How to Navigate the New Bus Routes
Having new bus routes is one of the most exciting things this semester. More stops, more routes, more convenience. However, all these new routes might make you confused and hesitant to navigate. Worry not, I got you!
Here is some basic information about riding the bus before we get to the biggest updates:
- Riding the bus is FREE!
- Download the Transit App to track your bus and the schedule.
- Pull the cord BEFORE your stop. Don’t pull it the moment you hear the speaker saying “This is…”. Do it before or when you hear “Now approaching…”
- Common etiquette while riding the bus: Keep your volume down. Don’t block the walkway with your legs or backpack. Find your seat quickly. Get off through the back door to avoid traffic. Always say “Thank you!” to the driver!
Updates:
- Each line now has two buses running the same route but in different directions. For example, O1 has one line to Farmer and one to Chestnut.
- Buses now have automatically connected routes. For example, instead of running a whole long route, the O1 to Chestnut will switch to O2 when it reaches Chestnut Station. This means that you don’t have to worry about finding possible connection points or sitting on a long ride to get to your destination anymore.
- Running hours for fixed routes now are from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- All buses stop at Miami stations located around the Armstrong Student Center and Chestnut Street station.
- Besides the fixed routes, the BCRTA also provides another free service called SafeRide. These buses run from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. Download the BCRTA BGo app and book a ride like a typical Uber. Remember to select your reason for travel as SafeRide.
Now, let’s get to some common destinations and corresponding routes to take.
Kroger:
- O1 Farmer
- O1 Chestnut connecting to O2 Western
These routes have the most stops all around campus. The catch is that sometimes you might be confused between O1 to Farmer and O1 to Chesnut, so watch out!
CVS:
- O1 Farmer, get off at Stewart Square
- O1 Chestnut, get off at Spring/Elm
- O2 Chestnut connecting to O1 Farmer, get off at Steward Square
Farmer School of Business:
- O1 Farmer
Duh… . This is quite obvious, right?
Ditmer Parking Lot:
- O1D
Now, this is where it gets a bit tricky. This specific line begins at 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 12 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. So plan your trip accordingly!
Student Health Services:
- O2, get off at South Campus Garage, Campus Ave Building, or Campus Ave/Bern St.
Walmart:
- O3
This line to Walmart starts from 4 p.m. on Monday through Friday and 12 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Hawks Landing and Millett Hall:
- O4
This route is your best friend for the area surrounding these destinations. You can catch this bus either on Maple Street at Morris Hall and Miami Station D, Patterson/Bishop Circle, or at Benton Hall.
Hamilton area
R3: Need to go somewhere in Hamilton? This is the one for you!
Some other notes and pro tips:
- Sometimes, the bus will stop at some stops longer than others. Drivers do this to make sure they are following the schedules and/or switch drivers or the lines they are driving. Don’t fret, especially when they stop at Chestnut Station. Sit back, relax, and wait!
- To save time searching for which routes to take for your specific destination, use the green “Where to?” box in the Transit app! This will tell you exactly where to walk and which bus to take to get to your destination from wherever you are.
- You can also search for routes on the BCRTA website’s trip planner. Just enter your starting place and destination, along with the date and time you want to leave or arrive. For example, as a commuter, you park at Millett Hall and need to be in class at MacMillan Hall by 10 a.m. on Wednesdays:
The resulting map will show you that you can catch the “O4 to Chestnut” bus at Millett at 9:35 a.m. and get off at station C (Shriver) at 9:48 a.m., then walk 1 minute to MacMillan and arrive at 9:48 a.m. If the route doesn’t have your exact destination, stop at nearby buildings and walk there.
- Go to BCRTA’s website if you have any further questions!
I hope this is useful. Make sure to spend some time getting to know the system because the cold and windy days are coming!
Chi Truong | Class of 2026