Madison Area Bus Ways

Figure 1: Proportion of Population Of All Ages Non-Driver in Dane County by Town, Village or City - April 2024 Source: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/afd5879501f344039f2c2482e959cdf5/page/Page/ on 5/9/2025 It may come as a surprise to some that even with a rather restrictive definition, between 30 and 40 percent of Dane County's population is non-driver according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Non-drivers are restricted to those who do not have a registered car or driver license. They tend to be youths, aging adults, low-income individuals, disabled people or people who just prefer not to drive themselves. They also live throughout Dane County. Someone who mainly uses a non-car travel mode such as a bicycle but still drives a motor vehicle on occasion may be an ally but is not a non-driver according to this definition. In contrast, someone who rides everywhere in a car but is always driven by someone else is a non-driver. This is a short geograph...

What’s Better: Traveling by Bus or Car? Aeinna Kumar | March 8, 2025 While traveling by car offers more scheduling flexibility and privacy than traveling by bus, there are also many benefits to traveling by bus that at times can make it the preferred travel mode. Traveling by bus instead of by car can be more affordable, better for the environment and results in less traffic. I am a college student in Madison. I used the Madison bus when starting college in 2022 because I had no other ride option. It was a good experience. Although I later got a driver license and car, and started driving to college, I will never forget the experience of traveling by bus. That included walking about 1.2 miles from my home to the bus stop. While driving can be convenient because you can travel on your own schedule, using the bus teaches patience and can be the reason to wake up and get out of the house to do something every day. Using the bus helped me realize what I am working ...

What A Week Without Driving Sept. 30-Oct. 6 Might Look Like Rahul Bajaj | September 6, 2024 The upcoming "Week Without Driving" challenge, running from September 30 to October 6, 2024 is an intriguing opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and experience life without the ease of a personal vehicle. As someone who’s always driven everywhere, the thought of navigating my daily routine without a car fills me with a mix of trepidation and curiosity. I envision the first day as a rude awakening. My typical 10-minute drive to work will transform into a 45-minute bus ride, complete with transfers and the unfamiliar experience of sharing space with others in public transit. The solitude of my car will be replaced by the diverse faces of fellow passengers, offering a subtle reminder of the broader community that surrounds us, often unnoticed. Throughout the week, I expect my patience to be tested. Grocery shopping will become a logistical challenge, requiring multiple trips...

Source: p. 387 of City of Madison 2024 Adopted Budget retrived from htpps://www.cityofmadison.com.finance/documents/budget/operating/adopted/Adopted2024.pdf on May 1, 2024. The past few years of pursuing federal funding has borne fruits in 2023. …This funding has been for Capital Budget projects, not Operating Budget. – (p.9 of MDOT’s 2023 Annual Report available at https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12785478&GUID=9747A550-CDA8-4AD1-BCFA-550167AEF761 ) Borrowing in Transit Susan De Vos | August 3, 2024 Introduction Public borrowing has changed dramatically in the last half century. Not so long ago, good money management meant proactive saving rather than borrowing. However, people increasingly found borrowing sensical when it provides investment returns many times the amount initially borrowed. Public transit on average has a return of $5 for every $1 invested. Since the early 1980s however, federal funding for transit in specific has been limited to c...

Trams in Madison? January 20, 2024 | Sean Howell Hey Madison residents! Let's embark on a visionary journey to enhance our public transportation system with the introduction of trams. With our city experiencing growth, the need for an efficient and community-tailored transit system becomes increasingly apparent. Trams emerge as the missing puzzle piece, promising a range of benefits that could revolutionize our daily commute and elevate the Madison experience. Picture trams artfully weaving through the heart of Madison, following a carefully planned route that connects key spots where we live, work, and play. Let's call it the "Madison Metro Loop." Commencing at Capitol Square, the central hub of our city, trams could gracefully traverse State Street, establishing a vital link between the vibrant downtown area and the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. This route alone has the potential to significantly improve the daily commute, particularly for students an...

Source: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Transportation Services, Division of Facility Planning & Management My Experiences with Madison Metro Transit as a UW-Madison Student Paige Gahagan | November 15, 2023 Like many students attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I rely heavily on the bus transportation of Madison’s Metro Transit. I live on the outskirts of campus and take the bus to class every day. Now a junior, I got my first bus pass at the beginning of my sophomore year. It was easy. I simply picked one up at Union South after swiping my Wiscard. Before the bus system was redesigned, I had an easier time getting to and from class. I could take more routes (8, 15, or 70) while many of the new routes (A, B, D, F, G, J and O) are of no use to me. They do not serve the southeast side of campus where many students reside. Rather, I rely heavily on Routes 38 and C. However, the 38 only comes every 30 minutes, not particularly useful since you can miss it wh...