St. Thomas Transportation

THere is public transportation but doesn't cover all of the island and is not very reliable. I live here and would never consider being without my car.

Hello Becky,

Donna is right. There are people who depend on the public bus and dollar bus system for getting around and it works for some folks. The route they run is basically from the university on the west end to town, then to Tutu/Grocery stores or out by the hospital then to Residential/commericial areas of East End. And that is more or less it. If you live out in Northside which is a large area of the island then you can't depend on buses. In addition to this they are not the most timely things however if you figure them out, 15 minutes early on this day and late on that day.... then you can sort of make it work for you. If you attend UVI for example and work in town - then sure you could use the bus and get around. But you will have difficulties if you want to say go to the beaches or get to see some of the island.

If you are coming down to live here for short time and plan to work and live in the same general area - for example some folks live in East End and bartend or waitress or charter from East End and can walk where they need to go or take a short taxi ride in the evenings - then no it is not absoultely neccessary to have a car. But if you have kids, if you are a permanent resident, if you live where the buses don't go a car will make life a whole lot more convienient.

I have seen some folks hitch rides (not common on St. Thomas) or make friends and get rides from them. But this is not a dependable way to get around. You can try a combination of walking, hitching, busing.... but altimately a car facilititates getting around the best. If you aren't getting a car then you need to get an accomodation that is close to work and other places you might need to get too.

--Islander