Park and Ride driver is always smoking his cigar just outside the bus, and keeps it in the bus. The stench is unbearable.

Took these buses with my parents during our Martha's Vineyard visit on Monday July 15th 2024. We were only there for the day, and brought an all day pass for $8.00 each. They are very energy efficient, and are comfortable. they run every 20 minutes. Now we did have to wait a bit at the Jaws Bridge for a bus to come find us and take us into Edgartown, but once a bus came it was all good. buses fill up fast, and it may be crowded where one has to stand, or one can try to find a seat in the back. seats were comfortable when we did sit, and it was easy to commute other than any issues. Definetely a convient way to go around marthas vineyard. Used a bus also to commute back to oak bluffs, where we explored there. Highly suggest to use this! read more

I've gained belated familiarity with the VTA system during the past year and now often utilize it for my cross-island work commute. Once you gain an understanding of the schedules and stop routines, the experience is straightforward and comfortable. It makes a difference to have someone else doing the driving and is often more socially rewarding, at least for me, to interact with those on the bus or others you may run into around town due to the bus routine. However, the VTA really only works best if you are heading to main roads or town centers. Up-Island service is inconsistent especially in the off season. This is OK for me at present, but I can understand how it could cause problems for others. Another current issue is a shortage of qualified drivers. The summer season schedule, with greater frequency on some runs, abruptly ended a few weeks sooner than planned this year because of this. Conversely and confusingly, one or two routes that usually have low ridership were dropped for the summer and then put back onto the year round schedule. Watch out for the differences in cash fares during the year, if going for single rides. The purchase of a pass can quickly pay itself off for shorter or longer term increments and is worth researching. read more

The flyer states $1.25 per trip but they charged us $3.75 per trip. An all day pass is $8. You also must have exact change or they give you your "change" on a card to be used on a future purchase. What a scam. read more

Rude drivers! The busses are filthy! The only good thing is the stops are convenient. The price is expensive, better off just renting a car at Budget Rent A Car in Oaks Bluff. read more

Hot mess!!! If you want to see the majority of the island...Rent a car or do a tour! Wait times forever and very confusing. We wasted so much time just waiting for the buses. read more

Excellent and economical way to get around the island. The bus drivers are very friendly and helpful. Thank you to Claudia and the other drivers for helping me relocate my cell phone when I left it on the bus! read more

The buses are convenient. The quality of drivers is not consistent. Some are rude and obviously don't like the tourists. Ticket sellers are often bossy and snide. Good price for all day riding. Don't expect a consistently good level of service and you'll be fine. read more

We've used the VTA for roundtrip trips twice now - both last summer and this summer - and have been consistently happy. The drivers are super friendly (like many Vineyard locals) - when asked a question, they give a long, descriptive answer, but still do their job without keeping people waiting. It's cheap ($1/person/town), quick and the buses are fairly clean. And they not only keep to the schedule, but they'll throw extra buses in for busy times. read more

Didn't like how the driver was talking to passengers. Maybe he had a bad day so I don't want to be too harsh. Just not very helpful and was condescending. read more

DISGUSTING!!!!!!!!!! This bus took no safety efforts during the coronavirus pandemic. If you care about you or your family's health avoid at all costs. The bus driver was not wearing a mask properly and let the bus reach FULL CAPACITY. Every seat was filled with ppl wearing masks under their nose and incorrectly. There were babies without masks and even a huge dog. I could feel the viral droplets with every breath and I am worried for my health. Sincerely, Disappointed read more

Recently returned from a 5 day trip to MV. Took our ebikes to the island but had no car. We took the bus up island a couple of days and had great experiences. The bus drivers asked where we were going, made sure we know how to change buses if necessary, how to walk to our destination, and how to get back to our hotel. They offered advice on whether a site was worth the effort to get to. They even offered advice on roads that were safe to bike on and roads that were not. Great advice and friendly folks. Always on time and clean. Would definitely recommend. read more

