Do you have to flag a a SMART bus in detroit?

Question

i live in canada, i'm not completely sure how the bus system works in michigan...i just wanna know if i really do need to flag or do some signal with my hand when the bus is near...i just don't want to look very out-of-town when i'd be flagging a bus when you don't really have to....

Answer 1

Yes or they will pass you up!

Answer 2

there is no signal.

The smart busses go down main roads of detroit (mainly van d**e) and there are signs on the side of the road that are red, and they say SMART. stand there, a bus will come soon enough.

when they see people there, they stop, so stand close to it.

Answer 3

If your visiting Detroit, SMART and DDOT aren't as tourist friendly like those systems in Chicago or New York, most people who use SMART/DDOT are workers or students going to and from. I'm not saying you shouldn't use it, i'm just giving you a heads up. Be very careful if you use DDOT, i wouldn't use it all if i were you.

Answer 4

The bus system in the Detroit area is an odd one to say the least compared with the rest of the US. Within Detroit the green & yellow DDOT  buses serve the city limits and a few suburbs they have contracts to operate in. The orange & white SMART buses operate primarily within the suburbs and into & out of Downtown Detroit on select streets with limited stops only. Most DDOT and SMART stops are marked with signs matching the color of the buses serving them. As a rule of thumb, if you are wanting to board a SMART suburban bus in Detroit a wave to the approaching bus will signal the driver you want to board distinguishing you from a passenger wait for a city DDOT bus. The same applies to boarding a DDOT bus on one of their few suburban routes whereas a wave would identify you were wanting a DDOT bus as opposed to a SMART suburban line. Yes, it is a bit confusing but Detroit has always had two separate systems creating this situation. Best of luck!