Bangor Area Transit
Encyclopedia
BAT Community Connector is a bus system connecting Bangor, Maine
, with outlying towns, including Veazie
, Orono
, Old Town
, Brewer
, and Hampden. The system is known as The BAT.
The buses, are distinguished by their bright red color, decorated with a large stylized bat
on their exteriors. The BAT system is structured to make it easy for riders to reach points of interest in the Bangor area. In 2003, the Mall Hopper line was added to facilitate easy connections between the Airport Mall, the Bangor Mall, and the Broadway Shopping Center. The Mall Hopper is also the only line not to go through the Bangor Depot.
Several of the newer buses offer plush seats and air-conditioning, as well as low floors, designed to make it easier for wheelchair passengers to board the bus without having to use a wheelchair lift
.
All buses are ADA compliant and are wheelchair ready.
Riders are allowed to get on and off at almost any intersection along the road, without having to use designated bus stops. There are a few exceptions where passenger safety is an issue.
This List is Incomplete.
All buses (except Mall Hopper and Black Bear Express) connect at the Bangor Depot at either 15 or 45 past each hour. The first trip to operate is Old Town 1 which leaves UMO at 5:45 am. The first trip for most other routes is 6:15 or 6:45 am at the Depot. The final trips to depart the Depot are at 5:15 and 5:45 pm (see above for particular route). Saturday service is slightly reduced, only one Old Town route operates, making for a two hour headway, no Hampden service is offered, and Center St. shares a bus with Hammond St. making for a 60 minute headway for both routes.
-Monthly Pass (unlimited trips) $45, $20 for those 17 and under
-Five Ride Ticket $5 ($1.00 per ride)
-Regular Fare $1.25
-Reduced Fare (Seniors, Students) $.60
-MaineCard Holders (UMaine Students and Faculty) FREE
-Black Bear Express FREE
Transfers are free, valid for next departing trip of your choice, not valid for return trips.
COMMUTE ANOTHER WAY DAY- Held once a year in May to encourage people to use public transit, car pool, or bike to work.
Fare is free on Commute Another Way Day.
AMERICAN FOLK FESTIVAL- Held at the end of August each year, BAT provides shuttle service from the event along the waterfront to a parking area at Bass Park.
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
, with outlying towns, including Veazie
Veazie, Maine
Veazie is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,919 at the 2010 census. The town is named after General Samuel Veazie, an early lumber baron and railroad operator. Originally part of Bangor, Maine, it became a separate town in 1853 because Gen...
, Orono
Orono, Maine
Orono is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. It was first settled in 1774 and named in honor of Chief Joseph Orono of the Penobscot Nation. It is home to The University of Maine. The population was 10,362 at the 2010 census.- Geography :...
, Old Town
Old Town, Maine
Old Town is a city in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 7,840 at the 2010 census. The city's developed area is chiefly located on a relatively large island, though its boundaries extend beyond that...
, Brewer
Brewer, Maine
Brewer is a city in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. It is part of the Bangor, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is named after its first settler, Colonel John Brewer. The population was 9,482 at the 2010 census....
, and Hampden. The system is known as The BAT.
Overview
While the BAT is colloquially known as the "Bangor Area Transit", "BAT" in fact does not mean that or anything else officially despite it implying an acronym by being in all capital letters. The managers of the system did not want to identify it with any one city or town. Despite this, "Bangor Area Transit" caught on and many websites referring to the attractions of Bangor, Maine and how to get to them often refer to this public transportation system by the incorrect name.The buses, are distinguished by their bright red color, decorated with a large stylized bat
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
on their exteriors. The BAT system is structured to make it easy for riders to reach points of interest in the Bangor area. In 2003, the Mall Hopper line was added to facilitate easy connections between the Airport Mall, the Bangor Mall, and the Broadway Shopping Center. The Mall Hopper is also the only line not to go through the Bangor Depot.
Several of the newer buses offer plush seats and air-conditioning, as well as low floors, designed to make it easier for wheelchair passengers to board the bus without having to use a wheelchair lift
Wheelchair lift
A wheelchair lift, also known as a platform lift, is a powered device designed to raise a wheelchair and its occupant in order to overcome a step or similar vertical barrier....
.
All buses are ADA compliant and are wheelchair ready.
Riders are allowed to get on and off at almost any intersection along the road, without having to use designated bus stops. There are a few exceptions where passenger safety is an issue.
Fleet
BAT maintains 19 buses of various makes and models.| Year | Make/Model | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Orion V | 3 |
| 1998 | Thomas TL960 | 3 |
| 2001 | Dennis SLF200 | 1 |
| 2003 | Dennis SLF200 | 6 (2 still operating |
| 2006 | NABI Nabi Nabi may refer to:* Prophets of Islam, humans who, in the Islamic faith, have been chosen as prophets by God**Nabi * Butterfly in the Korean language** Nabi , a 2001 South Korean film** The Korean language title of Mr... Bluebird Ultra LF |
1 |
| 2007 | Champion Bus Incorporated Champion Bus Incorporated Champion Bus Incorporated is the brand name of buses made by Thor Industries of Imlay City, Michigan, United States.Buses made under the Champion name include:* Challenger - mid-size bus using a Ford E-series , GM GMT or C4500 truck chassis... Defender midi-bus |
2 |
| 2009 | Goshen Coach on Chevrolet Chassis | 1 |
| 2010 | Gillig Low Floor | 5 |
This List is Incomplete.