The VTA is a valuable island service that is not perfect by any means, but comes close. If you are visiting the island without a car, do NOT take a taxi unless you absolutely must. The prices of the taxis have gone from bad to worse. (As a recent example, I was charged $25 for a four mile trip that took about five minutes.) You can not beat the price of the VTA. If you are going a long distance or touring the island, get a pass, which makes it super easy. The passes are sold at the main stops in Oak Bluffs, Edgartown and Vineyard Haven. Cash, please. You can buy tickets on the bus if you pick it up mid-route. The buses do stop anywhere on their route, not just at official stops. They also have bike racks in front, so if you bike to Aquinnah but are too sore to ride back, you can just get a ride home. How sweet is that? We are not all Lance Armstrongs. The main routes are 1 and 13. They go between Vineyard Haven and Edgartown, but the 13 is the prettier route, with a stop in Oak Bluffs. If you want a lovely beach view and are not pressed for time, take the 13 instead of the 1. The loading areas in VH and Edgartown get slammed with people on nice summer days, so be prepared to line up in the hot sun and deal with all kinds of line crashers. That can be a real drag. You will need to make connections if you want to go to Menemsha or Aquinnah or South Beach, but the drivers will tell you what to do. The free map is very clear. And the buses are mostly on time. Traffic in the summer can impact everyone, including the VTA. Plan accordingly if you need to make a ferry. The drivers are, for the most part, nice and respectful. They deal with a lot of craziness during the summer, so be patient with them. They are not tour guides. I have seen one or two instances of rudeness, but most of the drivers are friendly, dealing with all kinds of repetitive questions, lost cell phones and quirky characters. Taxis are so prohibitive here, that even a mega-mogul will cringe at the cost. Take the VTA if you can. Besides, you can feel like you are helping our planet by using public transportation while you are on vacation. Not bad. read more

I lost my wallet on the bus from Edgertown to Vineyard Haven. Had a 5:15 Ferry back to New Bedford. I called Patricia at The Transit Authority in a panic. After telling me to hold, she came back on the phone. "George has your wallet. He will be back at the bus stop in front of the Ferry at 5:07, but he's running a couple of minutes late." At 5:10 George pulled up to the bus stop, refused to take the money I offered him, and bid me a great day as I bolted to the Ferry and made it on time. People like Patricia and George make The Vineyard the place it is. Love for people- that's what it's all about. My heroes. Thanks MVTA! The Vineyard is LOVE -Gerry K. read more

Price is great but we got a rude bus driver. The bus said #13 to Edgartown when we boarded. Soon into the ride my friend and I realized we were headed towards Vineyard Haven. When we asked the driver if we would be going towards Edgartown eventually, he simply said, "you should've asked before you got on the bus." Not sure if maybe the sign was wrong when we boarded, or if he changed it, but there is no need to be rude. We weren't angry -- just asking in order to figure out how to get where we want to go! read more

I don't understand these positive reviews at all. VTA was unreliable and ineffective, with rude drivers to top it all off. Just appalling. Tip, MV: if you don't want icky tourists who don't abide by your snobby "drive like YOUR kids live here" signs, you need to provide better transit. Period. Unreliable transit forces people to rent cars. It doesn't seem like you need to be the most competent person in the world to understand this. The bus did NOT run every fifteen minutes, as it was supposed to. Often it was too full to let anyone on. And if you could squeeze on to the packed bus, it was this lengthy, epic ordeal to load all the people waiting. I never even attempted taking the 13 bus to or from the beach-- I imagine only those with the sharpest of elbows can make that trip. The only upside was the price: sometimes $1, sometimes $2, depending on the drivers mood, to get from vineyard haven to oak bluffs. You get what you pay for. Bottom line: rent a car or only travel within walking distance of your cottage. Or take a cab: we were charged $3-$4 per person for the same trip that the bus costs $2 for, and the cab involved zero waiting. read more

Shout out to the amazing bus driver Debbie!! We arrived very late at the airport and needed a ride to Edgartown. No taxis were available and it was a true blessing that Debbie showed up so took us as far as she could and hooked us up with the next driver, Jose, who also helped us out. Both are super employees that went the extra mile to help us out! read more

