From streets to seats: using Raleigh’s bus transit system for a trip to NCMA
By Allyson Wainright
Downtown Raleigh offers some great sites to see, but if you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, try exploring museums the city has to offer.
There’s the Museum of Natural Sciences and the North Carolina Museum of History located in the heart of downtown Raleigh.
The North Carolina Museum of Art is little ways away, so one can drive there or use Raleigh’s bus transit system. All Raleigh routes are Fare Free until 2023, so now is good as time as any to give it a try!
This was my first time using the bus system in Raleigh, so I went online to make sure I knew how it worked. I found a Ride Guide which provides tips for first time users, making it super helpful.
Another great resource is the trip planner which can be found on their homepage.
After reading the Ride Guide, I downloaded Transloc, an app that helps you find the closest bus stop. I typed the North Carolina Musuem of Art as my destination, and it provided the different routes I would be able to take to get there.
I took bus route 300 to bus route 27 to the North Carolina Museum of Art.
I arrived at the bus stop 10 minutes early, just like the website suggested. Waiting for the bus provided the perfect opportunity to people watch. Cars came and went as groups of people explored the city. I even saw a man in a suit riding one of those scooters (not a sight you see every day!)
It’s important to stay alert and keep an eye out for the bus with the route number that you need to get on. On the sign, there’s a number you can text to get live updates on how far away the bus is.
After waiting for a couple of minutes, I saw the bus that I needed to get on. I waved to the bus to indicate that I wanted to get on and the bus came to a stop (important: if you don’t signal that you want to board, they will keep driving).
When I got on the bus, I knew I would have to do a bus transfer, so I asked the bus driver and he was more than happy to help me. Fret not if you’re phone is low battery, there are USB charging ports on all buses. (Plus, free Wi-Fi!)
Overall, it was a peaceful ride, enjoying the scenery and keeping an eye on the front so I didn’t miss my stop.
The bus indicated that Powell Drive was the next stop, so I pushed the yellow cord to indicate that I wanted to get off at that stop.
After a quick bus change and 15 minutes later, I arrived at my destination.
With clear skies and a slight breeze, it was the perfect day to visit the North Carolina Museum of Art.
There is 4.7 miles of recreational trails, gardens and a terraced pond to explore. I decided to start with the trail.
While walking the path, I saw some people walking their dogs, getting a quick workout in or catching up with friends. Regardless of the reason that you walk the trail, there will be temporary and permanent art installations that you can see along the way.
From steel to concrete, there are various mediums that artists use to create their artwork along the pathway. Each piece provides different meaning allowing for the viewer to reflect on each piece.
After a walk along the trails, I stopped in the East building to check out some of the exhibits. There are currently three exhibits on display: Start Talking: Fischer/Shull Collection of Contemporary Art, Outlandish: Photographs by Ralph Burns from the Collection of Hedy Fischer and Randy Shull/Photographs from the Collection of Allen G. Thomas Jr. and Billboards by Ralph Burns.
Ralph Burns Outlandish exhibits features photographs from his time following devoted Elvis Presley fans, displaying the complexity of ritual, love and worship.
My favorite piece I saw is pictured above. It’s like a moment frozen in time.
The ride to the museum and the ride back was smooth sailing thanks to the resources that GoRaleigh provided. The North Carolina Museum of Art is one of the many stops on over 20 routes that a person can visit. Now is the perfect opportunity to try the bus transit system and explore The People’s Collection Reimagined.
