How to Ride the Bus in Indianapolis - A Guide

Recently I became interested in riding the bus to get places. I found IndyGo's page on How to Ride a bit of an information overload listing every possible way to pay and ride, and not enough visual examples to know what to expect.

So this guide is meant to be a quick, concise, unofficial and opinionated go-to for how to ride the bus–with pictures.

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Step 1. Get a Tap Card

I don't know about you but I hardly ever have cash on me anymore. You could try and use the MyKey app and scan the QR code, but multiple people have reported that it doesn't work, and when you try, the driver will often just wave you through.

If you're like me and want to actually support the transit system without carrying a ton of change, then the tap card is the best way to go.

Easiest way to get one is to go to a Redline station and use the machines there to buy one. The machine takes credit/debit/bills/coins. It will cost you $2 to get the tap card, but it counts towards your fare amount.

The machine looks like this: https://imgur.com/iPD0iOY

Fare card looks like this: https://imgur.com/lbS8YxC

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Step 2. Download the MyKey App

Next thing you want to do is download and install the MyKey app from the Apple App Store or Google Play... Not to use the QR code (the QR code doesn't really work!) but to register your new tap card.

There are two primary benefits to registering your tap card:

1. Easy reload–it gives you an easy way to reload your tap card from your phone using a credit/debit card.
2. Fare capping–with fare capping you'll never pay more than $4.00 per day or $15.75 per week (amounts are less for half-fare riders), but you have to register your tap card on the app for fare capping to work.

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Step 3. Use Your Tap Card to Ride the Bus

Now that you have a tap card and have registered on the MyKey app, it's time to ride the bus! But first, two important things:

> Google Maps is excellent for finding stops, routes, and even see your bus live. Use it if you can!

> Each ride will deduct $1.75. from your tap card, unless you've hit the fare cap.

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What you do when you're ready is you wait by a bus stop sign. You can stick your hand out if your stop is hard for the driver to see. The bus will stop and you walk in through the front door.

You'll take your tap card and tap it on the circle on the green machine, as shown here https://imgur.com/e4ag68W and here: https://imgur.com/HRhMMMe

Wait until it lights up green and you are now officially using public transport! Have a seat or stand in a comfortable spot.

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Step 4. Leave The Bus

As you're approaching your stop where you want to get off the bus, pull on one of the strings by the windows to request a stop–as pictured here (this is not from IndyGo, but it looks very similar): https://imgur.com/XQckeQt

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• If you want to leave through the front, the driver will open the door for you.

• If you want to leave through the back door, gently push on it and it will open for you, it has a sign indicating so (again, not an IndyGo bus here but will look very similar): https://imgur.com/dpTYpyy

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Anyway, I hope this is helpful to someone. I spent far too long dreading the process before finally hopping on, and now I can't stop using it to go meet people for food, to go to the gym, or simply while showing family around town!

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Edit (Bike info):

All buses have a bike rack on the front. Here is a video showing how to use it.

If you're riding the Red Line, it's a little different: they have onboard bike storage areas.