The PARTA Bus System Made Easy!

Hello to all incoming freshmen!

We know from first hand experience that starting a new school can be terrifying! Many questions are probably running through your head at the moment. Some of the thoughts running through your mind may touch base with “What if I get lost?” or “How in the Heck do I use the PARTA bus system?” The first question can be easily solved by picking up a map in the student center of Kent State University. The second question requires a little insight and past knowledge from the veterans of campus.

Our mission is to offer help/advice through new age technology rather than the old, outdated pamphlets that no person actually enjoys reading. We’re saving trees and reading time with our blog and video!

BUS SCHEDULE?

The PARTA system claims to have a strict daily schedule to follow according to their brochures. They may seem to be all business, but the bus does not arrive at those EXACT scheduled times. Have no fear! The easiest way to use the bus is to just know the bus will be at the stop of your choice every 6-12 minutes. By allowing the selected amount of time for the bus, you will have less worry on the exact arrival time of the bus. Do not worry your pretty little head and just relax, the bus drivers will not forget about you! If you happen to be a worry wart, feel free to call PARTA bus services to pinpoint the exact arrival time of a certain bus.

TIME ALLOWANCE
Another key component to mastering the bus system is time allowance. Allow yourself enough time to wait for the bus and make it to class on time or earlier. Do not intentionally wait at the bus stop fifteen minutes before your class begins and expect to make it there on time. You will need time for the bus to arrive, pick up any other riders, drop you off, and do not forget about your walking distance time!

Those two components are by far the most important knowledge a freshman could know when first arriving at Kent State University. It is the “unspoken” knowledge that you will eventually figure out for yourself.

KNOW YOUR BUS

A well known and important piece of knowledge is to know what bus you need to ride to get to your destination. PARTA clearly labels all of their busses to suit a rider's needs. A good example is if you are planning to park at Allerton Sports Complex, you will need to catch the bus marked “Allerton” in the digital display. The digital display is located at the front of the bus, the side, and sometimes even the back of the bus. If you are still confused, I would advise chatting with the bus driver. No one wants to wind up on a bus to Twinsburg when all they want is a quick ride to their choice parking lot. All parking locations and various campus stops will be listed on the bus’s digital display.

Some locations include Allerton Sports Complex, Summit East, Dix Stadium, Campus Loop, Bowman Hall, and various other stops that will be listed in a complete chart later in this blog.

LATE NIGHT ON CAMPUS?
Late night studying? Can't get to your car parked in Timbuktu? No worries here, PARTA offers later shuttle services to students.
Stadium shuttles are available Monday-Thursday 9:00 p.m.- 7:00 a.m. Sunday 1:00 p.m.- 7:00 a.m. Call (330) 672-RIDE (7433)

CAMPUS BUS ROUTES
All bus routes are mapped in pamphlets available in the student center bus stop, the bus itself, the student center or at the PARTA website. The pamphlets were featured in our video.

BUS ROUTES
Allerton Ballfields/Apartments
Allerton via Loop Road
Campus Loop

Downtowner

Late Night and Sunday Shuttles

Orientation

Stadium Loop/Allerton breaks and Saturdays
Summit East Stadium

CAMPUS BUILDING ABBREVIATIONS
This chart should help in following PARTA's system of abbreviation for various buildings around campus. The chart is courtesy of http://www.partaonline.org/riders-guide.html, and can be found underneath the rider's guide category.

AUD Auditorium
AIR Airport
ANX Gym Annex
ART Art Building
BOW Bowman Hall
BSA Business Administration
CDC Child Development Center
CHH Cunningham Hal
CRL Ceramics Laboratory 103R
DHC DeWeese Health Center
DVY Davey Warehouse
EWC Eastway Center

FLD Field House
FRH Franklin Hall
HDN Henderson Hall
ICA Ice Arena
JHN Johnson Hall 104ST
KTH Kent Hall
LCM Liquid Crystal Materials Science
LIB Library
LKO Lake/Olson Hall
LNC Lincoln Center (located off campus)
LRH Lowry Hall

MAC Memorial Athletic and Convocation Cente
McG McGilvrey Hall
MLH Merrill Hall
MOU Moulton Hall
MSB Mathematical Sciences Building

MSC Michael Schwartz Center
MSP Music and Speech
NXH Nixson Hall
ORH Oscar Ritchie Hall
MSP Recital Hall (Music & Speech)
ROC Rockwell Hall
SFH Satterfield Hall
SMH Smith Hall
SRC Student Recreation & Wellness Center
STC Student Center
STD Stadium
STO Stopher Hall
MSP Stump Theater

TER Terrace Hall
TLH Taylor Hall
VDN Van Deusen Hall
VNC Van Campen Hall
WLH Wills Hall
WTH White Hall
WMH Williams Hall
WRT Wright Hall

ADDITIONAL PARTA QUESTIONS (http://www.partaonline.org/contact.html)
If you're still confused about the bus system, it might be in your best interest to contact PARTA services.
Administrative office (330) 678-7745

Campus bus service- (330) 672-RIDE (7433)

Customer service- (330) 676-6701

Administrative Hours-
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

Closed on Saturday and Sunday

Even though the PARTA bus system may seem very intimidating, it's really simple to use! Just one use, and it's almost guaranteed you'll be a pro. Just remember your bus, know your destination and everything will be a-okay.