How to Ride the Capital Metro Bus in Austin, Texas

The Capital Metro Transportation Authority (CMTA) operates the Austin, Texas bus system. Most people just refer to it as Capital Metro or just Cap Metro. It is paid for by your sales tax. When you buy a shirt at Wal-Mart or Target in Austin you will pay 8.25% tax. A portion of that (2% or less) will go to fund Capital Metro. You can find a lot of information, including information about the new rail system, at the Capital Metro Website.

There are several routes the CMTA or Capital Metro System. There are signs near the top on both the front and the side of every bus that give the route numbers and the route destination. You can determine which route to take and which direction it is going by reading these signs before you board the bus.

There are at least four major transfer points on the Austin, one is located at William Cannon and Bluff Springs, across from a Valero gas station and behind an Exxon gas station. The other three are the South Congress Transit Center, the North Lamar Transit Center and the Tech Ridge Park and Ride located at South Congress near Ben White, North Lamar at Research Blvd. (Hwy 183) and near IH 35 between Parmer and Howard Lanes, respectively.

You can pick up bus schedules on most buses and at all the major transfer centers except the William Cannon transfer centers. The South Congress and Tech Ridge transfer points have alphabetized bays that the buses enter. For example, at Tech Ridge, route 1L parks in bay C. 1L and 1M are both route 1, the 1L uses Lamar Blvd. and 1M uses Metric Blvd. to reach it's northbound destination after reaching the corner of Lamar Blvd. and Rundberg Lane. All other routes have a 1, 2 or 3 digit number. Routes that begin with the number one (1) that have 3 digits, for example, the 101 are "flyer" routes. Flyer routers have fewer stops than other routes and do not run on the weekends. Most of the transfer centers also contain signs which have bus schedules of the routes that come to that transfer center on the sign.

The current price of a bus ticket for what Capital Metro calls a day pass is two dollars ($2.00); the machines will take either one dollar bills or change, but do not attempt to use pennies. Quarters are my preferred method of paying for the day pass. The day pass is a bus ticket that will let you ride any non-express metro bus route for about twenty-four (24) hours. Bus tickets or passes for longer periods, such as one-week and one month can be purchased at the business center of H.E.B , a regional San Antonio based grocery chain that has several stores in the Austin Area. Bus ticket passes for Express routes are cur;rently $36 express routes are 3 digit numbers that begin with the number 9. For example route 935 is an express route. A monthly bus ticket for 31 days is called at 31 day Metro Pass and the price is $18 and is good on all non-express metro bus routes, including the "flyer" routes. Capital Metro also has recently started a train system. Go to the Capital Metro Website to find information about the rail prices and train schedules.

At each stop there is a flag looking sign indicating the number of the Capital Metro Bus Route that stops there. If more than one bus route stops at that location there will be additional signs attached to the pole indicating which metro route numbers that stop at there. While you are waiting for the bus stand near the sign but away from the curb.

Capital Metro Buses currently have 3 different methods of indicating when you wish to stop. Only one method is used on any given bus, there are not 3 options on each bus. The option depends on the bus (not route) you are on. The first and oldest method is to ring the bell by pulling on a chord located above the window seats. The second is by pushing a button that says stop located in the aisle seats, the third and my personal favorite is by pushing on a strip that is located between the windows and out of the way of passengers (less chance of accidentally pushing the stop button). The latter method is the newest I've seen and when you exit you simply need to touch where the exit door says, "touch here to open". When things on the buses are working properly after you ring the bell you will see the words "Stop Requested" on a sign somewhat above the driver's head. Be sure to ring the bell about one block before your desired stop, but not before the previous stop.

If you are not a Senior Citizen, in a wheelchair or otherwise somewhat handicapped do not sit up front unless there is no other option. Do not stand in the back doorway, this is the exit door and standing there is not only rude, it is unsafe. Standing there blocks the exit. Except when the driver tells you too, or if you have a bicycle on the front or if you are in a wheelchair, handicapped or a senior citizen, do not use the front door to exit. Please do not stand if seats are available and especially do not stand on the steps. It is dangerous and you are getting in people's way unnecessarily.

Expect to wait. Sometimes the drivers do not make connections in a timely manner. Bus schedules, traffic and other unexpected events that can cause delays. If you can plan to miss a close connection by checking your bus schedules you will be earlier or on time if you make the connection. But if you missed it, at least you planned to miss the close connection and it can be less frustrating for you.

Hope this helps you to ride the bus safely when visiting Austin. For more pictures of Austin's Capital Metro Bus System, view my slideshow.The Bus System in Austin, Texas