Be willing to hang out at your destination.
Early is better than late. If you miss your bus or there is an issue, you might be as much as an hour late.
Have a packed bag
- Do not unpack your bag. It comes with you every time and stays stocked.
- Keep a book or game to pass the time while you wait.
- Carry extra cash in $1 bills. The bus does not give change!
- Keep $5 in assorted change (quarters are best) for bus fares and incidentals. You are also less likely to spend it than emergency bills.
- Bring a water bottle.
- Bring an umbrella.
- Pack a wall USB charger and a battery pack for your phone. Get comfortable plugging your devices in anywhere there is a chair. A $1 item from a cafe or fast-food place will usually justify enough time to recharge your phone.
- Keep written phone numbers for emergency contacts.
Know your route.
- Become familiar with common routes; it is better to know them than to look them up every time.
- Use Google Maps Street View to identify landmarks and know where you need to get off.
- You often need to request a stop.
- If you are uncertain about the route or when to get off, sit near the front and ask the driver.
Use the Transit app. If you have a low income, it has a discount program.
- Mid Mon Valley Transit: half-fare with an SSI card.
- Pittsburgh Regional Transit: a discount program for low-income riders and people with disabilities.
Sitting on the bus
- If you can stand or sit farther back, give seats near the front to elderly or disabled people.
- If there is a fully empty row, sit there rather than next to someone.
- Avoid talking to strangers on public transit, especially people wearing headphones or non-men. Every non-man Kayte knows has been harassed on public transit.
Walking can be dangerous
- Be able to hear what is going on around you.
- Sometimes there is no good sidewalk; prioritize your safety over staying out of people’s yards.