A Riders Guide to AppalCART 

On intown routes and parking lot shuttles, passengers holding a current valid ASU ID card MUST present it as a boarding pass, or be prepared to pay the $ .50 fare.

Welcome

AppalCART is the transportation authority serving all of Watauga County.  A coordinated effort by local, state, and federal governments, human service agencies and Appalachian State University has enabled AppalCART to afford consolidated public transportation since 1981.

Schedules

This site consists of a system map, timetables for fixed routes and parking lot shuttles, and an alphabetical destination table cross-referenced by routes.  Please note that 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 be at the stop at least three minutes early to minimize the likelihood of missing the bus.

Holidays

AppalCART does not operate on New Year's Day, Easter, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, the Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Bus Stops

Our drivers will pick you up at any DESIGNATED bus stop (stop signs along the route are always designated stops).

Please assist the bus driver by using a hand signal if you want the bus to stop and pick you up.  When you wish to get off the bus, please notify the driver at least one block before your stop.

You may disembark WHILE BUS IS STOPPED in the outside lane at any traffic light or bus stop.

Route Signs

Headways (route signs) are located above the windshield of each bus to permit you to identify the correct bus for the route you want.

Fares

Passengers holding a current, valid ASU ID card MUST present it as a boarding pass on our fixed routes and parking lot shuttles, or be prepared to pay the $ .50 fare.  CCC&TI students must pay the $ .50 fare.  PLease have the correct fare,
$. 50 ready when boarding, as our drivers do not carry change.  Each fare is valid for one trip from boarding to destination, including transfers.  $16 multi-trip tickets good for $20 worth of rides are available at the AppalCART office on Winklers Creek Rd.  Paratransit fares are twice the discounted fare (currently $1).

Transfers

If you need to transfer to another bus, please notify your driver, who will then radio contact the driver of your connecting bus to expect to expect a transfer passenger.  There is no additional charge for transfers on our RED, EXPRESS, BLUE, ORANGE, GOLD, and POP105 routes.

Mobility Impaired

AppalCART operates Paratransit service within 3/4 mile of its RED, EXPRESS, BLUE, ORANGE, GOLD, and POP105 routes at the times those routes are in operation, for passengers with disabilities which prevent them from using the our intown route buses.  For eligibility information, please call Jim Harrison or Ronnie Hammonds at 264-2584 between the hours of 9AM to 5PM.  AppalCART offers its Appal-A-Day lift-equipped van service for patrons needing service beyond that offered by our intown route Paratransit service.  For Appal-A-Day inquiries (van service in the rural area's of Watauga County) information, call John Kirk or Troy Greer at 264-2280.

Compliments/Complaints

AppalCART's drivers and management strive to provide reliable, comfortable, and courteous service to our passengers.  If you are particularly pleased with our efforts, we naturally appreciate hearing from you.  We hope that we provoke few, if any complaints, but if you experience a problem with our service, we certainly need to know about that too.  Such communications should be directed to the Operations Manager John Kirk at 264-2278 or OperationsManager@appalcart.com .  All passenger complaints and criticisms are fully recorded and investigated, and every effort is made to address and alleviate the source of the complaint.

Animals in Pet Carriers

Animals in pet carriers are accepted on AppalCART’s vehicles.  Fare policy is the same as if children take a seat.  If the passenger holds the pet carrier in his/her lap, there is not charge.  If the pet carrier occupies a seat, then it’s a $. 50 charge. Unless a service animal, it must be in a pet carrier.

Ski Routes

AppalCART provides general public service routes to Ski Sugar Resort during the annual ski season.  For further information on these seasonal routes, call us after December 15 at 264-2278.

Rural Routes

In addition to the intown bus service reflected in this schedule, AppalCART transportation is available throughout the county.  Fares are charged by zones on all AppalCART rural routes.  ASU students, faculty and staff are subject to appropriate fare charges on all county routes.  For more information, call our dispatch office at 264-2278.

Bike Racks

AppalCART has Sportworks bike racks that will accommodate two bicycles of the bus.  Bicyclist's must load and unload their own bicycles.

Suspensions

Disorderly passengers may be suspended or barred from AppalCART's vehicles and other facilities.

Effective Date

Schedules herein are effective Aug 15, 2003 through Aug 15, 2004.  Schedule times, routes and fares are subject to change without prior notice.  On those rare occasions when extraordinary circumstances, such as adverse weather, alter schedules, we will endeavor to so notify the public through announcements on WATA radio 1450 AM and WECR radio 102.3 FM.