How To Ride The Bus

The ’How to Ride Guide’ provides visual reference and information on how to use Metro’s bus service.

Route # & Destination

Look for route # and destination displayed at the top of the front of the bus.

Metro provides service to the following cities with connections to other regional transit services:

Wait for a Metro bus where you see a bus stop sign, on the side of the street where traffic is going the direction that you need to go.

Check the sign to make sure that your bus route is listed
It’s always a good idea to arrive at your stop five minutes before the bus is due to arrive.
Use a hand motion to signal the bus driver at the bus stop.
There are hundreds of bus stops throughout our service area.
To plan your trip and track your bus in real time, use GoogleMaps, Transit App, or the UMO Mobility App., or Metro’s real-time tracker.

Wait for other passengers to exit the bus before boarding.
Pay your bus fare
Show the bus operator your DiriGo Pass smartcard or mobile app; or, pay cash (exact change).
Reduced fare available for seniors 65+, youth 6-18, persons with disabilities, Veterans, Medicare Card holders, and others with proper Id.
Seats in the front of the bus are designated for seniors and persons with disabilities.
If there are no seats available, it’s ok to stand and hold on. Make sure you stand behind the yellow line.
Buses are accessible (walkers, strollers, wheelchairs, etc.)
All buses have bike racks

When you want the bus to stop, please pull the cord or press the yellow tape strip along the windows inside the bus. This will signal the bus driver to stop at the next bus stop. There are both vertical and horizontal pull cords on the bus.
Whenever possible, Exit in the rear to not block block new passengers entering in the front. Wait for the bus to depart then cross the street. Crossing in front of the bus is dangerous since traffic cannot see you.

The Metro Pulse at 21 Elm Street, across from the Portland Library and around the corner from Portland High School, is our Downtown Transit Hub.

Ask questions, connect to other routes, pick up the latest schedule.