VTA is a great resource for the island. You really can get just about anywhere from anywhere within an hour if you'll put up with making a transfer at some point. Most of their transfer points are timed so that your next bus will arrive in just a few minutes at a spot nearby. Of course, things can go wrong and you can wind up waiting a half hour... Only suggestions for improvement are to get GPS tracking in the system so that riders can tell when their buses are coming, and to put up some benches/shelters at the marked stops. Some tips: They don't give out change but if you buy a $7 day pass with a $10 bill they give you a voucher card with $3 on it that you can use later. If you're going to ride the system a lot I'd recommend getting a pass or putting some money on a bus card so that you don't have to hunt for exact change on every ride. You can pretty much hail the buses from anywhere along their route EXCEPT for the Edgartown portion of Route 1 where it only stops at marked stops. There are almost always bus maps available in each bus, and at the airport/ferry terminals. Your driver will ask you for your final destination when you get on- both to asses your fare and radio ahead to bus drivers that should expect transfers at certain locations. Major loading points are at Vineyard Haven Ferry and Edgartown on Church Street. There will probably be additional VTA staff stationed there who can answer questions. Taxis are expensive- From Vineyard Haven it would have been $25 to the airport vs $2 on the bus. read more

Cheap fares, on time buses, and the cover the island. What more could you ask for? We made full use of the buses. They go everywhere. read more

I found the drivers to be safe, friendly and patient, especially considering in season 70% of the riders are non locals with no clue how the system works, and asking lots of questions. We were lucky, we travelled all over the island (all day pass $7, purchase on bus) and never had to wait more than 10 minutes waiting for the next bus (bus headways vary based on season, day and time of day from every 15 minutes to every hour). Only downside is there are a lot of lines and multiple bus transfers are often necessary for longer trips. Also, when reach the end of a route, often the bus will become another line, rather than reversing on the same line. Bonus fact #1: Dogs are welcome! Bonus fact #2: You're not limited to bus stops; you can get off or flag down a bus anywhere (provided it is safe for the bus to pull over there) read more

It's right for the price, I'll give you that. And they're usually on time and on target with their schedule, making them an attractive -- and affordable -- alternative to bringing over a car on the ferry. When the girlfriend and I were heading up for a weekend in May, we left the car in Woods Hole and took the ferry to Vineyard Haven, hoping to figure out how the bus service works. I'd read up a little bit on it beforehand and obviously being from the Boston area, I'm super-comfortable taking public transportation. Still, I wasn't sure how it would be marked, if we'd find signs, etc. As soon as we got off the boat in VH, the bus was right there, waiting for ferry passengers to hop on to their destination. It didn't take very long before we were on our way, and on the (I believe) 13 bus, it was about half an hour to Edgartown. Total cost = $6. This is probably far less than what a cab would have cost us. Plus, late at night, cabs can double their rates because of the late hour. I really appreciate having the public transportation system available, and at the low cost, it's definitely something I'll be using in the future when leaving my car in Woods Hole. read more

Three cheers for the VTA! I used the bus for a weeks while on vacation. I lost my wallet and they found it for me. Staff is helpful.

The VTA is an experience. I am torn at the rating I gave it. In some instance, I think it deserves a 5 since it gives tourists the ability to navigate the island without having to spend a fortune. But other times I find myself cursing the VTA. I have found that your VTA experience very much depends on the driver and the passengers on your bus. In some instances you will have a driver that is attentive to your needs and explain the bus transitions and arrival/departure times in great detail. Other times the driver will not udder a word the entire ride leaving many of the less experienced VTAers and foreign tourists at a complete loss. My general observation after being stranded at Aquinah several times since the bus was too full is that there need to be additional routes and service on the weekends. Making people stand for a 45min bus ride in the blazing heat is kind of absurd - especially if it happens every weekend. I think if you go in with the expectation that you will stand or be packed in tighter then a Green Line train when the Sox are playing you will be fine. If you think you are going to encounter ample leg room and a relaxing ride on the weekend in the summer then you will be disappointed. read more

