Willy St to West Side of Campus (Madison, York: co-op, transfer) - Wisconsin (WI) - City-Data Forum

RemiJP · 08-12-2008, 05:42 PM

I live near Willy Street and will be going to classes off Elm Drive and working in a lab at the Waisman Center. I did a test run on my bike and my commute was about 25 mins, though I expect I be able to go a bit faster once I get used to the route. It was fun and easy - thanks to respectful drivers!

Though I don't plan on riding through the winter and would like some advice about which bus route to take. It looks like the 38 might be a good option, but it doesn't seem to run often. Is there a magical bus route that I'm missing? I'd really rather not transfer - it seems like a waste of time just to go a little over 3 miles!

Honestly, the Madison Metro trip planner sucks compared to the one I was used to in Boston, so I'm having trouble sorting it out!

tchemgrrl · 08-12-2008, 06:58 PM

The 38's the only route from the Willy neighborhood that goes all the way through campus. You're right, it has limited hours; it only runs during the "rush hour". (As a grad student I found it annoying that the last one came through before 6. That's not that late!). However, it's not too bad to take either the 3 or 4 into campus. The #80 goes through campus all the way to the hospital and back, and runs about once every 5 minutes, so it doesn't feel like a real transfer where you might have to wait around for a while. And you can always walk from where the bus drops off. If you catch the 3, it goes a good way into campus before turning. It'd be another 10-15 minute walk from there.

And one little tip; grab one of the fold-out bus route maps if you see one (they might have some at the Willy St. Co-op which will be nearby for you). Sorting out what goes where is a lot more straightforward when every route is shown at once, at least for me.

RemiJP · 08-12-2008, 09:58 PM

Thanks for the tip about the 3, I see it running all the time on Jenifer Street, so I was thinking that would be a good option. I will definitely pick up a fold-up map!

katreese · 08-13-2008, 08:37 AM

I don't if it's what you were using, and it might not be any better, but there's an online trip planner too:

Madison Trip Planning

The Madison bus system is somewhat mediocre, so it's not uncommon to spend 2 hours on the bus for a trip that would take 15 minutes in the car. And I'm so not exaggerating!

RemiJP · 08-13-2008, 09:00 AM

That's the trip planner I mentioned. It's really not as good as ones you'd find in other cities! I hope Madison gets on HopStop.com - Subway Directions and Bus Directions for New York City (NYC) someday! It's great!

katreese · 08-13-2008, 11:12 PM

Oh I LOVE Hopstop!! Best thing since sliced bread. I love the graphics - you get either the colored subway line circle or the little walking guy.

tchemgrrl · 08-14-2008, 08:13 AM

Oh, and either way (3-80 or 38) it takes a touch over 30 minutes to get from the far end of Willy to the hospital. The 38 has a slightly more circuitous route that makes up for the minutes spent waiting for the 80.

Riding the bike I found I could *just* edge out the bus for time if I hit the lights right, and I am a sllloowww biker.