When you think of amazing transportation systems throughout the world, you inevitably think of the French speed trains, the myriad of subways in Tokyo or the London tubes. Although the Atlanta metro bus system may not have international acclaim, it is still what thousands of people rely on to get themselves to and from work, out to buy groceries or just to go out on the town or visiting friends. Traffic is always a feat of determination and planning in any city center or even in the outer suburbs, and Atlanta is no different. Knowing the ins and outs of the metro system will enable you to plan your trips effectively and to know how long a trip might take on any given day.
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, or MARTA, is the organization responsible for public transport systems within Atlanta (specifically metropolitan Atlanta), and it is this group that runs the bus system as well as the trains. For car-less Atlanta residents and international tourists, the bus is the basic form of transport and it is this basic system that will take them from point A to point B. The MARTA bus service operates over a larger area than the railway system and, as of last year (2006), there were 120 bus routes commissioned, plus five express shuttle routes. Each of the bus routes intersects with a MARTA railway line so that passengers are able to reach every available destination; where the buses reach their outer limits the trains do not go, and vice versa.
MARTA will run special buses for big events such as Atlanta Braves baseball games, the Peachtree Road Race or, in peak amusement park season, to the Six Flags over Georgia.
Residents of the Atlanta metropolitan area who do drive complain that morning, after work and lunch hour traffic is simply non-navigable and if you have any slight changes in your schedule, all of these times will have you scrambling to get anywhere. The road layout is cited as the major problem, and barring a complete overhaul of the roadways often the best bet is to take the buses and simply hop on an early one each day so that you always keep your schedule. Buses have strict schedules so that you always know where you stand, however these are always subject to traffic concerns just like other drivers. Special lanes help to keep bus drivers on their target times, so unless you have worked out your own route over the years and know exactly what the traffic trends are on certain days, it is a good idea to leave the navigation to the professionals.
Of course morning and rush hour traffic will always be a concern in any city, but the fact is that many urban areas have figured out ways to overcome these traffic burdens. Atlanta’s carpool lanes have failed to seriously alleviate the issue, however, and so in these times it will certainly not hurt to buy a MARTA bus pass, get to work on time and save the earth a little pollution.