I don't really know how to describe the feeling of being stood up by the JO. Maybe it's like being stood up by ridiculously dumb girl with tons of zits that dresses unironically like its 1991. It's actually happened a couple of times to me. First, it happened in Lawrence as their web site, Google Maps, and the bus driver apparently weren't coordinated with each other (huuuuh?). It's kinda a big deal when it's late, you're tired, and you're waiting at 19th/Haskell. It almost happened again on the Plaza. The driver ignored me at the designated stop so I chased the bus until it stopped at a non-designated stop. Most recently, the JO stranded me at Crown Center without another bus until the morning. The driver departed from the designated stop well before the schedule indicated. It's not like I'm being stranded at 11:30 PM after having too many drinks at the Zoo Bar-- these "last bus" options depart, sadly, at 5:40 PM. Careful if you have to stay late at the office or the JO driver has a lead foot...you might end up sleeping in Washington Square Park. I'm savvy about mass transit and use it all the time. I don't feel at all comfortable relying on the JO. To be so entirely scatterbrained and unreliable about such important things as schedules is completely inexcusable. Because the JO has such a pathetic amount of riders I'm confident these asinine mistakes haven't been an issue. The JO is run as a small commuter bus service between the city (downtown/crown center) and various points in the county. This fact makes the bus undesirable as a transit option for most Johnson Countians (or reverse commute Kansas Citians for that matter). Only recently has the system made strides to diversify and operate new routes (K10 Connector, new 75th Street service) to draw more than just a trickle cult riders. So these issues put the JO smack dab in the middle of the worst of the worst, barf, hate pit, DIE DIE DIE categories. However, I will freely admit the JO has some of the nicest, most Midwestern drivers you'll find on any transit system. They are worth riding it alone. Because the ridership numbers are so low (seriously, JO ridership is so incredibly sad it makes ANY Metro route look like the red line in Chicago) the drivers are able to be incredibly kind, approachable ,patient and helpful. They will call other buses to help you make transfers, chitchat, go out of their way to help riders. For example, when 2 bike stalls in the front of the bus were both taken...the driver actually let a biker take his bike in the bus which is something to behold. Probably against protocol, but surely a sign of a mad cool bus driver that wants to help riders. The JO must be run by a bunch of people that have never ridden mass transit. This has to be true because if they live in JoCo mass transit wouldn't take them from their homes to JO HQ. It seems like they're trying, but just don't get it. You can't run a bus 3X in the morning and 3X in the evening and expect people to take you seriously. You can't completely botch your schedules, leave people stranded and then tweet back that you fixed whatever went wrong. You can't create one new route and give it multiple names for the different times of day it runs There's a big reason no one rides the JO and I found a good clip to sum it all up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOKK8mAkiUI read more

Johnson County Transit - Public Transportation Near Me - Olathe, Kansas

See all

I have lived in JoCo for years, and finally had reason to try riding the Jo this year--when I fractured my arm on a ski trip. Immediately, I enjoyed the convenience and savings from using public transportation, & have continued to ride though I'm back to two working arms now. The park & ride is close to home and the bus drops me right in front of work. Instead of sitting in my car in rush hour traffic, I can sit back and relax. I also get a lot of my work done on the bus and have to do less of it once I get home. I tell people it's like finding time in your day! Riding barely takes longer than driving, and the bus can hop on the shoulder and keep moving past the line of traffic. My company subsidizes our monthly passes, so I get a considerable discount. I save on gas and there's less wear & tear on my car. And I feel good about doing something more responsible for the environment. The drivers are helpful and friendly, as are the other professionals who ride. When I've contacted Transit through Twitter I receive fast and friendly responses. All of these things make it an easy decision to continue riding the Jo. My suggestions for improvement would be to do more effective advertising about the benefits of riding, to increase ridership, so that more routes and schedules can be added. But I am a fan for sure. read more

The bus drivers are very nice but lately numerous buses have been late picking up passengers from downtown and Crown Center heading to Johnson County and then the buses are too small to hold all the passengers. Really think upper management needs a course on transportation time management and logistics to pass on to their drivers. read more

I've been riding the JO pretty consistently since 2007. During that time, the JO has gone from an "okay" transit service to an excellent one. They've increased the number of runs they make each morning and evening, increased ridership, bought new buses, improved the park-and-rides and other stops and shelters, and increased their on-time record. They do a good job of communicating with their riders through email (if you're on their list) about route changes due to street closures, or delays because of weather challenges (rare). And riders and drivers are overall friendly. My favorite recent improvement has been their ability to drive on the shoulder on I-35 in Johnson County during high traffic times. Big savings in time! For improvement, and this is minor, but these buses don't seem to have thermostats in them. (Maybe no buses do.) And when the driver is focused on driving, they can lose sight of how warm the bus gets in winter when we all have coats on. Overall, I was happy with the JO when I started riding, and I am very happy with it now. Highly recommended. read more

I am a M-F rider of The JO and I was previously M-F rider on commuter buses Seattle, so I have a transit system to compare it to. The buses are safe and clean. I have never heard of any actual riders feeling the least bit apprehensive about riding The JO. No graffiti, torn seats, etc. The riders are going to and from work or school. Free WiFi too. The drivers are friendly and professional. They do not hesitate to help those with needs. The buses themselves are not old, but they are not new, either. Hopefully an improved economy will allow them to invest in newer equipment that has better A/C and more room. I disagree with Tom's in 2010. It's a commuter bus system that serves commuters for the area in need. It's not intended to the the PACE or CTA in Chicago that runs all hours to everywhere, or the Metro in Seattle. The JO is designed to move commuters and students during peak hours to and from Johnson County and it does that well. As for the timings, they are accurate in typical traffic. For those that live and work in Johnson County, you know that it varies with construction on U.S. 69, I-35, I-435. Sure, they could publish times with a lot of cushion and then sit if they are ahead of schedule. I've been on bus systems that do that. Instead, they publish realistic times. Nothing "pathetic" about not being a huge system. read more

The bad part about the jo is run only in evening time from 3 to 6 pm. Monday-Friday and u have to be long the line to catch the bus, the good when u need it it does come in handy, the cost is $1.50 which not bad, the drivers are very helpful for the first time riders and will get u close to u stop read more

I used to work for the JO when it contracted Laidlaw mechanics, and they had a faulty air jack in their shop that was not labeled as faulty and when I attempted to use it, it blew up on me dropping a large handicap bus on me, injuring my right shoulder, chest cavity, ribs, back, neck, and both legs. I'm actually lucky to be alive according to several of my friends. They refuse to pay for my medical bills now which I am struggling with now since the 2000 Accident. I need a good Attorney who will not back down from their Attorney to get my life time compensation. read more

I've been riding the for years now and I've just started riding the Jo for a week now and I've never seen this meany disrespectful bus drivers. They bitched at me just for asking a simple question and they looked at me like i was sapose to know everything and there always at least 20 to 30 minutes late. After this work trip I'm never riding the Jo again. read more

This is by far the worst bus (service would be totally inappropriate) You can not depend on them and if you try to complain they will bold face LIE like a dog. Try going to the board of county commissioners. That's a joke too. Most of the time you are forced to ride on a small packed bus, many times without heat or move for your hour trip downtown. Only to arrive at your employer LATE. Because they make false statemtents regarding their arrivals and after all attempting to complain gets you absolutely no where. Much like the JO. The only thing you can caount on is... oh, NOTHING!! read more