The most important and the most enigmatic thing to know about the Southeast Area Transit (SEAT) system is that bus stops do not exist. How then, you might ask, does one manage to navigate the buses? What follows is an in-depth description of the bus system so that you can use it with ease to adventure not only throughout New London but also to surrounding areas.
The most important tool for successful use of the SEAT system is by far the website (https://southeastareatransitdistrict.com/), which is both computer- and mobile-friendly. There, you can find the routes, live bus maps, schedules, updates, and contact information for the SEAT office. Of these, the most useful to the average rider are the route maps and live bus maps. The route maps are useful for figuring out which bus (or buses) will take you to your desired destination. This is an interactive map that allows you to click on different routes and locations to learn which buses drive by a particular place. After knowing which bus number you would like to use to travel to your desired destination, the live bus map becomes a priceless source of information. First, the live bus map will ask that you select which bus number you would like to view, then which stop you would like to pick up the bus from. It is not important which bus stop you select since the bus will not be stopping there anyway (often, I select a random place). The live bus map will display information about how full the bus is, where and in what direction it is headed, and, occasionally, an approximate time until it reaches the bus stop you selected.
Once you understand how to find your bus and know the closest place from your current position to where the bus will pass by, you are ready to learn to board. Ensure you will be on the same side of the street as the bus, step up to the curb as you see it approaching, make eye contact with the bus driver, and wave as though you are flagging down a taxi. Curb, eye contact, waive. Do not be shy with your waive! The bus drivers are probably (hopefully) watching where they’re driving and they won’t stop unless they notice you trying to get their attention. If you have successfully indicated to the bus driver that you would like to board, then the bus will come to a stop as soon as it is able.
The buses usually have two doors, one at the front and one in the middle. Since they are running a temporary free ride period at the moment, it does not matter which door you use to get on. If you would like to ride the bus at any time in the future when you would be expected to pay, be sure to board using the door towards the front. Once on the bus, if you are familiar with the area you are traveling to, you will no longer need to use the SEAT website. However, it can be useful to continue using the live bus map or the map app on your phone to track where you are so you know when you would like to get off. There are yellow cords on either side of the bus that run from the front to the back. Pull one of the cords straight down at any point to indicate that you would like to disembark. The bus driver will then stop the bus to let you off at the next safest opportunity. Remember to thank your bus driver! Repeat this process anytime you’d like to go on an adventure off campus.
As I mentioned above, the SEAT buses are currently operating a free bus service (yay)! This is scheduled to end on November 30th (2022). The college has mentioned that it is looking for ways to reimburse bus fares for students similar to the way it has comped some Lyft rides. If this does not happen, do not fret! SEAT uses an app called Token Transit. Within the app, you can buy a number of different types of tickets (all fare and ticket information can be found on their website or in the app). The “4-hour regular zip pass” is my typical choice. This is a $2.50 pass that allows you to board and transfer to as many buses as you would like in a four-hour period, which is usually sufficient time for me to go on a run to Target or to a coffee shop in downtown New London without having to purchase an additional ticket for my return trip. If you would like to go on a longer adventure, there is also the $3.50 “1 day unlimited pass” that covers all your bus rides for the day until 11:59PM.
Just a few of the many destinations the SEAT buses can bring you to include but are not limited to Target, Waterford Commons, Ocean State Park (the beach!), New London Public Library, Mystic Aquarium, Olde Mystic Village, Bluff Point State Park, The Sheep Farm, Spirit Gallery Tattoo, Backus Hospital (do not wait for the bus in real medical emergencies), Norwich, and the Mashantucket Pequot Museum! All trains except for a few which can only be picked up in Norwich and one (#11, which only travels around Groton) will eventually return to the New London Union Station. If you are ever lost or your phone dies on a bus (and you are not in Norwich or on #11), you will end up at the train station where all of the buses will stop for five minutes before continuing their route. From the train station, if you do not want to walk, routes #1, #14, and #15 will always bring you back to campus (Williams St. near the arbo). If you plan on taking the bus often, I recommend writing the numbers of these three routes down in your wallet or a piece of paper inside your phone case!
Though the SEAT system can deliver you to many adventures for cheap, they are not the only mode of transportation available to Conn students. Connecticut College also provides all students with four Lyft passes per month. A Lyft pass covers the cost of one ride from the Lyft Stop on Cro Boulevard to one of the many specific destinations selected by the college (the most popular of which are Target, Crystal Mall, and Stop & Shop). A list of the approved locations can be found online or in the Lyft app.
The tip for these rides, however, is not covered since that can be up to the discretion of each student. Please remember to tip your Lyft drivers! For those that are unaccustomed to using the Lyft passes, there are three main things to know. First, Lyft passes do not cover the cost of travel from one approved location to another approved location without traveling back to campus in between. Second, if you are traveling with more than two other people, be sure to order two Lyfts or splurge for an XL vehicle. Last, and probably most important, in order for the Lyft pass to cover your travel, be sure your pick-up/drop-off location is “Lyft Stop” on Cro Boulevard, not “Connecticut College” or “Cro Boulevard.”
If four wheels aren’t your jam, bikes are always an option! The college has been adding more bike racks around campus, and it is always free to ride your own bike. However, if you’ve ever attempted the ride (or walk) to downtown New London and back, you are probably familiar with what can sometimes be an unfortunately long incline up the hill back to campus. If this is a deterrent to your attempts to adventure by bicycle, then you will be glad to learn that SEAT buses are equipped with two-bike bike racks on the front! So if you ever find yourself in a position where you’ve traveled a distance by bike that you would not like to repeat (or the weather conditions have changed), you’re always able to find the nearest bus route that leads back to campus. Whether your preference is to travel by bus, car, or bike, there are abundant opportunities for adventure in New London and surrounding areas. Hopefully, this detailed explanation will enable you to take advantage of these opportunities when you can!
I’ve learned so much, thank you!