Tips on Riding MARTA

MARTA is the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. If you're new to Atlanta or just to MARTA, here are some tips on how to use the system to get you where you need to go.

Print a map and schedule - One very helpful thing with MARTA is that you can use the Public transportation feature on Google Maps, and it will tell you which train or bus to take, when it will be leaving, and how long each leg of the trip takes. It also helps to have the schedule printed out from MARTA's website. Each station has a bus schedule that you can pick up, as well.
Get a Breeze Card, not a ticket - A Breeze card is what MARTA calls its plastic cards that you use to get in and out of the stations and onto buses. The card will cost $5, but it's sturdy and you can refill it whenever you want.
Do the math - If you're going to spend 3 days sightseeing in Atlanta, or if you take the train to work and back, then do the math - how many trips will you be taking? For example, if I ride MARTA to work and home 5 days a week, that is 10 rides, or $20. But if I get a weekly breeze card, that's only $15.
Register your Breeze Card - This can be done on MARTA's website, and will protect the balance of rides on your card for you.
Be early - the schedules aren't exactly strictly adhered to, even for the trains. Try to be early to avoid confusion and walking up the the platform as the train pulls away. Trust me, it's annoying.
Don't expect the buses to be on time - Ever. If you need to take the bus, give yourself at least an extra 40 minutes, maybe more. I missed work one day because the bus was 35 minutes late. Don't expect sympathy or information from the employees at the stations, either, many of them don't seem to have a clue as to what's going on.
Pay attention to holidays - The MARTA train and bus schedules change on holidays and weekends, so make sure you're looking at the right one when you look it up.
Read the signs - There are signs directing you to trains, buses, which bus pulls in where, where to park, where to exit- everything. So follow the signs in the MARTA stations.
Use handicap gate to leave - You don't have to tap your Breeze card to leave the stations if you use the wider handicap gate. Walk up to it slowly, and it will open for you. No need to fish around for the card.