Iowa City: Public transportation? Cabs? (Coralville: university, bus, bars)

[TootsieWootsie]

How do locals and out-of-town visitors get around in your city? There is no light rail, so is there a wonderful bus system or roaming cabs?

[Chicago60614]

There are three bus systems in Iowa City. Iowa City Transit, Coralville Transit and Campus.

The Iowa City and Coralville ones are mostly used by residents, but Cambus is free to anyone to use, and has multiple lines covering the central areas on the Western and Eastern sides of downtown.

There are around 20 routes total, and it actually has very high service levels for an urban area of 90,000.


There are a LOT more cabs than there were only 5-7 years ago. I think there are around 10 cab companies now, and you can hail them easily at certain times and in certain areas, but as in almost every other city in the country of a smaller size - you're obviously not going to get cabs constantly driving around town at all hours like in New York or Chicago.

[SharpHawkeye]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

There are three bus systems in Iowa City. Iowa City Transit, Coralville Transit and Campus.

The Iowa City and Coralville ones are mostly used by residents, but Cambus is free to anyone to use, and has multiple lines covering the central areas on the Western and Eastern sides of downtown.

There are around 20 routes total, and it actually has very high service levels for an urban area of 90,000.


There are a LOT more cabs than there were only 5-7 years ago. I think there are around 10 cab companies now, and you can hail them easily at certain times and in certain areas, but as in almost every other city in the country of a smaller size - you're obviously not going to get cabs constantly driving around town at all hours like in New York or Chicago.

Very good advice. The only things I would add are to remember that Cambus is set up to service University buildings, so don't really expect it to stop in many of the non-campus areas.
Also, there are times you can hail a cab and times when you can't find them around. Even then, you can call any of the better cab companies and have a cab arrive for you in about 15 minutes.

[TootsieWootsie]

15 minutes isn't bad for a city of that size. The very few times I called a cab in Houston I waited that long or longer. So few, few cabs there really.

[Chicago60614]

I'm amazed at how many more cabs there are in Iowa City compared to 10 years ago. We've always gotten one within a few minutes when we call, and can always hail one on the street after the bars let out.

[neanerbean]

I have been to by some urban anthro grad students that Iowa city/Coralvile area has one of the best public transportation systems in the nation for it's layout. I mean you could probably get just abpout anywhere in Ic one a bus and only have to walk may 5 blocks max. and the Transits are always adding new ones and I think that I heard that NL ihas added a shuttle in the am and pm.