Even with the need for physical distancing and many people working from home, transit and carpooling are available for those who need them. Here is some information on how to use each safely these days.
Riding the bus
Our region’s amazing buses have been running throughout the pandemic! All passengers must wear masks and keep at least 6’ of distance from others as they board, ride, and disembark the bus. The bus companies have strict sanitation protocols in place to keep passengers and drivers safe. Several use plastic barriers around rows of seats to minimize contact between passengers. Here a guide from the State of Vermont on riding public transit during the pandemic, good guidance even if you live and travel in New Hampshire.
Before riding, please check out the specific COVID-19 route/schedule changes and more from our local bus companies:
- Stagecoach (Tri-Valley Transit)
- Advance Transit
- The Current (Connecticut River Transit)
- Sullivan County Transit (Southwestern Community Services). Please call 603-542-9609 for information on the new abbreviated routes.
You can ride all Upper Valley commuter buses for free right now!
- All commuter buses in Vermont are currently running fare-free.
- Sullivan County Transit (Southwestern Community Services) is running fare-free.
Since physical distance is maintained on the bus by limiting the number of passengers to keep some seats empty, please take the bus only if you have no other transportation option. That way, there is room on the bus for those who must ride.
Carpools
Fewer people are carpooling in these times of COVID, but if you do need a ride, carpooling is open. Please wear a mask if you are a driver or a passenger, and limit the total number of vehicle occupants to two, if possible. Keep the windows open if you can! Avoid sharing a ride if you have symptoms of or think you have been exposed to coronavirus. You can read more about precautions for carpooling from the CDC. You can find a carpool at Go! Vermont (or on the Go! Vermont app available at the App Store or on Google Play) or at New Hampshire Rideshare. Please note that since fewer drivers are comfortable with carpooling these days, you may have to wait longer to find a match. Likewise, if you don’t have to find a ride with someone, consider finding another mode of transportation to save that seat for someone who has no other option.
Still Have Questions?
If you live or work in Vermont, and have any questions about your transportation options or need a ride, please call the Go! Vermont help line at 800-685-7433. No matter where you live in the Upper Valley, you can also email uvtma@vitalcommunities.org with questions about your options and we will either answer your question or direct you to someone who can.
You can also check out our Getting Around the Upper Valley page for more info.