LOCAL - GETTING AROUND IN PINELLAS COUNTY
To get around in Pinellas County, you can walk, use public transportation, travel by taxi, or drive in your own car or a rented car. Motorcycles and scooters are used to a much lesser degree. Bicycles are used by adults, mainly for exercise, along special bike routes and in parks, or by school-age children to go to neighborhood schools.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
The transit system, PSTA (Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority), has fairly good coverage of the local area. Passengers are required to have the exact change in hand as they board the bus. For one bus ride, the fare is $1.50, depending on the route and the amount of exchange buses. Students with a PSTA Student ID pay a reduced fare of $1 per bus. The hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., depending on the route. Saturday and Sunday times vary. For more information, call PSTA at 727-540-1900 or log on to www.psta.net/busfares.htm.
BY TAXI
Most people are likely to travel by taxi when they arrive in a new place. In the U.S., taxis definitely come under the heading of luxury travel. It is almost impossible to hail a taxi on the street in this part of the U.S. If you are willing to pay a small additional fee, however, you can telephone for a taxi to pick you up at home or at a given location.
Several companies offer 24-hour service around Pinellas County. Check a telephone directory for more information on local services.
TRAVEL TO THE AIRPORT
You can get to the airport by taxi or limo service or you can call Super Shuttle at 727-572-1111. It should cost $18-$25. Additional providers are listed in the Limousine and Taxi sections of a telephone directory.
TRAVEL OUTSIDE PINELLAS COUNTY
Travel within Florida, or from Florida to other parts of the U.S. or the world, can be done by air, train, bus or car (personal or rental).
BY AIR
More than 100 airlines, national and international, arrive or depart from Tampa International Airport, one of the busiest in the U.S. Almost all major airlines serve Tampa. You can find their telephone numbers listed in the telephone book.
BY TRAIN
Amtrak is the largest passenger railroad in the U.S. The Amtrak in Tampa can be reached by telephone at 1-800-872-7245.
BY BUS
One of the main long-distance bus companies in the U.S. is Greyhound, which offers service to and from Clearwater and St. Petersburg. Greyhound’s information numbers are 727-898-1496 (St. Petersburg) and 727-796-7315 (Clearwater), or call the toll-free number at 1-800-231-2222. Though traveling by bus is slower than any other form of travel and may not be as comfortable, it gives you an opportunity to see the country.
BY PERSONAL CAR
All major cities in the U.S. have tourist bureaus or traveler aid agencies that will be glad to give touring information for free. For extended trips, it is a good idea to have a mechanic at a service station check your car and get it into shape, if it needs it. Note that a valid driver’s license is necessary to drive anywhere in the U.S.
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