What is a Bus Buddy?
An experienced bus rider with excellent customer assistance skills who wants to help others discover the benefits of riding the bus. Bus Buddy volunteers must provide three references and pass a Washington State Patrol background check.
Need a Bus Buddy?
The Bus Buddy program provides free, one-on-one assistance for people who want a little extra help riding the bus. Your Bus Buddy will:
- Answer questions about riding the bus
- Help you learn new routes and how to make local transfers
- Ride with you to new destinations
- Show you how to make connections with other regional transit services
- Help you with online tools, and
- More!
Group Trips
Our Bus Buddy program schedules fun bus trips for groups. Options include restaurants or other locations in Olympia and to Tacoma and Seattle for an array of community events including concerts, bazaars, museums, and more. Each trip will be led by one of our volunteer Bus Buddies. All you need to do is decide where and when you want to go and give us a call with three to five days notice. We'll match you with a bus buddy or two.
Want to be a Bus Buddy Volunteer?
Are you an experienced bus rider who would like to help others become more comfortable riding the bus?
How Does it Work?
Bus Buddy Volunteers receive six hours of practical training and then get matched with riders who want a little extra help riding the bus.
What are the Benefits?
Bus Buddy Volunteers receive recognition for their service, group lunches twice a year, reimbursement for meals, and mileage reimbursement, if necessary.
To learn more about becoming a Bus Buddy, call 360-688-8832 or email BusBuddies@intercitytransit.com.
Bus Buddy Volunteer Registration Form
Meet the Bus Buddies
Our bus buddy volunteers are men and women who range in age from 39 to 76. Many of our volunteers enjoy taking customers to places like Tacoma, Seattle, Puyallup, Port Townsend and Centralia. They have a wealth of knowledge and most have been riding the bus for years. They look forward to helping you begin your bus riding adventure. Just give us a call.
More Information
To request a Bus Buddy to assist with your travels, contact Scott at 360-688-8832. Please provide 72-hour notice for local trips and three to five business days for trips to other counties.
For general program information contact Scott Schoengarth at 360-688-8832, BusBuddies@intercitytransit.com or ScottSc@ccsww.org.
The Bus Buddy Program of Thurston County is a partnership between Intercity Transit, Catholic Community Services of Western Washington, Volunteer Services, and Washington State Department of Transportation.