My family took the city bus from Oaks Bluff to Edgartown along with several other adults and children. It was a 20 min drive, in a bus jammed full of people with zero air conditioning. The driver had the maximum number of people standing in the aisle of the bus during the most hottest, humid day of the year. It was rediculously hot and sweaty and super uncomfortable. I don't think all the buses on the island are like this, but the bus #13 route is so be aware when you read people suggesting taking the bus to the different parts of the island. read more

We went on a ride from Oak Bluffs to South beach and half way through the driver told us we had missed our stop knowing we were the only ones going to that destination. He then told us where to get off and when that destination came and we pulled the stop cord he continued through, almost getting into an accident with a car backing out of a spot. I can guarantee paying for an Uber or Taxi is way worth the money because these buses have rude operators and are very inconvenient. We ended up getting to South Beach an hour later. read more

If you can avoid driving then take the bus. Informative and friendly drivers and staff at all locations I went. Wineyard Haven, Edgartown and Oak's Bluff. read more

Martha's Vineyard Transit Authority - Morning Light @ MVY - August 16, 2013 - Transportation Near Me - Edgartown, Massachusetts

I've been using MVTA for over 5 years without any issues. Today my positive streak has taken a turn for the worst. I knew I was in trouble when Randy G told the 75 year old woman to step back so that he could get on the bus to relieve Caroline, the previous driver. He snapped at Caroline to get off the bus. The bus loaded up with tourists unfamiliar with the area. We then sat on the bus as he drove without stopping once straight to Edgartown. About 30 people were asking where state beach was and why we never stopped. Once at Edgartown, we stayed on the bus to ask why it didn't stop as it has every other time we've taken this bus. Randy G laughed and said, you have to let him know to stop. He then told numerous parties things such as "I can't read your mind, how am I supposed to know". This has NEVER been the case in all the times I've visited the vineyard. If it requires pulling a string to request a stop, it should've been announced at the very beginning of the ride. There are people who do not know where the state beach stop. This driver needs to either make the stop or inform the riders to request a stop. Not only was this a major inconvenience, Randy's horrid attitude put a damper on the start of the day. read more

We used 5 different buses to get around the island today and every driver was super helpful and kind! The app is awesome and the printed maps are very easy to use. Bus is definitely the way to go! read more

Easy to use. Runs often on the east-side of the island (btwn VH-OB-Etown). Fares range from $1-$5. Up-island is a little more challenging (less stops & runs less often) but you can still get everywhere with a little planning. read more

On a weekend getaway, my friends and I opted to skip bringing out a car and zip around the island on a bus. And zip we did! For $15, we chose a weekend pass and it was worth it. The buses were always on time and efficient (and I could always hear drivers talking to one another over the radio regarding transfers - what service!). The drivers were always friendly and helpful and if you told them where you were getting off, they would always stop. The map was easy to read, too. I don't think I would ever take a car knowing how easy and great the bus was. Bonus: comfortable seats! read more

The only reason it didn't get a 5 was that some of the drivers are rude. It is the best way to get around the island tho.I go to the island a few times a yr- camp sometimes even- and never take a car. The bus gets me absolutely everywhere I want/ need to go. I get the week pass and it MORE than pays for itself. Most of the drivers are helpful and guide you to the bus you need read more

The system works well and most of the workers are very nice however I did run across a particularly rude bus driver Mary. I was limping across a circle she beeped loud. Before that tried to ask a question and she was pretty rude. I come from NY so you know she was rude lol. For that I give 4 instead of 5 stars Everyone else was very nice and bus ride was pleasant. read more

They do an OK job. First, the buses are frequently off schedule in the summer due to traffic, so if it is close to catch a ferry or whatever, better take the earlier bus. Second, I find it hard to believe that the people running a bus service that is busiest during our summer tourist season chose to purchase buses with no air conditioning. Imagine a hot July or August day with no wind, a crowded bus and stuck in traffic. I can't imagine because I refuse to take the bus during the day in the summer and I have a year long pass. read more

We found ourselves in Oak Bluffs needing to get to Edgartown in the midst of Hurricane Arthur. The rain was drenching and the winds were howling. Then, like an angel sent from heaven, Charlotte pulled up with her giant diesel magic carpet. She delivered her most precious of parcels (that's us) to Edgartown, and even recommended a good ice cream shop to get our vacation back on track! The bus is also cheap and you can load your bike on the front! read more