Operations
The BAT operates Monday through Friday from 5:45 am to 7:05 pm, and Saturday from 6:15 am to 7:05 pm.All buses (except Mall Hopper and Black Bear Express) connect at the Bangor Depot at either 15 or 45 past each hour. The first trip to operate is Old Town 1 which leaves UMO at 5:45 am. The first trip for most other routes is 6:15 or 6:45 am at the Depot. The final trips to depart the Depot are at 5:15 and 5:45 pm (see above for particular route). Saturday service is slightly reduced, only one Old Town route operates, making for a two hour headway, no Hampden service is offered, and Center St. shares a bus with Hammond St. making for a 60 minute headway for both routes.
Routes
- Brewer North serves North Main St., No. Brewer Shopping Center, Twin City Plaza, Brewer Shopping Center, Walmart, and Marden's.
- Brewer South serves South Main St., Parkway South, Brewer Shopping Center, Walmart, and Marden's.
- Capehart serves Union St., Ohio St., two medical plazas, Bangor International AirportBangor International AirportBangor International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located west of the city of Bangor, in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. It is owned and operated by the City of Bangor and was formerly a military installation known as Dow Air Force Base. The airport possesses a single...
, Airport Mall, and Capehart. - Center Street serves Bangor Public LibraryBangor Public LibraryThe Bangor Public Library is the public library serving Bangor, Maine. The library was first founded in 1830 as the Bangor Mechanic Association's private library. In 1873, several other associations' libraries combined with it to form the Bangor Mechanic Association Public Library. In 1883, former...
, Center Street, St. Joseph Hospital and the Broadway Shopping Center. Shares a bus with Hammond Street Route on Saturdays. - Hammond Street serves Union Street, University College Of Bangor, the Fairmount Area, and the Buck St./Third Street Neighborhood. Shares a bus with Center Street Route on Saturdays.
- Hampden serves Shaw's on Main St., Beal CollegeBeal CollegeBeal College is a small college located in Bangor, Maine, USA. Founded in 1891, the College was originally named Bangor Business College but was later named after its primary founder, Mary Beal. It was first located in downtown Bangor, before later moving to a larger facility in 1972...
, Main Road No. in Hampden, Hannaford Supermarket, and Hampden AcademyHampden AcademyHampden Academy is a public high school located on 1 Main Road North in Hampden, Maine. The school is a part of M.S.A.D. 22, and approximately 738 students from Hampden, Newburgh, and Winterport attend for grades 9–12...
. This is the only route that does not operate on Saturdays. - The Mall Hopper line was added in the late 2000s and serves the Airport Mall, Husson University, Broadway Shopping Center, and the Bangor Mall. The Mall Hopper line is one of the two bus lines that does not have a terminus in Pickering Square.
- Mount Hope serves much of Bangor's East Side along Mt. Hope Ave., EMCC, Sam's ClubSam's ClubSam's Club is a chain of membership-only retail warehouse clubs owned and operated by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., founded in 1983 and named after Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. , the Sam's Club chain serves more than 47 million U.S. members...
by request, Bangor Mall, and Target. - Old Town is a two hour trip that serves State St., Eastern Maine Medical Center, parts of Veazie, parts of OronoOronoOrono is the name of three communities:Canada*Orono, Ontario, a town in the Municipality of ClaringtonUnited States*Orono, Maine, a town in Penobscot County, home to the University of Maine*Orono, Minnesota, a city in Hennepin County...
, the University Of MaineUniversity of MaineThe University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
, Downtown Old Town, Old Town Plaza, University Mall, and College Avenue. - Stillwater serves John Bapst Memorial High SchoolJohn Bapst Memorial High SchoolJohn Bapst Memorial High School is a private, independent, collegepreparatory high school in Bangor, Maine, United States. It serves approximately 500 ninth through twelfth grade students from 50 different communities in the region...
, Broadway Park Area, Acadia Hospital, Bangor Mall, and Walmart. - Black Bear Express Began operating in September of 2009. Serves as a shuttle between the University of Maine campus and downtown Orono. This route does not serve Pickering Square. Funding for this bus comes from BAT funds and UM; there is no charge to ride this route. Monday through Friday, this bus operates from 6:55am until 9:55pm, Saturdays from 11:55am until 9:55pm.
Fares
Fares are as follows:-Monthly Pass (unlimited trips) $45, $20 for those 17 and under
-Five Ride Ticket $5 ($1.00 per ride)
-Regular Fare $1.25
-Reduced Fare (Seniors, Students) $.60
-MaineCard Holders (UMaine Students and Faculty) FREE
-Black Bear Express FREE
Transfers are free, valid for next departing trip of your choice, not valid for return trips.
Special Promotions
FREE FARE FRIDAYS- Offered first in 2007 in conjunction with the State of Maine and several other public transit services across the state. Held: December 2007, July, 2008, December, 2008COMMUTE ANOTHER WAY DAY- Held once a year in May to encourage people to use public transit, car pool, or bike to work.
Fare is free on Commute Another Way Day.
AMERICAN FOLK FESTIVAL- Held at the end of August each year, BAT provides shuttle service from the event along the waterfront to a parking area at Bass Park.