Cata Bus System

I live at parkway plaza and the bus is always full at classes time, they should add more busses on busy routes.

The CATA bus experience differs depending on the driver you most frequently get. Some drivers are absolutely great, while others suck terribly.
I once got on the bus to go to campus for a Sunday night study session in the middle of winter. When I returned to the bus stop at the end of the night, I noticed that my bus pass was gone. The bus pass is white, so if it had fallen into the snow there was no chance I could have found it. I explained my predicament to the bus driver, and he gave me 2 one-​use bus passes: one for me to get home that night, and the other to get to campus the next day in order to get a new pass. He even radioed in the other buses just so they could check and make sure I hadn’t lost it on the bus I was on earlier that evening. He, like many other bus drivers, is extremely understanding. I honestly don’t know what I had done if he wasn’t so kind and helpful to me.
Another driver I had on the same route is absolutely terrible. She floors it on the gas, and sometimes drives past students at certain bus stops, just so that she can get to her extended stops to take a smoke break. She finally gets back on the bus (10 min late) and begins driving with a lead foot again, just so that she can catch up on her route. She will even sometimes begin driving before the last person on the bus is past the yellow line. Anytime I’m on the bus with her, I arrive to my destination both late and sick. Complaints sent to CATA have been ignored, so I tried tweeting at them, only to have her bus-​driving buddies all gossip about me and point/​laugh at me any time they see me.
It has gotten to the point that I have memorized the routes of the drivers I both like and hate, just so that I can arrive at my destination both on time and in full health.
If the winters were not so bad in Central PA, I would drive to campus on a daily basis.

They don’t send enough buses and leave kids standing in 5 degree weather. Bad central planning.

Agreed. Especially in the winter time, it’s great for the public transportation. Leave your car safely at home, but still get to work or school with the bad weather. Fares are reasonable, and the buses were usually on time, unless it’s a football weekend, it could be delayed by 5 — 10 mins. Staff is always courteous and the buses are clean.

I think the Cata Bus system serves the needs of the area quite well. The fares are reasonable, and the busses are dependable. The drivers are friendly.