By Neveah Morofsky
With the prices of gas steadily rising and the call for driving alternatives increasing, one way citizens, especially students, have opted to get around has been public busing.
But with that comes a multitude of questions: where do I wait for the bus? When do the buses come? How much does it cost? Well, all of these and more can be answered relatively easily.
The Rapid, the local public transport system for the greater Grand Rapids area, runs 23 different routes, along with two extension routes: the Laker Line that runs between the Allendale and City GVSU campuses, and the Silver Line that mainly traverses Division Avenue.
Routes typically run from around 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. With such a wide assortment of routes and times, The Rapid amasses millions of rides per year. But how accessible is it for a student?
As a Grand Rapids Community College student, you are able to ride all Rapid buses for free during the school semester, until you’re able to renew your Wave Card, at least.
The Wave Card is accessed through the Online Center, in the Student Resources panel, and under the Student Life drop-down menu. Once the form is filled out, you can pick up your Wave Card in Student Life on the first floor of the Student Center the same day.
Once you have your card, you are able to ride any of The Rapid buses free of charge for the entirety of the semester. This is not limited to school days or hours. This is from the first day to the last. Once the new semester rolls around, fill out the form again and pick up your freshly renewed Wave Card.
Bus rides on The Rapid cost $1.75 cash or card, non-refundable and with no change, with a $5.25 daily cap.
One of the most difficult things that prevents people from using The Rapid is the bus schedule. It’s hard to know when the bus will arrive, especially if you have somewhere to be by a certain time. The vague bus schedule that is supposed to show on each sign at each stop is not the most helpful, and sometimes not even there. But, fear not, there is an easy solution: the Transit app.
The Transit app, or simply Transit, is an easy way to know where your nearest stop is located, when the bus should be there, when you should arrive at your destination, and which connections to take.
As described by The Rapid website, “(P)lan trips, track buses, and travel stress-free with the Transit App. See all bus routes, unlimited bus schedules, customizable themes, as well as personalized avatars allowing users to compete for top rider status.”
The app itself is completely free and very user-friendly. The only complaint when it comes to Transit is that the times are occasionally off by a few minutes, but it still gives a good idea as to where the bus is and when it should get to you.
While not as popular as Transit, another routing app, myStop, offers similar features. This app allows you to select your bus route and see how many stops are available along that line. It also has route planning, similar to Transit, where you can prepare your trip start to finish.
Accessibility is also very important when it comes to public transportation. While the stops themselves might not be in the best spots, the buses are designed with accessibility in mind.
Each bus is equipped with a ramp at the front door that can be lowered for wheeled walkers or wheelchair users, and the disability seating at the front of the bus can be lifted up so the driver can attach the wheelchair to the inside seating to keep it stable.
On each bus, as well, there is wider disability seating up front by the main door.
Whether you’re traversing to campus, to work, or simply out for fun, The Rapid buses have you covered. And as a GRCC student, you can get all there is to offer from The Rapid at no cost at all.
Transit is available to download for iOS and Android.
