isolation encountered when driving.

It is sometimes possible to bring your own bicycle when traveling by public transportation, but it does involve some flexibility and advance planning.

If bringing your own bike doesn't work, bike rentals are available in many areas. In addition to sales and servicing, many bike shops offer rentals, a convenient service for public transportation users for the few miles between a rail or bus line and their destination.

Bicycle Path in Somerville MA

Amtrak and most major airlines will carry bicycles as part of your baggage allowance but usually require it to be boxed in advance. Details available at Bring Your Bicycle Aboard.
Some intercity buses allow bikes in the luggage compartment under the bus if there is room after luggage is loaded.
Some commuter trains and many rapid transit lines allow bikes on board. A few trains have special cars for bicycles while others allow them in the passenger car as long as they don't impede passenger movement and are usually prohibited during rush hours.
Many local bus lines provide racks to hold bicycles on the front of the bus. Your are required to secure your bike before boarding and the typical rack holds a maximum of 2 or 3 bikes per vehicle so you have to be prepared with alternative plans in case the racks are full when the bus reaches your stop.
Bikes on Transit Public transportation operators' bike policies in the United States and Canada.

How many miles are appropriate? This varies for each person, depending on their physical condition, comfort level, terrain, or personal preference.

Biking and Walking Resources

Bikes on Transit - Detailed information about public transportation operators' bike policies in the United States and Canada. Some pages include details on fees and what services are available while others link to the web site of the service operator.

dmoz - Bike Shops in the US listed by state.

Pedestrian and and Bicycle Information Center – Detailed bicycling and walking information and resources.

Car Share/Ride Share/Car Rental

Zip Car - Mariordo Photo - Licenced Under Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 3.0 United States

When your destination is not served by public transportation, is too far from the closest service to walk or bike and so far that a taxi fare would be prohibitive, car sharing or rental may be the solution.

"Car Share" is a term used for commercial services such as ZipCar. “Ride Share” is a service that help two or more people traveling to or from the same general area arrange travel together.

Zipcar and similar companies are commercial services with cars available in a number of cities and university campuses in the United States and Canada. For a yearly fee, you are typically issued a "smart card" which allows access to the cars. Cars are reserved on-line or by phone for your requested length of time, anywhere from an hour to all day and sometimes several days. You pay a minimal hourly fee which includes fuel, insurance, taxes and maintenance. You are required to return the car to the pickup location. This can be very convenient if you only use the car in one general area and can return it to the same location at the end of use. The rate is usually much less expensive than renting a car.

If however, your plans involve several days or if you are not returning to the point of pickup, it may be better to rent a car. Car rental companies frequently allow a return of the car at a different location, but there may be a charge (sometime substantial) for this service. Car rental contacts are listed in the resources below. However, contacting a travel agency for reservations is recommended. They have access to all the rental companies, are able to compare the options and usually find the best rate.

While not as environmentally conscious or as economical as using public transportation, car sharing or rental does offer an alternative when public transportation does not serve all segments of your itinerary. Since the car is owned by the car sharing or rental company, you eliminate many of the hassels encountered with car ownership, such as registration, repairs and insurance.

Car Share Resources

ZipCar - Cars available in 50+ cities and 100+ university campuses in North America.

Earth Easy - Car sharing services in the United States and Canada as well as Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Car Sharing - Car sharing services in the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Ride Share Resources

Go Vermont - Rideshare, biking, walking and public transportation resources in Vermont.

Rideshare Directory - Rideshare resources in the United States.

Trip Check - Rideshare resources in Oregon.

Car Rental Resources

Alamo

Avis

Budget

Dollar

Enterprise

Hertz

National

Thrifty

Taxis

There will be times when public transportation doesn't serve your destination and distance or other circumstances make bicycling or walking impossible. Car sharing or rental doesn't work if you don't drive, there is no car sharing service near your destination and car rentals are not economical for your situation. For example, say your destination is several miles from the nearest public transportation and no tours or shuttles serve the area. While some would be comfortable biking this distance, many are not willing or able to bike this far. Maybe you are visiting family or friends or concentrating on a small area at your destination in which case a car would get you to your destination at the beginning of your trip and back at the end while sitting idle for the rest of your visit. The cost of renting a car would not make this economical. Car sharing is normally designed for a few days or less use.

This is when a taxi might come into play. Almost all areas have taxi service of some sort. In many locations taxis meet arriving trains, buses, ferries or flights. In many larger cities they can be flagged along major streets. More frequently, a phone call will be necessary.

Taxi rates vary greatly from place to place. To find an approximate rate for the area you are visiting use Taxi Fare Finder or the resources below for rates in major cities.

Taxi Resources

Google Maps - This search engine works well for finding taxi companies. Type in taxis and then the area you are interested in (i.e taxis boston ma).

Nebraska Transit Directory - Taxi companies in Nebraska listed by county.

Take a Taxi - A searchable listing of taxi services for all cities in the United States and Canada.

Yellow Cab USA - Nationwide listing of Yellow Cab companies in the United States.

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