CAR FREE OCTOBER: HOP ON TRANSIT Have you considered taking the bus or train to work, school, or shopping, or on a fun trip? Taking transit can seem scary and confusing if you’re unfamiliar with transit routes, bust stop locations, or when the bus will arrive. The first time riding transit is always the hardest, but once you get the hang of riding the bus or train it becomes an easy travel option for getting around town or out of town. Before you step on the bus or the train, set yourself up for success and do some trip planning. There are some helpful websites and people out there who can guide you through the process. You are not alone out there and we have resources to help!  GettingAroundDavis.org is a great place to start when you want to plan a trip.  UC Davis Transportation and Parking Services provides local and regional transit information at www.taps.ucdavis.edu/transportation/transit.  Unitrans, is the Davis local bus provider with 20 routes and 48 buses. Did you know they move 22,000 people each day? Learn more at www.unitrans.ucdavis.edu.  Yolo Bus serves Davis, West Sacramento, Winters, Woodland, downtown Sacramento, Sacramento International Airport, Cache Creek Casino Resort, Esparto, Madison, Dunnigan and Knights Landing. Plan your trip at www.yolobus.com.  Fairfield and Suisan Transit (FAST) offers service through eight local and four commuter routes find out more at www.fasttransit.org  Solano Express provides regional express bus service throughout Solano and Napa counties and beyond. Find more information about these routes at www.solanomobility.org/solanoexpress.  The Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT) operates 67 bus routes and 38.6 miles of light rail covering a 418 square‐mile service area. Plan your route at www.sacrt.com.  The Amtrak Capitol Corridor is an intercity passenger train system that provides a convenient alternative to traveling along the congested I‐80, I‐680 and I‐880 freeways by operating fast, reliable and affordable intercity rail service to 16 stations in 8 Northern California counties: Placer, Sacramento, Yolo, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, San Francisco, and Santa Clara, a 170‐
mile rail corridor. Learn more about commuting by train at http://www.capitolcorridor.org. Helpful Hints for People Figuring out How to Ride Transit Before stepping on the bus or train it is important to plan your route. Start with Google Maps transit option or the gettingarounddavis.org website to plan your trip. Both websites show the location of the bus stops and clearly point out which side of the street the bus stops are located. If you do not have access to a computer or would like to speak with someone about your plans contact the transit dispatch office for your transit agency. A dispatcher can help you select your route. Here are the phone numbers for the local and regional transit dispatchers: Unitrans 530‐752‐BUSS, Yolobus 530‐666‐2877, Fairfield and Suisun Transit 707‐422‐BUSS, Solano Express 1‐800‐535‐6883, Sacramento Regional Transit 916‐321‐BUSS and Amtrak Capital Corridor 1‐877‐9‐RIDECC. The transit agency websites are filled with important information. Did you know you can take a bike on the Amtrak Capital Corridor train and Yolobus? However, no bikes are allowed on Unitrans buses. Unitrans has real‐time bus tracking information on their website, which is great when you want to know when the next bus arrives. Information about costs, schedules and more tips are also available on transit agency websites. Unitrans offers free rides to UC Davis undergraduate students, seniors with a “Senior Pass” other qualifying groups, learn more at www.unitrans.ucdavis.edu. The Unitrans base fare is $1.00. Most of the transit agencies offer pre‐paid passes and monthly passes. UC Davis GoClub members can get discounted transit fares. Find out more at http://goclub.ucdavis.edu/. Helpful Hints for Getting on Transit Arrive a little early to ensure you are at the correct transit stop and on the side of the street in the direction you are traveling. Each bus and train has an assigned route number and the bus stop will have a sign with the route name or number posted. Check the route number posted on the bus or train reader board to ensure you are getting on the correct bus or train. Double‐check and ask the driver or conductor. To ensure the bus stops, face the bus and signal to the driver to stop. Sometimes it is helpful to wave. Have exact change ready when you board the bus. When sitting on the bus or train always be courteous to senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Not sure about when you should get off the bus and use the “stop request” buzzer or pull cable? Let the driver know where you are going and they can help you get off at the closest stop. If you are taking a round trip or connecting to another bus. Ask for a transfer ticket. Each spring the City of Davis offers travel training for seniors. If you are interested in learning more about this program please email [email protected]. I hope that is article inspires you to try transit. Next time you go to the grocery store, to the bookstore, San Francisco, Sacramento, Fairfield, or even the airport, try the train or the bus. Please send any questions or comments to [email protected]. Upcoming Car Free October Events Ken’s Bike & Ski Board Wind Down Wednesday Halloween Bike Ride Like to wear a Halloween costume and ride your bike? Us too! Join Ken’s Bike‐Ski‐Board for a fun casual bike ride around Davis. Don’t forget to give your bike a costume. For more information contact Ken’s Bike and Ski at 650 G St, (530) 758‐3223. Park‐A‐Bike Commuter Breakfast Station Park‐A‐Bike, a local bike rack manufacturing company, wants to thank you for riding your bike and walking to the Amtrak Train Station. Come join Park‐A‐Bike and at the train station for a small treat. Check out Park‐A‐Bike bike racks.