Public Transportation
You don’t need to rely on your own vehicle to get around Grand Rapids. We have a variety of public transportation options that will get you where you want to go – quickly, conveniently and affordably.
The Rapid is our award-winning bus transit system. With 249 vehicles covering 185 square miles, it’s an easy way to travel between downtown and surrounding areas – including East Grand Rapids, Grandville, Kentwood, Wyoming and Walker, as well as the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
Check out this quick guide on how to ride and where to go, and visit ridetherapid.org for schedules, maps and other resources. Check their site for real-time schedule tracking, or download the free myStop or Transit app from Google Play or the App Store.
All Rapid buses – including the DASH Bus below – are accessible for mobility aids such as wheelchairs, electric scooters, walkers and crutches. Bus operators are trained to assist customers with disabilities boarding or exiting the vehicle. Service animals are welcome.
The Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH) is a service of The Rapid. It runs a continuous route to quickly transport you to every attraction, restaurant, brewery, and hotel throughout the center city. No ticket or pass is required, just board the bright pink bus at one of nearly 40 stops marked with street signs and sidewalk markers.
The DASH provides access to Monroe Center shopping and dining as well as the West Side neighborhood – including the Bridge Street and Ionia Avenue entertainment districts, both lined with restaurants, breweries, bars and nightclubs.
The DASH also travels parallel to the Grand River, from the North Monroe neighborhood (home to the Embassy Suites Hotel and City Built Brewing Company) to the Grand Rapids Downtown Market food emporium. Stops include DeVos Place Convention Center and Rosa Parks Circle.
The DASH operates every 15 minutes Wednesday-Friday 7:00 am-12:00 am, Saturday 11:00 am-1:00 am, and Sunday 11:00am - 5:00pm. The DASH will not be in operation on Mondays and Tuesdays. Get real-time schedules and service hours by downloading the Transit App (iOS & Android).
If you are traveling with your own vehicle, consider parking in one of the DASH lots for just $2 a day and using the DASH to get around downtown.
Grand Rapids also offers a wide variety of taxi, rideshare, limousine, wheelchair transport, vehicle rental and other transportation services. Scroll to the bottom of our Transportation & Maps page for a list of providers.
