Welcome to City-Data.com forum! Make sure to register - it's free and very quick! You have to register before you can post and participate in our discussions with 700,000 other registered members. User profiles and some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your free account you will be able to customize many options, you will have the full access to over 15,000 posts/day about local topics and you will see fewer ads.
I just moved to Amherst today. I'm kind of a little lost as in where everything is!
I have a couple of questions maybe some of you could help me out with.
I'm staying near UB North, Sweet home road. How would I go about venturing into Downtown Buffalo? Is there any public transport I could take as I'm without a car right now and for a couple of months most likely.
Downtown is about 9 miles south and west of your location.
Unfortunately public transportation is not very good. The hard part is getting to UB South Campus. From there you can take the subway, which runs under Main St all the way downtown and is pretty rapid/reliable. The first stop it makes in downtown proper is the "Theater District." But, if by "downtown" you mean the trendy neighborhoods along Elmwood Ave, you'll want to get off earlier. For Allentown, get off at the "Allen/Medical Campus" stop and walk west (cross main st). For Elmwood Village, get off at "Delavan/Canisius" and either take the #26/Delavan bus west or hoof it about a mile west (cross main st, walk along Delavan ave by the big cemetery) to Elmwood Ave. Subway fare in Buffalo is by the honor system, so even though there are no turnstiles you still need to buy a ticket. It usually won't matter, but now and then someone will be on the train checking for tickets. If you can't produce a ticket for the checker the fine is like $50.
There are various NFTA bus routes that run from UB south (which is just inside city limits) into Amherst, but none are very reliable or very nearby Sweet Home Rd. However, I used to make this commute every day using public transportation rather painlessly. How did I do it? I used the "UB Stampede," which is a VERY frequent bus line that runs between UB North and UB South. If you look like you might be a college student, your best bet would be to hitch a ride with them. The bus leaves from Flint Loop, Lee Loop and Ellicott Tunnel on UB North Campus.
If you're over thirty or you don't feel like being deceitful, there is also a bus that runs between UB South and Lockport, and makes a stop at Flint Loop in UB North. It's just a lot harder to catch than the UB Stampede.
Downtown is about 9 miles south and west of your location.
Unfortunately public transportation is not very good. The hard part is getting to UB South Campus. From there you can take the subway, which runs under Main St all the way downtown and is pretty rapid/reliable. The first stop it makes in downtown proper is the "Theater District." But, if by "downtown" you mean the trendy neighborhoods along Elmwood Ave, you'll want to get off earlier. For Allentown, get off at the "Allen/Medical Campus" stop and walk west (cross main st). For Elmwood Village, get off at "Delavan/Canisius" and either take the #26/Delavan bus west or hoof it about a mile west (cross main st, walk along Delavan ave by the big cemetery) to Elmwood Ave. Subway fare in Buffalo is by the honor system, so even though there are no turnstiles you still need to buy a ticket. It usually won't matter, but now and then someone will be on the train checking for tickets. If you can't produce a ticket for the checker the fine is like $50.
There are various NFTA bus routes that run from UB south (which is just inside city limits) into Amherst, but none are very reliable or very nearby Sweet Home Rd. However, I used to make this commute every day using public transportation rather painlessly. How did I do it? I used the "UB Stampede," which is a VERY frequent bus line that runs between UB North and UB South. If you look like you might be a college student, your best bet would be to hitch a ride with them. The bus leaves from Flint Loop, Lee Loop and Ellicott Tunnel on UB North Campus.
If you're over thirty or you don't feel like being deceitful, there is also a bus that runs between UB South and Lockport, and makes a stop at Flint Loop in UB North. It's just a lot harder to catch than the UB Stampede.
^^^^^
Great Advice!
Well thought out.
Take this advice from this guy, he knows what he's talking about.
Kingweasel, Welcome to Buffalo and Western New York! Where life is real.....
Thanks for the great advice. I'm still a little confused but your advice made it a lot easier, so thanks a million for that
I might post back with another few questions in this thread. I ventured around on the NFTA buses today, made a couple of mistakes but got where I needed to go in the end!
