[kuehnau]

Hello, my name is Jeremy and I just recently joined this website, because I found a few other topics and threads from this site while searching google for advice or help, so let me get down to buisness.

I have lived in small areas most of my life, places where I could walk the entire town, on foot in a hour, maybe less. I have never bothered to get my drivers permit and I have never had to bother with a taxi or bus, anything of that nature.

Recently my Dad convinced me to move down with him to Palm Harbor, FL from what I gather is in Pinellas County. This place is very big to me, and very new, also, in the area I currently live, everything is far apart.

This is a huge change for me and it isn't easy. My friends and family told me that I would be able to travel easily via taxi or bus. When I visted a friend in St. Pete and it cost me almost $80.00 via taxi I knew I had to find a better way to travel.

I tried riding a bike to a local place that was supposed to be about 3 miles away, but I just ended up getting lost for 3 hours and went back home. It was terrible.

I have been looking all over for information on buses and their schedules. I have been directed to sites such as PSTA, PCPT, and Hart, all bus lines that are supposed to operate in or around the area. Their sites can be a little confusing, and every single stop I have googled on maps from my address seems to be 13 or more miles away from where I live.

Which confuses me even more, while getting lost in my area, I have come across a number of different bus stop signs, and benches marked as bus stops in the area, but for some reason I simply can't seem to find any valid or helpful information on the matter.

I know I am going to have to get my drivers permit here, I just wish I would have done it before moving down, now I have to worry about that, besides finding and job and trying to figure out how to get around.

Anyone, if you could please shine some light on the matter of public transit, how the buses work and valid schedules in the area, I would be very greatful. I mean, there is a bus stop like 3 blocks from my house, but I have yet to see a bus and I cannot find any schedules for it. Online isn't helping very much.

Please, if you can help, please do so. I am very frustrated right now.

[D-R-B]

Pinellas county doesn't have a good public transportation system. If someone told you that, they were wrong. The bus system is available, however it takes forever to drive anywhere in Pinellas by car- buses take even longer. Get your license as soon as possible. You are falling behind as we speek.

[kuehnau]

Originally Posted by D-R-B

Pinellas county doesn't have a good public transportation system. If someone told you that, they were wrong. The bus system is available, however it takes forever to drive anywhere in Pinellas by car- buses take even longer. Get your license as soon as possible. You are falling behind as we speek.

Thanks for the insight on the whole matter, for the time being I am going to give up finding information on the bus system here. It is really annoying when you find out the complete oppsite of what people tell you.

I don't really know what I am going to do right now. I just moved here, I don't have a drivers permit and my Dad recently had his drivers permit taken away. So now it seems like I am really screwed.

[INeedAChange]

you need to get a car. once you have a car, you will never understand how you survived without one all those years.

[LewLew]

You should post this on the Tampa board....it should get you more direct info from locals. Good luck

[NeedAChangeFromFL]

Public transportion in Fl in general is horrid, and especially in Pinellas county. I was born in Pinellas and lived there for 24 years. You need to buy a car...walking will get your run over around here, riding your bike will do the same...seriously, the Tampa Bay area is one of the worst places for pedestrians, bike riders, motorscooter/cycle riders.
Buses shouldn't be relied upon as their schedule is horrible and like you said, the stops are few and far between. Taxis are VERY expensive here....it is ridiculous. You could have a car payment with insurance for what it would cost you to rely on a taxi as your only means of transportation.
I can totally understand your frustration...I hate driving and wish I could easily walk or use public transportation, but I cannot so I drive.
The only advice I can really offer you is to try to get a drivers lincense and car ASAP.

Originally Posted by kuehnau

Hello, my name is Jeremy and I just recently joined this website, because I found a few other topics and threads from this site while searching google for advice or help, so let me get down to buisness.

I have lived in small areas most of my life, places where I could walk the entire town, on foot in a hour, maybe less. I have never bothered to get my drivers permit and I have never had to bother with a taxi or bus, anything of that nature.

Recently my Dad convinced me to move down with him to Palm Harbor, FL from what I gather is in Pinellas County. This place is very big to me, and very new, also, in the area I currently live, everything is far apart.

This is a huge change for me and it isn't easy. My friends and family told me that I would be able to travel easily via taxi or bus. When I visted a friend in St. Pete and it cost me almost $80.00 via taxi I knew I had to find a better way to travel.

I tried riding a bike to a local place that was supposed to be about 3 miles away, but I just ended up getting lost for 3 hours and went back home. It was terrible.

I have been looking all over for information on buses and their schedules. I have been directed to sites such as PSTA, PCPT, and Hart, all bus lines that are supposed to operate in or around the area. Their sites can be a little confusing, and every single stop I have googled on maps from my address seems to be 13 or more miles away from where I live.

Which confuses me even more, while getting lost in my area, I have come across a number of different bus stop signs, and benches marked as bus stops in the area, but for some reason I simply can't seem to find any valid or helpful information on the matter.

I know I am going to have to get my drivers permit here, I just wish I would have done it before moving down, now I have to worry about that, besides finding and job and trying to figure out how to get around.

Anyone, if you could please shine some light on the matter of public transit, how the buses work and valid schedules in the area, I would be very greatful. I mean, there is a bus stop like 3 blocks from my house, but I have yet to see a bus and I cannot find any schedules for it. Online isn't helping very much.

Please, if you can help, please do so. I am very frustrated right now.