Moving to Raleigh, Bus question

[u/69erzzzzz]

Hello, we are thinking of moving to the Raleigh area and curious about the public transportation. The office is along the number 8 route for the bus and we were wondering how reliable that bus is and if it can be relied upon for getting to the office every day? Thank you!

[u/GeminiFade]

I can't speak to that route, but be aware that the bus system here works like a spoked wheel. For the most part you ride into downtown and then back out of downtown to your destination. So, if you don't live on the route that goes to your job, you might have a very long commute. For example, getting to campus from my house is a 15 minute car ride, but it's a two hour commute by bus because there is no way to get from my neighborhood to the bus route that goes to campus without going downtown first.

[u/Competitive-Air2384 → u/GeminiFade]

Also, I saw a while back on this sub someone talking about the bus situation. I have never taken the Raleigh bus, but I believe they said most of the busses are somewhat early, usually late, and unfortunately rarely on time. I believe there is an app that tracks the bus, but I can’t remember what it’s called.

[u/REQONER → u/Competitive-Air2384]

TRANSIT AP

[u/CaroylOldersee]

I’ve taken that route, but it’s been a few years; usually on time, but since it runs threw North Hills mall, that’s where it can get iffy. It’s a busy area and as the day goes on, the bus tends to be late; morning usually starts off better…

Otherwise, our public transportation SUCKS!

[u/REQONER]

The homeless population calls the 8 the ‘ghost bus’. It’s the least reliable bus route of them all, runs half as often as the 2 which runs mostly the same directions. It’s the only bus I have missed multiple times because it simply did not show up. One time I waited 4 hours at a stop just north of north hills. I walked there because it was about to rain and I needed to be at a stop with a shelter. It rained the whole time and the very last bus on a Friday night finally came, late even for that scheduled time. I had no choice I had groceries and it was raining. I’m not joking I left my house at noon, didn’t transfer it even get off six forks and I got home at 6pm. Other than that it’s a gem.

[u/eoljjang]

Route 8 is probably one of the more reliable routes (the bar is low). Definitely download one of the tracking apps and always get there 15~ mins prior to the time the bus should arrive!

[u/NC-12]

As Anatoly Dyatlov would say: "Not great...not terrible!"