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Bus question

Discussion in 'Getting There & Getting Around' started by Dewey090, Aug 27, 2012.

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  1. Dewey089

    Dewey089 VIP Whale

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    Bus fares are not what you quote. They can be found here,
    http://www.rtcsouthernnevada.com/transit/fare_passes.cfm


    but they all change September 30.
    Check my bus blog

    http://vegasonthebus.blogspot.com/

    and note the first post. It will give you a link to see the new fares.


    However, we never know if tourists get all access using 15 and 30 day passes until they decide to tell us and that usually means a personal visit to the BTC because the website will be wrong on that issue and three phone calls asking the same question will receive three different answers while emailed questions or those on the RTC Facebook site will not be answered.

    So, I'd say that I really don't know much about buses yet. By November I might know something again if some reliable visitor asks these questions of some reliable clerk face to face at the BTC AFTER SEPTEMBER 30.

    The RTC is the bus company. It includes the Deuce, the SDX and all the local bus routes.
    For schedule answers go to this site below, and click on routes, schedules and maps for the bus route you would like to examine

    http://www.rtcsouthernnevada.com/
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 27, 2012
  2. waverunner

    waverunner ------VEGA$------

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    Dewey, are the Residential bus fares only for Nevada I.D.'s? I'm confused, the RTC 104 line shows a partial Strip view from Spring Mountain to Flamingo, if you live out of state you can't take that bus? If you can take that bus (#104), it's not $2.00 per ride?
     
  3. Jimbo338

    Jimbo338 VIP Whale

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    Waverunner:
    These are public buses and supported in part by federal dollars so, of course, yhou can ride any of the buses. The hangup is in the pricing. It used to be that the Strip bus(es) were more to milk what the RTC could out of the tourists. That was not much of a problem since there was only one or two buses that ran up the Strip and most tourists wouldn't ride any others. The problem was with buying passes. There was a residential pass and an all access pass. Most tourists would buy an all access pass to ride any bus while most residents would buy a residential pass and if needed pay an upcharge if riding a Strip bus.
    The RTC has been distinguishing between ALL ACCESS passes and residential passes in it's effort to get what it could out of tourists. This year the 5 day pass and 30 day passes were all access and the choice of most of us. If you bought a 24 hour pass for a strip bus you were ok on any bus but these 24 hour passes were not as cost effective as those for longer periods and this is what they have been changing.
    Our biggest complaint is having one clear policy that everyone understands. It seems that some say one thing and the next person says something different, and just when you think you have it figured out......they announce that they are implimenting new rules! I think I have responded to your question accurately; if not, Dewey will fine tune it.

    Jimbo338
     
  4. waverunner

    waverunner ------VEGA$------

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    Thanks Jimbo. But the links don't specify what the RTC, in my case, what the 104 fare would be without local ID. " All residential passes are valid on Strip & Downtown Express and Deuce on the Strip with a local I.D."
    What i'm trying to do is not buy a pass, but pay the fare when i get on the bus and that's it. I live in LA and you pay the fare, whatever it is, and that's it. I took the Tropicana bus west from the Strip a couple of years ago and paid my fare seperately going to and coming from my destination.
    But the RTC bus using the Strip is confusing.
     
  5. keno60

    keno60 VIP Whale

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    Like other posters have said is that we have never been asked for a local id.
    You should be able to pay the single ride price for the 104. There would only be a possible problem if you were going to use a senior pass or a all access pass. Since you don't intend to use a pass there should be no problem and you have the link to check the new rate. Good luck and let use know if you have any problems.
     
  6. waverunner

    waverunner ------VEGA$------

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    OK, thanks. I guess the worst that can happen is they kick me off the bus and drop me in the gutter.....LOL.
     
  7. bedaniels

    bedaniels High-Roller

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    Another bus question

    A buddy and I are flying to vegas next month and we are staying at MGM Grand.
    Is the WAX the only bus that goes from the airport to Tropicana and Las Vegas Blvd. Or does the 108 and 109 go to that stop as well? Looking at the map buses 108 and 109 go to Tropicana blvd but I don't know if its the same stop as the one next to the MGM Grand.

    Thanks for you help.
     
  8. chef

    chef Resident Buffetologist

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    Neither the 108 or 109 stops at Trop and LV Blvd. The closest they get is the 108 passing Trop at Swenson (about a mile east).
     
  9. bedaniels

    bedaniels High-Roller

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    That's what I thought thanks for the quick response and clarification. Looks like we're taking the WAX if the plane arrives on time.
     
  10. Dewey089

    Dewey089 VIP Whale

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    The WAX is the only bus that goes directly.
    If you don't arrive when that is running, you can take the 109 South to the SSTT and there get the Deuce or the SDX (again, if it is running) to get to MGM.
    You can also take the 109 North to Tropicana and then transfer to the 201 (Tropicana bus) and that will get you there as well. Since you transfer quite a ways from the strip, I would avoid this route if you feel vulnerable or very late at night.

    If you take the WAX, I would just pay the $2 one way. It takes about ten minutes. The other buses come more often, but they are not direct so it takes longer. I wait for the WAX if it is running because I would rather spend my time sitting on a comfortable bench outside and reading than on a bus.

