Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA)
Blake Transit Center, 331 S. Fourth Ave. Route and schedule information: 996–0400. Open Mon.–Fri. 7:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m., Sat. noon–6:15 p.m. AATA headquarters, 2700 South Industrial. 973–6500. Mon.–Fri. 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
AATA buses run along 18 Ann Arbor routes, four routes within Ypsilanti, and five routes between the two cities. For information on routes, schedules, and discount fares, call 996–0400 or visit www.theride.org. Service hours for most routes are Mon.–Fri. 6:30 a.m.–10:45 p.m., Sat. & Sun. 8 a.m.–6:30 p.m. There is no bus service on major holidays, but a shared-ride private taxi or van service is available; see Night Ride under Special Services, below.
The fare is $1 (cash only; drivers cannot make change). Transfers are free and valid for 90 minutes. Transfers may not be used for returning on the same route. Children age 5 & younger ride free. Students in grades K–12 can ride for half fare. Thirty-day unlimited-ride passes ($37.50) can be purchased at the Blake Transit Center, the AATA main office, all Bank of Ann Arbor locations, and some area businesses. Passes are $10 for those with a Senior ID or ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) ID card and $18.75 for K–12 students and holders of Reduced Fare ID cards, which allow 50˘ individual rides for handicapped persons, seniors ages 60–64, and low-income persons. Seniors age 65 & over can ride for 25˘ with a Senior ID card, and people with a qualifying disability can ride for 25˘ with an ADA ID card. (See Special Services, below, for how to obtain a Senior ID card.)
AATA has made bike-bus commuting easier by equipping all fixed-route buses with exterior bike racks. There is no extra charge for a bike.
AATA’s Link circulator bus provides free service between the Main St., Kerrytown, State St., and South University areas and the U-M Central Campus and Oxford/Trotter housing areas. The Link operates from the last Sun. in Aug. through Apr., Mon.–Fri. 7 a.m.–11 p.m.
AATA’s MRide program allows U-M faculty, staff, and students to ride all regularly scheduled AATA buses free by showing their yellow Mcard. (Commuters can also park free and ride the bus into town using any of the following park-and-ride lots: Green Rd. near Baxter, Pioneer High School, Maple Village Shopping Center, Miller Rd. at M-14, and the State St. commuter lot north of Eisenhower.) From the park-and-ride lots, buses run to downtown Ann Arbor and to the U-M’s North, Central, and Medical campuses.
Football Ride: AATA provides service from area hotels and parking lots to Michigan Stadium on home football Sat. Fare is $2 each way. Call 973–6500 for more information. The following AATA routes are detoured on football Sat.: routes 4, 6, 7, 8, 15, & 16.
During the Ann Arbor Art Fairs in July, AATA Art Fair Shuttles operate from Briarwood mall and Pioneer High School to two stops near the fairs. The fare is $1.50 each way. Children under age 7 ride free. Call 973–6500 or check www.theride.org for more info.
AATA’s Employer Services Program, (877) 971–7665, offers planning assistance to employers and workers who are looking for alternative methods of commuting.
getDowntown, Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce. Nancy Shore, 214-0100. A collaborative project of the chamber of commerce, AATA, the Downtown Development Authority, and the city, getDowntown aims to reduce parking stress and traffic congestion by promoting transportation options for downtown employees. Downtown employers can get bus passes for $5/person annually for all employees: these go!passes are good for unlimited use on all AATA routes. Programs include Curb Your Car Month in May. nancy@annarborchamber.org, www.getdowntown.org
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Bicycles
See the Recreation section of this guide for information about bike maps, registration, rentals, and other details.
It’s possible to reach most parts of the city on the marked network of street, sidewalk, and park bike lanes and paths. Bicyclists must follow the same laws as motorized vehicles when riding on the street, including coming to complete stops at all stop signs and red lights and using a headlight after dark. When riding on the sidewalk, they must have an audible signal such as a horn or bell, and must yield to pedestrians. Check with local bike stores for information about biking classes and maintenance clinics.
The getDowntown program has bike lockers at seven locations: City Hall; the Ashley & William and Ann Arbor District Library parking lots; and the Maynard, Fourth & Washington, Fourth & William, and Ann & Ashley parking structures. Lockers are $60/year plus a $25 refundable key deposit.
The Ann Arbor Comprehensive Nonmotorized Transportation Plan is replacing the city’s Bicycle Master Plan. The goal is a safe and interconnected system of bicycle and pedestrian facilities, including more crosswalks and bicycle lanes. For more information, see www.greenwaycollab.com.
The Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition (864–4095) aims to improve bicycling and walking through advocacy and education. Its website, www.wbwc.org, features biking-related news (both local and national), laws, links, and details on upcoming projects.