So rude. Asked the driver in Edgartown where we would depart for the ferry back to Falmouth and he said he would let us know. He stopped in Oak Bluffs and said nothing. Just sat there and then got off. Luckily a passenger asked what ferry we were taking and let us know to get off! read more

While the buses don't all run on time (early/late/hard to tell) They do run all over the island to all six towns. Fares are $1 per town, plus originating town, so it's a LOT cheaper than renting a moped or a car. They offer single day, three day, or week long passes that can be a great value if you're planning to visit other towns and get to the beaches. While there are a few designated pick up points, they will pick up or drop you off ANYWHERE along the route, which is really nice. Most drivers are pretty informative. Just make sure to look at the connection times, it can be a bit of a wait, and always ask about which direction the bus is heading. Great service to/from the airport too! read more

This is what you expect coming to an island but they lag in speed, sometimes it took 1 hour to get you somewhere that is only 10 miles away? I would expect a little better service, especially for a holiday weekend. But for a $6.00 all day pass who can complain? read more

If your looking for the bus when you get off the boat...pack a lunch. I am a resident of MVY and the bus will be at the boat terminal as the boat is coming into port, but will take off 5-6 min before the boat actually docks. There really is no other time sensitive dead line to met on MVY other than the boat, so your left waiting for up to an hour for a bus. At this time in the trip you may want to just pay a few bucks to a taxi and get to your destination. The drivers are great, the administration who gives them this time table to meet need to take a customer Service course, and start to think out of the box........MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMUTING PUBLIC! Arrive at the terminals to pick up the travelers and back into the rest! It's not hard read more

Excellent and cheap service with one major problem: The VTA is very sneaky in hiding the fact that fares must be paid for IN EXACT CHANGE (Read: I have a $20 bill, I want to purchase one fare for $1.25, I am forced to purchase one fare for $20). If you catch the VTA administration on this point they pretend to be doing you a favor (the change is encoded on your ticket for future use; it's so convenient!). In reality, this is a system designed to take advantage of customers. And it works. read more

seriously this system is lacking!!! we didn't want the hassle of bringing the car over on the ferry or renting one. big mistake. sure it would have cost more, but we would have been able to do more, and not have wasted so much time waiting. we did still manage to take a lot of buses. went from OB to VH to Mensemsha to Aquinnah, back to VH to OB and then back to VH again. but it was painful. my husband and I joked that it was WORSE than Italy, but at least in Italy, it's understood and accepted, it's just part of life. and the people are nicer. here are some positive points. 1. nice ladies at the main oak bluffs stop and vineyard haven stop to sell you tickets, give you a map and let you know what bus to take. 2. $7 for an all day pass is pretty good 3. some of the drivers are nice, asked where you wanted to go, let you know where to get off, when your next bus was coming, etc. 4. being able to pay cash on the bus for one ride or buy a pass. now for the bad stuff. 1. for such a tiny place - they could do this way more efficiently. don't they want visitors to be able to get around in a better way, and therefore spend their time more effectively (spend more money?!?! do more things?!?!). it looks like a 3 year old took different color crayons and scribbled on a map of Martha's Vineyard. then someone said hey lets just use that as our bus map and routes! seriously it made no sense! 13 different bus routes for one tiny place. I overheard a girl who said she goes to the vineyard every summer, on the bus talking to a local, saying she loves how great the buses are and that she was recently in NYC and was so overwhelmed with the trains! what!!!!??? at least the trains in NYC make sense! any one can clearly look at a map and get where they need to go in a efficient matter. plus these buses just never synced up. you would get to where you needed to transfer to the next line and it wasn't coming for at least another 40 minutes. major sites of connections should run closer in time. and they should all just make more sense. you do not need 13 lines, maybe just about half and make the routes make more sense! 2. some of the drivers were just rude. not offering info, not being helpful, not announcing stops and things, etc. one started driving just as a lady holding a baby and a carriage was getting on and trying to walk to a seat. couldn't they wait until the lady got to her seat. she almost fell over, with a tiny baby. read more