Ride Guide

Step 1 – Find Your Schedule

You first must determine what bus route and time you would like to travel. View our transit schedules for more information.

Step 2 – Locating a Bus Stop

RRTA bus stop signs are placed throughout Lancaster City and County along the bus routes.

In Lancaster City: Locate the nearest bus stop for your route and wait for the bus to come to your stop. You must be standing at a bus stop to be picked-up.

Outside Lancaster City: If no bus stop sign is nearby, wait on the same side of the street as the bus travels. Wait at a safe area and ‘flag’ (wave to) the operator as the bus approaches.

Step 3 – Identify Your Bus

Each RRTA bus is identified by a route number and name. For example, Route 1/Park City A. Each bus indicates the route number and/or name of the route on the front, sides and back of each bus so it is easy to determine each bus route from all directions.

Step 4 – Boarding Your Bus

Stand in clear view of the driver and wave as the bus approaches, especially if you are not at a marked bus stop.

If you find it difficult to climb the front steps of the bus ask the driver to lower the bus for you. Our buses have a special “kneeling” feature which lowers the first step to curb level.

If you see a bus coming towards you that isn’t the one you want, wave the driver on.

Let departing passengers off the bus before you try to board.

Step 5 – Paying Your Fare

City routes (Routes 1 -5), all operate within the base zone. Fares are paid when you board the bus.

County routes (Routes 10 – 19), all cross zones and fares will vary. Fares are paid when you depart the bus when traveling outbound from Lancaster City. When traveling inbound, fares are paid when you board.

RRTA’s Route 20, a Metro Region route, operates like a county route in that it crosses a fare zone. Fares are paid when you depart the bus traveling outbound. When traveling inbound, the fare is paid when you board the bus.

Step 6 – Transferring From One Bus to Another

If you have to change to another bus to complete your one-way trip, ask the driver of your first bus for a transfer when you pay your fare. The transfer is 5 cents and is good for your base fare. You will pay the 5 cent transfer charge on the second bus, plus any additional zone charges if any zone boundaries are crossed. The transfer can be used until the latest time printed on it. A transfer cannot be used for a return trip on the same or nearby routes.

Step 7 – Getting Off the Bus

Most of the time drivers will bypass stops where no one is waiting, unless someone signals to get off. As the bus approaches within one block of your stop, push the yellow strips or red stop buttons, which are located on both sides of the bus or on the railings along the aisle.

In Lancaster City, passengers must get on and off at marked bus stop signs. Outside Lancaster City, passengers may get on and off along the route, even if there is no marked bus stop sign.