Susan Nolan
“I can skip this article,” you may be thinking, “I have a car.”
But wait! The bus has a lot to offer. It’s cheaper than driving. The bus will never hit you up for new tires, insurance, a tune-up, or even parking. Gas five bucks a gallon? Not your problem.
Plus: you don’t have to pay any attention to the road. Many riders relax with headphones for podcasts or are absorbed in their phones. Free WiFi is available on board.
And the bus is going to run whether you hop on or not, so your carbon footprint is negligible. Some of Humboldt Transit Authority’s buses are even electric.
The Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA) is the umbrella organization for several bus lines, the most important being the Redwood Transit System, the main line that stops at population centers along the 101 corridor from Scotia to Trinidad. Service is most frequent between HSU and College of the Redwoods: every half hour from about 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at every stop. Stops from HSU to McKinleyville, and CR to Fortuna, get service every hour. The furthest reaches, from McKinleyville airport to Trinidad, and south of Fortuna to Scotia, get service four or five times a day. Manila also sees a bus four or five times a day. The schedule is reduced on weekends, and there’s no service on holidays.
Some buses in the system are electric. HTA is exploring hydrogen, perhaps setting up a joint fueling station with other service vehicles. Arcata has two electric buses on order.
You can travel anywhere from Scotia to Trinidad for $3.50. ($3.15 for youth 3-17, the disabled, and seniors 62 and over). Kids under age two ride free. Unfortunately, change is not available. A day pass will allow multiple rides for just $5.25. A one-way trip to Willow Creek from Arcata is $5.
Redwood Transit’s buses don’t always cover the entire length of the route, but free transfers are available, so if your bus from, say, Fortuna doesn’t go all the way to your destination in Trinidad, you can use a free transfer to complete your trip on the next bus.
The Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe’s bus system, powered by biodiesel and electricity produced at the rancheria, runs from Arcata to Blue Lake.
If you use the bus a lot, or even just once in a while, you can simplify life by buying a ticket for $10 or $20, either on the bus, at the HTA office in Eureka or at the transit center in Arcata. Fares are reduced to $1.80 for ticket-using seniors, youth, and the disabled. Also, you can buy a digital pass using tokentransit.com or hta.org/fares/purchase-tickets-online.
All Cal Poly Humboldt students, including OLLI members, receive an HTA pass with registration; CR students can buy a 31-day pass at a reduced rate. All day, weekly, and monthly passes are a real bargain for hardcore riders; check the website for these good deals.
But what about riding with all those strangers during a pandemic? Well, all riders are required to mask. Probably 95% do. There is good air circulation through the entire bus, with an air purifier running continuously past a UV light. Seats are marked to encourage spacing. Buses are misted with disinfectant every night. The bus is most crowded during the usual commuter rush hours; outside the times most people are going to and from work and school, there’s lots of room. And you can change seats if you’re not comfortable with a neighbor.
The bus stop is a little too far from your stop? You can bring a bike. Every county bus has a rack in front. The website includes a short video showing how to lock your bike securely in place. Specifically trained service dogs can ride at no charge, but otherwise, dogs are not allowed. Wheelchairs are welcome; the buses all have either lifts or ramps to help wheelchairs and the mobility-impaired, and straps that the driver clips on to secure wheelchairs.
Want to try it? Just show up at your stop. Often (but not reliably) there’s a small sign on a pole. A map of stops and schedules are on the website, or you can download the Transit app and get real-time updates on when your bus will arrive. When the bus appears, signal the driver. When you get on, a machine next to the driver will accept your cash or ticket. When you’re ready to get off, pull the cord on the side of the bus which triggers a buzzer.
The HTA website is very helpful: https://hta.org. It has maps, fare information, schedules, and regulations. Their trip planner can calculate travel time, including walking time, for your journey. Offices for the Humboldt Transit Authority are at 133 V Street, Eureka, and for the Arcata Transit Center, 925 E Street, Arcata.
Here’s what I like about the bus: it’s for everyone. Your fellow riders will be commuters, kids going to school, the homeless, the aged, and college students. Some garrulous old coot may buttonhole you to relate his life story but it will certainly take you out of your bubble! But what about riding with all those strangers during a pandemic? Well, all riders are required to mask on all transit, per federal mandate, through March 18, 2022—it’s not clear if that will be extended. Probably 95% do mask on RTS buses.
Looking out the window is fun. Sitting up high, peering out sideways, you’ll see views you can never catch while driving. No responsibility. There’s a certain feeling of freedom in not being behind the wheel, and not having that expensive asset, your car, vulnerable on the road or in a parking lot.
For most of us, transportation is a big chunk of our carbon footprint, but on the bus, it’s essentially zero. You can’t argue with the price: for just $5.25 each on a day pass, you and your buddy can head out to Trinidad for a full day adventure. Traveling light!
Thanks to LeAnn Schuetzle at the Arcata Transit Center for help with this article.