Greensboro, North Carolina is one of the largest cities in North Carolina. When you have a larger city, there is always the question of how you are going to be able to get around the city, especially if you don’t have a car. One of the best ways to get around a large city like Greensboro is by using public transportation.
The primary means of public transportation in Greensboro, North Carolina is the bus system. Visitors and residents use the bus to travel within the city. If they need to make smaller trips, they can use the city’s scooter or bike share program. For trips outside the city, visitors often use Amtrac.
While you likely are familiar with public transportation, you might be wondering if this is your only option for getting around Greensboro. Below I have included some information about the city’s different public transportation modes, as well as if these are necessary to explore the city effectively.
Is Public Transportation Important in Greensboro, North Carolina
Some people are not comfortable with public transportation. Whether it is because they don’t like to cram into small seats with dozens of other people or don’t like paying a lot of money, they would prefer not to use public transportation. Others might just not be able to figure out all of the different places where they can ride public transportation to. Whatever the reason, there are always people who ask; is it important for me to use public transportation?
Public transportation is the only reliable way that you can get around Greensboro, North Carolina. The city is almost 130 square miles in size, which makes it far too large to walk around. This makes Greensboro larger in the area than Orlando, Florida, and it is slightly smaller than cities like Atlanta, Portland, and Philadelphia.
If you are a visitor to the city, it can be difficult and expensive to find a rental car. While using a rental, you will have to keep it safe and make sure that it doesn’t get damaged. You will have to find places where you can park it when you aren’t using it. You may even have to pay for a parking spot. Wouldn’t you just rather only pay for transportation when you are using it?
For these reasons, you will need to use some public transportation while in Greensboro. The size of the city, the hassle of getting a rental car, and the price should help persuade you to give the city’s public transportation a chance. But how do you use each of the city’s options? Here is some specific information about specific options that are available for you on your next trip to Greensboro, North Carolina.
How to Ride the Bus
When riding the bus, you will want to know where each of the buses will take you. The city of Greensboro maintains a fleet of buses with at least 15 different routes that you can ride on. Keeping these routes straight can be difficult even if you are familiar with the different parts of Greensboro. To keep this simple I will separate some of the buses into the areas of the city that they serve.
The city of Greensboro offers a reduced fare depending on your age. If you are between the ages of 6 and 18 or are over the age of 60, your fare will be half that of the other riders. For those of you who don’t fall into those categories, it costs $1.50 for a one-ride ticket. You can also purchase a day pass with unlimited rides for $4.
These buses will take you to many different parts of the city. One of the areas that they will not take you to is the airport. If you were planning on riding a bus to or from the Piedmont Triad International Airport on your next trip, you won’t be able to do so. Instead, you will have to find another way to get to the airport from Greensboro.
Here are some bus lines to keep in mind during your next trip to Greensboro, North Carolina.
North End of the City
There are two branches of buses to the north. Bus lines 8 and 17 head towards the northwest corner of the city, while the other three lines head in a northeastern direction. These other three lines are the number 3, 6, and 15 bus lines.
South End of the City
The 12 and 13 bus lines head directly south with the other lines heading in more of a western direction. The 2, 11, and 12a bus lines are the other ones in this group.
West End of City
If you need to head west out of downtown, try the 1, 7, or 9 bus lines. Each of these lines takes you all the way to the western boundary of Greensboro.
East End of the City
The eastern edge of Greensboro is a little smaller since there is a mountain limiting the space that the city can grow. In this area, you can ride the 5, 10, or 14 bus lines.
How to Ride the Train
If you want to travel outside of the city of Greensboro, you will need to look at the trains that pass through the city. There are three train lines that pass through the city each heading in a different direction. Where you want to go will determine which of these three train lines you need to ride.
North Line
If you need to head north of the city, there is an Amtrak line that heads that direction. There aren’t a ton of major cities along this route, but this train will eventually make a stop in Washington, D.C. For those of you who are curious, it is an 8-hour and 30-minute train ride from Greensboro to D.C. The price of a one-way ticket is a hefty $140.
South Line
The next Amtrak line out of Greensboro heads to the south end of the city. The next major stop along this line is the city of Charlotte, which is one of the largest cities in North Carolina. If you would like to make a quick day trip out of Greensboro, this line that heads towards Charlotte is a great way to do so.
If you want to make the trip from Greensboro to Charlotte, a one-way ticket will cost you $18. The trip will take 1 hour and 40 minutes to complete, so you won’t be stuck on a train all day.
East Line
The final trial line out of Greensboro heads east. There are two major stops along this route, with both of them being cities in North Carolina. These cities are Durham and Raleigh. These cities may be best known for their universities and the rivalry between them. Duke University in Durham and North Carolina State University in Raleigh are neighboring cities with a heated rivalry and boast many attractions that bring people from all around the state.
While traveling along the east line, Durham will be the first stop, with Raleigh being a little further down the line. A trip to Durham from Greensboro will cost you $10 and will take just under an hour to get between the cities. A trip to Raleigh will take 1 hour and 40 minutes and will cost you $12 for your ticket.
How to Use the Bike Share Program
If you want to make small trips within the city, you need to try out the Greensboro bike share program. While you might not be able to walk everywhere in the city, occasionally you may need to make a small trip around it. One of the best ways to do this is by using a bike.
A bike allows you to move through the streets of Greensboro easily. Not every street or route is passable to cars or buses, so a bike will give you access to more opportunities to explore the city. It also helps you to reduce the number of emissions that you are putting into the air. A final benefit is that riding a bike regularly helps to keep your body in good health.
While using the bike or scooters provided by the city, there are a couple of things that you should keep in mind. Riders need to be 18 years or older in order to use the bike share program in Greensboro. When downtown, you will not be able to ride on the sidewalk but will need to stick instead to the road or bike lane. Outside of the downtown area, you are free to ride on the sidewalk.
To ride one of these bikes, find one waiting at a designated drop-off area. It will cost $1.25 to unlock the bike or scooter. Once the bike is unlocked, it will cost $.30 per minute ridden. When you are finished riding, find another drop-off location to leave the bike at. Avoid leaving the bike where it will block the flow of traffic or it could get damaged.
