It’s Thursday morning, you have no class and you don’t want to watch daytime soaps for the rest of the day. You’re filled with a yearning for adventure to go poke around the city, maybe get a bite to eat somewhere besides the Orleans Room or those regular Uptown joints. Perhaps you just want to see the French Quarter in the daylight for once. You decide to hit the snooze button instead, seeing how, like the majority of students, you don’t have your own wheels.
Next time, get up and hit the road. Since Hurricane Katrina damaged the streetcar lines more than 19 months ago, the Regional Transit Authority has boosted their bus routes and systems, providing 30 bus lines to get you wherever you may want to go and back home again.
Jefferson Transit, in conjunction with the RTA, also provides five lines with stops throughout New Orleans. These lines will take you into Jefferson Parish, where you can hit up any number of cool places.
GET OUT OF TOWN
Intended to provide transportation for those looking for work in Baton Rouge, New Orleans or places between the two, the LA Swift is a completely free service that runs seven days a week. So whether you’re trying to get out to Baton Rouge for a weekend, or just to catch up with friends at LSU, it’s a breeze and it’s free. Catch it at the corner of Loyola and Howard Avenues.
A TIGHT SCHEDULE
Of course, a number of people are skeptical about public transportation with good reason. Students who were in the city before Katrina will remember waiting an hour at times for a streetcar alongside a dubious stranger explaining his need for any loose change.
RTA, however, keeps to a rather tight schedule. With the major lines, you should expect to wait no more than 20 minutes during the day and 40 minutes at night for a bus. It’s important to note that the lines usually stop running around 10:30 p.m. during the week and at about midnight on the weekends.
So if you and your friends are out for a night on the town, make sure to catch a bus before the drivers go off duty. Otherwise, you might as well try to find a nice stoop to pass out on because the buses do not start running again until about 5 a.m.
SHOW ME THE MONEY
For those rich in spirit but low in cash, RTA is a perfect mode of transportation. A ticket will set you back $1.25, and transfers are only an extra quarter. If you’re planning to spend the day traveling throughout the city, invest in a $5 VisiTour pass.
These are sold at a number of locations in town, the closest being the bookstore. Three-day passes for $12 and monthly passes for $55 are also available.
PLAY IT SAFE
Safety is another concern. No one can deny there are a fair number of crazies in this city, and yes, crazies ride public transportation. After a few rides, however, you will quickly discover the bus drivers, much like the streetcar commanders of times past, rule their kingdoms with an iron fist and have little tolerance for any disruptive behavior. Drivers will respond appropriately to any situation, whether it means calling the cops or just kicking the unruly passenger off.
Don’t forget this includes you as well, so wait until you get off the bus to crack open that beer or light up a smoke. And heck, when you’re stuck on a bus for half an hour, the guy in the backseat mumbling about ‘Nam can be pretty entertaining.
CATCHING A RIDE
Though the buses were previously only picking up passengers from the old streetcar stops, many drivers will stop at any point if you are able to catch their attention, which is not too difficult.
It’s generally not a good idea to stand in the middle of the street and yell at an oncoming vehicle weighing several tons, so just lean off the curb and give the driver a gentle wave. Chances are they’ll pull over right in front of you.
Even though the streetcars are tentatively set to be up and running by the end of the year, there’s still a way for you to break out of your shell and avoid Uptown for a few hours. You might find that there’s a lot more to love in the Big Easy.
GET YOUR KICKS
Number 12 St. Charles: If you’re looking for a way to the Quarter, this is it. It’s usually a 30- to 40-minute ride at peak hours. You can stop along the way to eat at Voodoo BBQ or Slice pizzeria, or just to stroll around to Lee Circle. The line ends at Canal, but you can get any number of connections from Canal. The No. 12 also heads down South Carrollton Avenue, where you can explore some great little restaurants, tattoo shops and knickknack stores abound.
Number 11 Magazine: If you’ve spent any time in town, you should be well acquainted with Magazine Street. Home to some of the best food and shopping Uptown, Magazine Street is a great place to wander. But when the temperature hits the 90s or it’s raining, catch the No. 11 to get to your destination, whether it be Juan’s Flying Burrito or Buffalo Exchange.
Number 10 Tchoupitoulas: Trying to get to Republic for a show, but can’t catch a ride? Hop on the No. 10 for a straight shot to South Peters. The route also passes Winn Dixie, Blockbuster and Sav-A-Center.
E2 Airport: For those who like to travel light, Jefferson Transit has a route that will take you to Louis Armstrong International. Get on either the No. 27 Louisiana or No. 39 Tulane buses and exit at Carrollton Avenue. This is definitely not recommended when you’ve got an hour to catch your flight and still haven’t finished packing, but it’s a good way to get to the airport without spending $15.
E1 Veterans: One complaint about New Orleans shopping you’ll hear from almost every student is the lack of a mall. Sure, there are plenty of stores to be explored within city limits, but for those of you who enjoy getting all their supplies in one location, catch the E1 from Canal Street and head out to Lakeside Mall. Lakeside has everything from high-end stores to the all-American food court classic, Mandarin Express.
For more information on schedules, visit www.norta.com or www.jeffersontrasit.org.
John Sequeria can be reached at [email protected].
