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Rider's Guide

Schedules

While we try to be exact when giving the time the bus will be at a given stop, traffic and other situations may result in slight time variations from the published schedule. Please arrive at your stop at least 3 minutes early to minimize the likelihood of missing the bus.

2023-2024 Holidays

For the period July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024 AppalCART does not operate on New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, the Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the day after Christmas. We will operate limited routes on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Labor Day.

  • What should I do at a bus stop?
    Our drivers will pick you up only at any designated bus stops. Please assist the drivers by using a hand signal if you want the bus to stop. When you wish to get off the bus, please notify the driver by pulling the hanging cord at least one block before your stop. For your safety, do not cross in front of the bus prior to boarding or after exiting.
  • Is there a fare for riding the bus?
    No, fixed-route bus service is fare-free courtesy of the Town of Boone, Watauga County, and Appalachian State University.
  • I'm mobility impaired. What are my transportation options?
    AppalCART buses are wheelchair-accessible. For those unable to use the bus, AppalCART operates paratransit service within 3/4 mile of its in-town bus routes at the times those routes are in operation. For eligibility information, please contact info@appalcart.com or call 828.297.1300. The State of North Carolina 711 number (Text Telephone) and/or Telecommunications Relay Services (Relay North Carolina) numbers are 1-800-735-2962 (TDD/TTY), 1-800-735-8262 (voice), and 1-800-676-4290 (Spanish). For more information, visit the Accessibility tab on our website.
  • I have a compliment or complaint. How do I report it?
    Call 828.297.1300 or submit it through our website. AppalCART's drivers and management strive to provide reliable, comfortable, and courteous service to our passengers. If you are pleased with our efforts, we naturally appreciate hearing from you. If you experience a problem with our AppalCART service, please contact the number above. All passenger complaints are fully recorded and investigated. Every effort is made to alleviate the reason of any complaint.
  • Are animals allowed on AppalCART?
    Small animals in pet carriers are accepted on AppalCART’s vehicles. Unless it is a Service Animal, it must be in a pet carrier. Service Animals or service dogs are defined by the ADA as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Emotional Support Animals are not considered to be a "Service Animal" according to the ADA. For more information about Service Animals, you may visit this document.
  • Does your commute include cycling?
    Every in-town route bus is equipped with a bicycle storage rack located on the front of the bus. When you need to load or unload your bicycle, please inform your driver.
  • Are there rules for riding the bus?
    Shirt and shoes are required at all times when riding. If carrying a stroller, please fold it up before boarding the bus. Please obey all instructions from your driver. No firearms, weapons, or dangerous instruments allowed. To protect the health of all passengers, AppalCART will remove or deny access to any passenger whose bodily fluids are exposed. This includes, but is not limited to, body eliminations, saliva, and blood. The following are unacceptable behaviors: Eating or drinking on the bus Use of tobacco products or Vaping Possession of controlled substances Sleeping in buses or shelters Placing feet on the seats Possession of any type of weapon Open alcohol containers Soliciting or panhandling Threatening behavior, profanity or obscene gestures Behavior or actions that distract the driver Passengers will be expected to conduct themselves in an orderly manner at all times. Any violations of these rules will result in transportation being suspended.
  • Can AppalCART suspend me from riding the bus?
    Yes, disorderly passengers may be suspended or barred from AppalCART's vehicles and other facilities.

Understanding
AppalCART Schedules

The schedules provided in the system brochure and listed on the maps are the times for the buses. 

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As a tip, remember to arrive at your stop 3 - 5 minutes before the scheduled stop. 

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Below is an example of how to read our schedules using the Red Route schedule. 

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The first bus that departs is printed in bold, and this indicates that will the bus' first stop/departure on that route. Also, the bus columns do not indicate the order of the buses; this means, that the first column is not necessarily the first of the red route. The times next to the stops are to be compared to the times listed under the days of the week schedule. For instance, for the Red Route, Bus 1, 3, and 4 leave AppalCART at 7:05 am, 6:35 am, and 6:50 am, respectively. Bus 2 leaves the ASU College of Health Sciences at 6:51 am.

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Red Route Bus 1, 3, and 4

Bus Departure Times - First Stop/Departure

Red Route Bus 2

The times at the top of the schedule indicate the times that the bus is running. 

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For instance, Monday - Friday, AppalCART will run 4 buses that will drive the Red Route from 6:35 am - 6:04 pm, then from 6:04 pm - 10:08 pm, 2 buses will drive the Red Route. On Saturday, the Red Route from 9:05 am - 5:34 pm will run 2 buses. On Sunday, the Red Route runs 2 buses from 12:05 pm - 8:04 pm. When AppalCART is on Break Schedule (such as holidays), the Red Route will run 2 buses on Monday - Friday (depending on the day of the week the holiday is) from 6:50 am - 8:08 pm. 

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Note: for the Red Route, the schedule continues into another half to list the rest of the stops. 

Stops are listed here

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Stops are continued here

How do these schedules help you ride the bus?

These schedules are essential in determining when to arrive at your stop!

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With AppalCART routes, keep the following in mind:

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  • Red Route, Purple Route, Pop 105 Route, & Wellness District run every 15 minutes.

  • Green Route & Blue Route run every 20 minutes. 

  • Gray Route, Orange Route, Gold Route, NC 105 Lot Shuttle, State Farm Parking Lot Shuttle & Silver Route run every 30 minutes.

  • Express Route & Pink Route run every 10 minutes in conjunction with each other.

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*Note: These are weekday, daytime routes. Also, the run times are determined by the number of buses that are running per each route. 

Example of using the schedule for stops: (Example of weekday, daytime buses)

For instance, you live at the Kingswood Apartments and want to get to the ASU College of Health Science.

 

The Kingswood Apartments stop has times listed as :05, :20, :35, and

:50 minutes after the hour. You would need to be ready at least 3 minutes before these times, ready to alert the driver that you are prepared to board the bus. 

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After boarding the bus, you are waiting for the College of Health Sciences stop. You will ride for approximately 30 - 45 minutes depending on other passengers boarding and traffic. The arrival at the College of Health Sciences will be :04, :19, :34, and :49 minutes after the hour. 

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Depending on which time you boarded the bus, you follow that Bus column to determine times for when you will arrive at your desired stop. 

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If you boarded the bus at Kingswood at :05 minutes after the hour, then you would arrive at College of Health Science at :49 minutes after the hour. This example is using the Bus 2 times listed in the schedule. 

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For a stop with a time listed beside it, look at the listed times and determine which one is closest to the current time that you are wanting to board at that particular stop. 

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