    If you switch buses, you have options.
    Buy a 2 hour pass for $3 and that will easily get you on two buses.
    Buy a 24 hour residential pass for $5 and that will let you ride all buses except the Deuce and SDX for 24 hours (technically, you need a local ID to ride those strip buses with just a residential pass.)
    Buy a $2 one way to SSTT and get an all access pass there in the machines. A 3 day all access pass is $20, but the 5 day pass, if you find it offered, is a better deal, and that does not require a local ID to be all access.

    On September 30 all these rates change.
    The 5 day pass goes away and a 15 day pass takes its place.
    I can't seem to find out if officially that 15 day pass will be all access for tourists as well as those with local ID.

    Have exact change for the bus drivers.

    Oh, I see Chef got in a good quick response while I was typing. Good. WAX is the best.
     
  11. bedaniels

    bedaniels High-Roller

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    Thanks Dewey and chef, we are leaving a week from Saturday and will be there for 5 days. Can I buy a 5 day all access pass ($20) from the driver? Or do I have time to get the 5 day passes mailed to my house in Ohio before we leave?

    Thanks for all your help
     
  12. Dewey089

    Dewey089 VIP Whale

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    Neither.
    Those 5 day all access passes are just not sold where it is convenient for tourists to buy them.

    We have to get to the BTC or SSTT or to one of the Vendor's away from the strip.

    http://www.rtcsnv.com/transit/fare-information/where-to-buy-a-pass-around-town/

    If you buy a 24 hour residential pass when you board the WAX and then use it after you are settled in your room to ride the WAX to the BTC downtown or Walgreen's downtown, or another residential bus to one of the other locations off the strip, you can buy one from a person. It is a good idea to call ahead to Walgreen's and such just to be sure they have them available. You could even risk using your 24 hour residential pass for one ride to the BTC on the SDX or Deuce. As Keno noted, few riders are ever asked for a local ID so it is unlikely anyone will bother you about it for one ride.

    I think you can buy one in the machines at the SSTT. I got my 30 day pass there last trip, taking the 109 South to the SSTT and then buying the pass and using it on the SDX to get me to Paris.

    For us seniors it really saves money because it is the only way we can get our senior discount.
     
  13. teacher1

    teacher1 Low-Roller

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    Last Oct we took the "Dewey Route" and went with the 109 South to the SSTT, bought our 5 -day all access pass (at the reduced rate) out of the machine in the hallway,then took the SDX to Paris. Used the 5day all access on all of the routes--tourist corridor included. Had our ticket checked several times on the SDX, no problem, no ID asked for. Planning on doing the same thing next week. By chance we will just miss the changes coming on Sept 30.
     
  14. markadele

    markadele Tourist

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    I know this has been asked before but cant find it on here. I have never took the bus from the airport but thinking about trying it this time. I will be going to the Vegas Club downtown . Where do I pick up the bus at the airport? And what bus do I get on? Where do they drop you off downtown? And can you take the bus back to the airport? We have always taken a cab or shuttle but this time will only have a carry on so not much luggage so thinking of trying the bus
     
  15. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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  16. Dewey089

    Dewey089 VIP Whale

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    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 31, 2012
  17. technolight

    technolight Low-Roller

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    Dewey , whatever happened to the "gold" busses that were supposed to be the be all and end all of fancy busses.
     
  18. Dewey089

    Dewey089 VIP Whale

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    The ACE Gold line is just renamed the SDX. And buses like those also run along Boulder Highway and I believe along Sahara. Those are the buses that have three ways to enter and exit, that don't require the driver to check each passenger, and that speed up travel with that easier boarding as well as fewer stops. It took a while to name them so as not to bother the cabbies and to create some sort of uniform sense.
    Acronyms jumped in to save the day, just as they do in naming newly opened casinos. Acronym talk seems the talk of the modern age where so many folks have to type with just thumbs.
     
  19. Dewey089

    Dewey089 VIP Whale

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    Thanks, Teacher. I just could not remember if the 5 day passes were issued in those machines. It is the good deal of travel, and I have had plenty of official ruling that no local ID is required using it, unlike the 24 hour residential which technically requires a local ID. No worries using it. There won't be any ID checking this month.

    And that is all we have to enjoy the 5 day. September 30 it morphs into a 15 day pass. I'd appreciate anyone in the BTC asking a smart clerk (Christine is my pick) if tourists can use the 15 day pass as well as the 30 day pass without local ID in the new round of fare "improvements."

    I would not call that route the "Dewey Route" teacher as I think I got it from you. Also, I have to admit that I don't like it. I got on the SDX fine but by Paris the crowds were so thick I had to really be aggressive to get my bag out of the back of the bus and on the ground. Of course, few of you carry the largest suitcase packed with 80 plus pounds of everything for a 23 day stay. Were I to use that route again, I'd sit in the center of the bus. I might even stand in the center.

    http://vegasonthebus.blogspot.com/2012/06/i-rarely-advise-against-bus-travel-but.html
     
  20. merlin

    merlin MIA

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    I just returned from another trip and took the Wax both ways, going downtown it will drop you off at 4th and carson - just down from the walgreens by neonopolis, returning to the airport you will board just outside Binions across from the fremont. A half hour each way, saves a bunch of money over cabs or shuttles, you pick it up at the airport on level Zero(by baggage claim), luggage is welcome(plenty of room, the bus is never full).
     
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