Shuttle around Roanoke, Blacksburg VA

[mateozzz]

Hi, I'm thinking of a section hike (late Sept) between 220 near Roanoke down to 42 near Blacksburg and would be looking for a ride from Roanoke airport to trail, and back from Blacksburg. Does anybody have any recommendations? There are a couple of names on the ATC pdf and at AT services web page, just looking for opinions or other info.

Thanks

[ratfaceraines]

i operate a shuttle service out of pearisburg, va....my rate is $1 per mile-beginning at my home and ending at drop-off (i.e. the airport would be about $65, from there to 220 would be another $10)...i invite any bloggers who've utilized my services to please comment on their experience feel free to contact me at 540-921-7433(RIDE), don raines

[crockett11]

Hi. I saw your post about your shuttle service and I'm wondering what you'd charge for two people for a ride from Pearisburg to Bland. Thanks!

[Lone Wolf]

Hi. I saw your post about your shuttle service and I'm wondering what you'd charge for two people for a ride from Pearisburg to Bland. Thanks!

looks like 35 bucks
http://new.mapquest.com/

[ratfaceraines]

pearisburg to bland would be about $35

[Rain Man]

i operate a shuttle service out of pearisburg, va....my rate is $1 per mile-beginning at my home and ending at drop-off

Don, am planning a hike next month, from Bland to Pearisburg, so I'll ask a couple of questions. Do you shuttle vehicles and if so, what do you charge? For instance, pick up a vehicle in Bland and deliver it to Pearisburg.

Also, for hikers, do you charge per hiker or only per mile? How many hikers can you shuttle at one time? Not being cheap, just want to know what to tell my folks if we need your services.

As long as I'm asking... how'd you get your trail name?! LOL

Thanks!
RainMan

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[ratfaceraines]

rainman, my rate is $1 per mile--from pearisburg to bland(or bland to pearisburg) would be $35-$40[depending on pick-up and drop-off points]...as many occupants that my vehicle can safely seat(5 total/including driver) is still $1 per mile...if you need me to retrieve your vehicle---still $1 per mile...ratface is nickname i was given by service buddies....more questions, feel free to call don at 540-921-7433(RIDE)

[Rain Man]

...more questions, feel free to call don at 540-921-7433(RIDE)

Don, thanks for the additional info. I will give you a call.

RainMan

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[GoldenBear]

Though I am not answering the question the OP asked -- about shuttles between the two areas -- I conclude the following info, about mass transit and taxis in this area, will be useful to others wanting to get around. I also conclude that it is better to add to an existing thread, rather than clutter up the forum with still another thread containing info already discussed. Anyway, here goes.

With a population of about 97,000, Roanoke is one of the larger towns within easy reach of the AT -- downtown is a mere twelve miles from the trail crossing at Daleville; and the latter place has a couple dozen choices for eating and lodging within a ten minute walk. The city of Blacksburg has a major university, a situation usually resulting in ways for people without cars to get around. Thus, it should be no surprise that both cities have more options than usual for getting to and between them.

Flights arrive into Roanoke Airport about fifty times a day
http://www.flyroa.com/

The 8671 Amtrak bus goes from Lynchburg Station and Roanoke every weekday, and all the way to Blacksburg on Friday; the 8676 is the reverse.
http://kevinkorell.com/btn/numb8500.htm

Greyhound has a station in downtown Roanoke: 26 Salem Avenue SW, ZIP 24011, and phone 540-343-5436, to be exact. Buses from Richmond VA make a four-hour journey to here three times a day, leaving at 5:30a, 12:05p, and 8:10p. Buses also arrive from Knoxville TN either at 5:25a (after a five-hour trip), 1:25p (seven hours), or 1:25a (six hours). As you can see, it is not easy to ride Greyhound from any distant city without leaving, arriving, or transferring in the middle of the night -- rarely a pleasant experience at a bus station.

Possibly the best combo of cost and convenience is Megabus' service between Washington and Christianburg
https://us.megabus.com/christiansburg.aspx
a city just south of Blacksburg. Note that the drop-off point is the Falling Branch Park & Ride at Exit 118 of I-81, meaning there's a parking lot there, but not much else.


Okay, now let's say you've gotten to the area, either by plane, train, bus, or just driving a car. Can you get from one area to another?
The answer, I'm glad to say, is yes. As this pdf shows
http://www.smartwaybus.com/smartway2.pdf
there is a commuter bus, just $4 per ride, going between these two cities several times a day.
http://www.smartwaybus.com/schedule.htm
Note that this bus stops ONLY at designated places -- it is, after all, for commuters -- and these places are marked fairly clearly.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=60260
For example, here's the bus stop at Roanoke Airport, just to the left as you exit the terminal.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=60261
If you're waiting for a bus here, BTW, there are restrooms right as you go through the central doors to the terminal.
Long term parking is available at this airport for $9 a day.

This pdf
http://www.valleymetro.com/files/200...stem%20Map.pdf
shows city bus routes for Roanoke, which basically center around getting to and from downtown. You could, in theory, get between the airport, the Greyhound, and lodging options at either place. Sadly, you can NOT get to Daleville on city buses.

If going to Blacksburg on Smartway, the best place to get off is at Squires Student Center
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=60262
which is the central point for Blacksburg buses. It also has restrooms, a food court, and comfy places to sit;
http://www.studentcenters.vt.edu/stu...tudent_center/
so it's a good place to wait and/or rest.

Let's say that you took Megabus and are now at the the Falling Branch Park & Ride. You can either walk into town OR pay 50 cents (7a-5p, weekdays ONLY) to do so on the Gold Loop of the Explorer
http://www.blacksburg.gov/Modules/Sh...ocumentid=3327
You can ride this bus to the Walmart in town, and from there transfer to the Two Town Trolley
http://www.blacksburg.gov/Modules/Sh...ocumentid=4573
which goes right to Squires Student Center. From there you can ride all around Blacksburg
http://www.blacksburg.gov/Modules/Sh...ocumentid=3960

Okay, the TRAIL isn't at the Roanoke Airport or at Squires Center. Shuttles can take you to the trail heads, but what about taxis?
The Roanoke area lists several taxi companies, but one to make note of, for service to and from Daleville, is "B. Early."
http://hstrial-earlycab.homestead.com/Services.html
This is because
(1) The company has solicited business in Daleville by leaving its business cards at motels there.
(2) They accept credit cards for fares of any size with NO SURCHARGE.
They have a set fee between Daleville and the airport of $35 -- don't forget to add a tip!

There are also about five or so taxi companies listed for Blacksburg, so I figured it would be no problem to get one from Squires to The Trail, about 20 miles away. They all charge $2 per mile, from pickup to dropoff, so any would be fine. I was surprised to find that it took over an hour to get a cab in the morning; they all seemed to be busy at this time. Maybe I should have just arranged a shuttle right from the start.

[bus]

I live just off 581 and can shuttle from/to 311 and at times up to/from 220 (Daleville)....

[July]

Can also check with Homer Witcher 540-992-3932 with the Roanoke AT Club. He does shuttles.