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Limousines
Ann Arbor’s limousine companies include Arbor Limousine Service (663–5959) and Golden Limousine (668–8282). Town cars, sedans, minicoaches, lift vans, SUV limos, and stretch limos are available, typically at $55–$150/hour, although prices can vary greatly with type of vehicle, length of trip, and amount of reserved time. For other private transportation services, including limousine companies outside Ann Arbor, see the Yellow Pages.
Taxis
Ann Arbor has eight local taxi services: A Cab (668-2222), Amazing Blue Taxi (846–0007), Ann Arbor Taxi, Inc., Ltd. (741–9000), Ann Arbor Taxi Service (214–9999), Ann Arbor’s Red Baron Taxi (277–3702), Blue Cab (547–2222), Tree Town Transportation (213–1100), Veterans Cab (662–4477), and Yellow Cab (663–3355). All offer service to any destination, and all provide 24-hour service to Metro Airport (about $45–$60 from downtown Ann Arbor). The meter rate is $2.50 to start, $2.10/mile, and $35/hour for waiting time. Check with each company for out-of-town rates.
Trains
Amtrak, 325 Depot. 994–4906. Tickets and reservations: (800) 872–7245. There are three eastbound and three westbound departures daily. Eastbound trains travel to Detroit, Birmingham, and Pontiac, and westbound trains travel to Jackson, Kalamazoo, and Chicago (and points in between). On all trains, smoking is prohibited and reservations are required. Buses depart at 8:50 p.m. for Toledo to meet an overnight train to the East Coast. Amtrak accepts all major credit cards and personal checks (with a major credit card and driver’s license). Depot open daily 7 a.m.–midnight. Tickets sold 7:15 a.m.–11:30 p.m. www.amtrak.com
U-M Bus System
Call 764–3427. All route service is free to the public. No pass is required. The main bus stop for all routes is on Central Campus, at the large turnouts on either side of Geddes, next to the Exhibit Museum of Natural History and the C. C. Little Bldg. Current route maps and timetables are available at www.pts.umich.edu.
The commuter route runs at 10-minute intervals, serving all commuter parking lots. Starting at the Crisler Arena parking lot, the route travels north through the Athletic Campus and on to Central Campus, the Medical Campus, and North Campus. Southbound, the route starts from the Glazier Way commuter lot, passing most of the same stops. Service Mon.–Fri. 6:40 a.m.–8 p.m. Commuter route buses do not operate during holiday periods.
Bursley-Baits buses connect Bursley Hall and Baits Housing on North Campus with the Medical Campus and the main bus stop on Central Campus. The Bursley-Baits route operates Mon.–Fri. during fall and winter terms only. Northwood buses connect the U-M’s family housing with the Medical Campus and the main bus stop on Central Campus while also providing service to various North Campus classroom buildings and lots. Both routes run Sept.–May weekdays at 10-minute intervals 7 a.m.–
7 p.m., and at 15-minute (Bursley-Baits) or 20-minute (Northwood) intervals 7 p.m.–2 a.m. The North Campus route is a combination of the Bursley-Baits and Northwood routes and provides late-night and weekend service to North Campus residential areas and classroom buildings. Buses run weekdays midnight–2:20 a.m. On weekends, service is generally at 20-minute intervals 7 a.m.–3 a.m.
For winter holiday recess service information, as well as May–Aug. schedules, call U-M transportation services at 764–3427.
Vehicle Rentals
Auto Key Vehicle Rentals, 2850 S. Main. 930–2886. Mon.–Fri. 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.–noon. www.autokeya2.com
Avis Rent-a-Car, 3600 Plymouth. 663–9513 or (800) 331–1212. Mon.–Fri. 7 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–1 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–1 p.m. www.avis.com
Enterprise Rent-a-Car, 438 W. HURON (327–2600); 3880 JACKSON (930–4900); 4555 WASHTENAW (971–1221). Mon.–Fri. 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–noon. Closed Sun. www.enterprise.com
Hertz Rent-a-Car, 3200 BOARDWALK (inside Four Points by Sheraton of Ann Arbor). 761–1176 or 800–654–3131. Mon.–Fri. 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat. & Sun. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. 4663 WASHTENAW. 528–9692. Mon.–Fri.
7 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Closed Sun. www.hertz.com
National Car Rental / Alamo Rent-a-Car, 801 Airport Dr. National: 769–8437 or (800) 227–7368. Alamo: (800) 462–5266. Mon.–Fri. 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.–1 p.m. Closed Sun. www.nationalcar.com, www.alamo.com
Northside Rental (Budget), 1621 Plymouth. 761–6030, (800) 527–0700. Mon.–Fri. 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–noon. www.budget.com
Zipcars. (866) 494–7227. Members-only rentals; $8/hour, $60/day. Two cars at each of these intersections: State & Monroe, Zina Pitcher & Ann, Bonisteel & Beal. Reservation includes gas, reserved parking, insurance, and 180 miles. Additional miles 35˘–45˘ per mile. Business and household memberships available. Apply online to join. info@zipcar.com, www.zipcar.com
