Long Beach Bus

Wikipedia says it’s 24 hours. Is that true? That might set some kind of record for a town of this size. I’ve taken it once from the West End, and today on a round-​trip to Point Lookout. The drivers are conscientious, patient with newbie questions and funny when it’s appropriate.
Since Long Beach is a city in name and mostly in character, I don’t know if it technically counts as the suburbs, but Long Island overall isn’t necessarily considered the most-​transit friendly spot, so you have to give this town some credit for having its own bus system. It’s not NYC frequency but it’s impressive when compared to the transit options found in some medium-​to-​large cities.

I. Love. Long Beach Bus.
Let me start off by saying I am a public transportation moron. It took me a while to master the trains on the LIRR, and the subways around my office (which still uptown my ass from time to time), so its no surprise that it took me about 3 years of living in Long Beach to figure out the bus system.
In my defense, I’d never been on a public bus before. And all I can picture is derelicts licking their hands and touching people — which, I don’t think its necessary to say, I don’t f-​cking want any part of.
About 2 ½ years ago I got into a car accident and smashed up my little Honda, finally putting Shelley to rest. At the time, I was living with someone who also took the train to work in the morning (hi wife!), and when she didn’t, she was traveling, so I wasn’t in any hurry to get a new car. Well, SHE decides to move (jerk) and I figured I would test out the bus for a few weeks until the winter ended. I mean, whats the point of buying a new car when there’s snow everywhere, am I right? I’m right.
Enter: the bus. There was a stop relatively close to my apartment at the time, so I moseyed on over there and for a buck fifty a ride was dropped off right in front of the train station. Yep, right in front. No searching for a spot, no walking in the rain. And, I was luckily the last stop so I was the first person on the bus — automatic seat. And I didn’t need to worry about having to realize where I was during the bus route, because they would always stop at my stop! Cha-​Ching.
moving to the other side of town, I had a car, but I didn’t have a spot yet, and there was a station on the actual corner of my block. even. friggin. easier. The buses are clean, air conditioned, and the bus drivers are nice — they also get to know you, so they know where you live, and you don’t have to pull the little dingy thing. its only a buck fifty, and if you plan on taking it every day you can get a combo ticket with your monthly train pass for an additional 30 dollars, which is clearly a deal because you aren’t limited to only using it during rush hour.
Aka…you never, ever have to drive again. And at night, the late night bus is on one loop that stops whereever you ask them to. So if you’re stuck with no taxi, late at night… hop on the bus!