Posting a picture where I found bikes tied up outside the fairgrounds while I used the 27 bus to get there. I was going to check the front gate bike rack, but missed it.
Comments about the experience:
The GoRaleigh site mentioned a service alert about “This stop, 8281 Hillsborugh St at NC State Fairgrounds, may be closed by traffic control during the State Fair (10/17-10/27)”.
While I was there, I was actually dropped off at this stop, but the ones on Blue Ridge Rd were bypassed. Blue Ridge Rd stops should have been included as service stops. Given that traffic was already slow, there’s no reason why they should not have been. It did cause about a 15 minute delay since I was only able to get off at the fair when the bus went around the loop and then headed North. In a way I understand the traffic, but since we were already passing the bus stops on Blue Ridge, why close them? This is where the bus system failed. It should be more convenient to use the bus. GoRaleigh also failed since they mentioned incorrect information on their site.
Another failure: why did they decide to remove the GoTriangle Bus from servicing the fairgrounds? It is the one bus that goes to the fairgrounds from downtown Raleigh. Given this, it appears that transit ridership is not in the interests of the state, county, NCDOT, GoRaleigh, or GoTriangle. This was a huge failure.
I would be really curious as to what the city council thinks about the bus system being put in a position where it was not useful for people heading to the fair.
I also don’t understand why the only bus information provided on getting to the fair were the direct shuttle bus (Click here) from Triangle Town Center, but not the 27 bus. The GoRaleigh site did not advertise that they had a bus going to the fairgrounds. Considering that GoTriangle moved their bus, I can see why that wasn’t advertised but still a poor move.
During the loop on #27, I did manage to see a bus completely packed with people standing heading west on Hillsborough St. I think that was potentially the shuttle bus from Triangle Town Center or maybe one from the college?
Screenshots from GoRaleigh, GoTriangle, and NC State Fairgrounds site (open them in new tab to see bigger screenshots).
