Some routes have pick-ups every 10 minutes, while on others the time between buses may be 30 or 45 minutes. The Amherst-Northampton bus, for example, is almost guaranteed to be late during rush hour or inclement weather, or when you need to get to an appointment on time. Patience, endurance and some flexibility are key for successful busriding. Typically, buses begin their routes at 6 a.m. and run less frequently at night and on the weekends. In addition, only the Five College buses run on Sundays, although hours are limited.
Most schedules also change during the summer months.
The fare for most routes is 75 cents, with an additional 25 cents for each zone change. Neither the fareboxes nor the drivers make change, so exact change is useful. You can pay with dollar bills, but you won't get any change. Monthly passes and tokens are available at the Information Center and by mail. The exception to the fare rates are the Amherst-area buses that are part of the UMass Transit System.