Thanks for the great advice. I'm still a little confused but your advice made it a lot easier, so thanks a million for that
I might post back with another few questions in this thread. I ventured around on the NFTA buses today, made a couple of mistakes but got where I needed to go in the end!
Thanks again guys
Thoughts on the area? From where-abouts did you move here from? Are you totally new to WNY? I would like to hear what you think on the area! Being an insider all the time, I rarely hear what people really think when they come here.
Thoughts on the area? From where-abouts did you move here from? Are you totally new to WNY? I would like to hear what you think on the area! Being an insider all the time, I rarely hear what people really think when they come here.
I'm 100% new to WNY and new to actually living in the US, so it's very different. Also WNY is very different from NYC. I like it so far, but I'm really going to have to sort out a car for WNY, the public transport isn't that great but to be fair it's still pretty good. Overall I like Buffalo a lot, just still finding my bearings.
Going to venture a little further tomorrow, maybe to Main St's University Station and onto Elmwood Ave on the train/tram(?) to go to the bank etc. Let's see how that turns out! Everyone here is really helpful with directions and everything.
I'm a little far out down the Niagara Falls Blvd so going to try and sus out the night-life in the area, TGI Fridays is close enough, just by the Mall, so might give that a try!
I'm 100% new to WNY and new to actually living in the US, so it's very different. Also WNY is very different from NYC. I like it so far, but I'm really going to have to sort out a car for WNY, the public transport isn't that great but to be fair it's still pretty good. Overall I like Buffalo a lot, just still finding my bearings.
Going to venture a little further tomorrow, maybe to Main St's University Station and onto Elmwood Ave on the train/tram(?) to go to the bank etc. Let's see how that turns out! Everyone here is really helpful with directions and everything.
I'm a little far out down the Niagara Falls Blvd so going to try and sus out the night-life in the area, TGI Fridays is close enough, just by the Mall, so might give that a try!
Thanks again for your replies
Great! Have you ventured downtown yet? The Elmwood Village, recently rated the 3rd best neighborhood in the country, is very trendy and has hundreds of restaurants, shops, boutiques, and many attactions if you have the time to get out there and enjoy it!
The Metro Subway to Light Rail system on occasion might get a bad reputation for an insignificant tram not useful. In my opinion it was a great idea and it does in fact go somewhere - parking at UB South and taking the subway to HSBC Arena is a common practice for many sabres and sports fans, or whomever might be venturing downtown for various events.
If you're curious, this is a video on the above ground light rail system on downtown Buffalo's Main Street:
Thanks so much for the vid's and advice, it's really appreciated.
To be honest and yes I know, this sounds dumb! But I really have no idea where downtown is or why I didn't end up there when I got on that bus!
Tomorrow I need to get to BOA which I believe is on Elmwood Ave, which I guess is Downtown(?), so I have my route sort of planned, bus to Uni Station and then tram to Main street, or thereabouts!
I'll post on how I get on. I'm really terrible with directions!
Thanks so much for the vid's and advice, it's really appreciated.
To be honest and yes I know, this sounds dumb! But I really have no idea where downtown is or why I didn't end up there when I got on that bus!
Tomorrow I need to get to BOA which I believe is on Elmwood Ave, which I guess is Downtown(?), so I have my route sort of planned, bus to Uni Station and then tram to Main street, or thereabouts!
I'll post on how I get on. I'm really terrible with directions!
Thanks again for all the advice
Elmwood is obviously in the city of Buffalo, but about 2 miles out of the downtown corridor. Nice area though! Enjoy! I hope you will be able to find your way around, it can be tricky at first.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Welcome to City-Data.com forum! Make sure to register - it's free and very quick! You have to register before you can post and participate in our discussions with 700,000 other registered members. User profiles and some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your free account you will be able to customize many options, you will have the full access to over 15,000 posts/day about local topics and you will see fewer ads. 
Couple of Amherst questions!
Linear Mode
