Looking for ways to get around?  Here are just a few.

TAKING THE BUS IN PHOENIX

Bus books, which list every route and timetable in the greater Phoenix area, are available on most buses and at Central Station, located between Central and First Avenues, just two blocks of the Westward Ho.

For bus information, call (602) 253-5000.
Text Telephone Machines (TTY): (602) 361-8208

Or go to www.valleymetro.org  There you will find links to route maps, schedules, and more.  You can even use their Online Trip Planner to find the best route to reach your destination.

All city buses are wheelchair accessible, with either two or three slots on each bus for wheelchairs. Price per ride is 60 cents for seniors and disabled people, with a $17 monthly pass available at Central Station and some other locations, including the public library. Booklets of 10 senior/disabled discount tickets are available for $6. Disability photo ID cards can be bought at Central Station (with a doctor’s signed form), but showing a Medicare card is equally valid. Even cheaper half-price tickets can be purchased at the Salvation Army Senior Center at 4^th Avenue and Fillmore, for those who regularly eat lunches there. (Area Agency on Aging requires that you eat lunch at the Center at least 4 times per month to purchase discount bus tickets.  See Lana at the Sr. Center for more details.)

The local bus system has improved so much in recent years that it goes most everywhere from early in the morning to late at night. Bus transfers are free, can be used in any direction, and are based on a one-hour time limit starting at the end of that particular bus route. Since many transfers do not expire for two hours or more, it is often possible to do a complete round trip to the store or doctor’s office on a single fare.
 

The Westward Ho is surrounded by bus routes that give residents easy access to many popular shopping locations and other important destinations.  Direct routes that do not require transfers include:

#8 Bus north. Stops right in front of the building. Goes to Bashas’, Safeway, also Osco drug store at 7^th Avenue & Osborn. Fry’s is at 7^th Avenue and Camelback, also Target, though it’s a bit of a trek through a huge parking lot.

#7 Bus north. Stops diagonally across from the corner of Westward Ho, at Central & Fillmore. Goes to Safeway at 7^th Street & McDowell, also to the local Social Security office on 7^th Street one stop south of McDowell.

Central Avenue Buses:
The 0, Red Line and Blue Line can be boarded across Central, opposite the east end of Westward Ho. All go as far as Camelback Road, where the Red and Blue veer off. All go to the Phoenix Public Library, two blocks south of McDowell Road. All go to Walgreen's and Staples office supply, at Central & Osborn.

Red Line north ends at Metro Center, a huge 2-story mall with plenty to do, and good exercise in an air conditioned environment.

Blue Line north ends at Paradise Valley Mall, a single story and equally large and diverse mall.

Red Line south stops in front of the Circle K at First Ave. & Fillmore, right across from the west end of the Westward Ho. Goes past Bank One Ballpark, then all the way to Gilbert Road in Mesa, passing many malls. It’s a good cheap way to get to the airport, if you are not carrying too much baggage, and generally runs every 15 minutes. It also goes to Arizona State University and downtown Tempe, a good place for a casual walk down Mill Avenue, with lots of stores.

#10 Bus east, which also boards on Central to the east of Westward Ho, goes to Maricopa Medical Center, also to Maricopa County Health Department, Ranch Market, and Sprouts (28th St & Indian School).

Dial-A-Ride is also available for disabled people and seniors 65 and over. It offers door-to-door service, but at a higher price, and exact fares depend on zone. If you have a monthly bus pass or discount ride ticket, this will also discount your Dial-A-Ride trip.

It is important to remember that most city Dial-A-Ride programs are operated separately, and generally end at the city limits. You cannot just get on one minivan in Phoenix and go to an appointment in Mesa or Glendale without transferring and waiting. For a free Regional Dial-A-Ride Guide, call (602) 253-5000. For more details see http://www.valleymetro.org/transit/dar.htm

Main Dial-A-Ride numbers:

Phoenix: (602) 253-5000

TTY Machines: (602) 258-9980

East Valley: (480) 623-0101, Ext. 4

Glendale: (623) 930-3500

Paradise Valley: (602) 253-4000

Peoria: (623) 773-7435

Sun City: (623) 977-8363

Be sure to tell the operator if you need an ADA Dial-A-Ride, which is essentially a wheelchair accessible van. Usually, ADA rides take longer to arrive. Regular Dial-A-Ride service often gets backed up, so consider the possibility of taking a regular bus when feasible.

DASH is the small network of smaller buses that generally operate during business hours on weekdays. Fares are free, and service is every 6 to 12 minutes. They don’t serve Westward Ho, but do start near 5^th Street and Van Buren, veer off before Central Station and go to the State Capitol, among other locations. Night, weekend and holiday DASH buses take a complicated route that travels from the Arizona Center at 3^rd Street and Fillmore, past the Bank One Ballpark and out to the state capitol. These run every 10 minutes. See the Bus Book for route maps.

TAXI VOUCHERS FOR WORK

Valley Metro advises: "Some cities provide a taxi subsidy to residents who are unable to ride the bus to work due to disability. People who use wheelchairs, walkers, quad canes, or crutches and braces may be eligible for taxi vouchers that pay up to 75 percent of their taxi fare to and from work (up to $10 per one-way trip)." For info, call (602)223-4103.

Various discounts come and go, and sometimes extra discounts apply for 7-day advance ticket purchase. A 5% discount is available for seniors. The Greyhound station is located just west of 24^th Street on Buckeye Road. The Red Line bus or the #13 Buckeye Route takes you there. These buses also connect Greyhound to the airport nearby.

For schedules and fares, click on http://www.greyhound.com/

If you need a wheelchair lift, Greyhound buses can now do this but must have at least 48 hours advance notice. Also, a personal care attendant may ride with you at a reduced rate. See their website or call

Customers with Disabilities Travel Assistance Line
1-800-752-4841

Deaf/hard of hearing/TTY/TDD
1-800-345-3109

Spanish/Espanol
1-800-531-5332

Send mail to webmaster@whrai.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 01/06/07