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| Home > City Guide - Nashville - Getting Around | ||
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Getting Around Public Transport Downtown Nashville is quite small and easily managed on foot. The Metropolitan Transit Authority – MTA (tel: (615) 862 5950; website: www.nashvillemta.org) operates bus and trolley services in Nashville. Each bus route operates different hours but these usually start at approximately 0530 and run until 2400 on weekdays, after which time a night but service for central Nashville comes into operation, departing from Central Landport from 0015. The Music Valley Express (bus 34), links Downtown with Opryland/Music Valley (a one-way fare is US$1.75). Once there, the Music Valley Trolley shuttles along Music Drive. The MTA also operates a network of local bus services – fares costs US$0.25 for Downtown or US$1.45 for further afield. Tickets are purchased upon boarding or at the ticket booths on Deaderik at Fifth Avenue and 1011 Demonbreun. A Weekly Pass and a Monthly Flash Pass are available from the ticket booths for US$14.70 and US$48 respectively. The Nashville Trolley Co (tel: (615) 862 5950) operates three trolley routes. The Lunch Line is routed on a loop through the central business district, from Second Broadway to Union and Sixth Avenue. It is a free service, leaving every seven to eight minutes between 1130-1330. The Frist Arts Trolley leaves the Frist Arts Center, 919 Broadway, on a two-hour round trip that takes in tourist hot spots such as the Vanderbilt Arts Center, Centennial Park, the Parthenon and Belle Meade Mansion. It costs US$1 and there are only two departures – one at midday, the other at 1400. The 34x Music Valley Express Bus operates approximately every 40 minutes, daily 0815-1815, to the Downtown and Music Valley Drive. The fare is US$1.75. Taxis There are several taxi services in Nashville but it is far easier to book one by telephone than to find one on the street. If the booking has been made some time ahead, it is sensible for travellers to telephone again on the day to confirm. Main firms include Allied Cab (tel: (615) 244 7433), American Rivergate Cab Co (tel: (615) 865 4100), Music City Taxi (tel: (615) 262 0451) and Yellow Cab (tel: (615) 256 0101). Rates start at US$2 and go up by US$1.75 per mile. A tip of 10% is expected. Limousines There are numerous limousine companies serving the Nashville area, including stretch limousines for up to ten passengers. Rates start at about US$60 per hour on weekdays and rise to US$65 at weekends. Companies include Black Tie Limousines (tel: (615) 254 1254), Capital Limousines Inc (tel: (615) 883 6777), Carey of Nashville (tel: (615) 360 8700) and Country Music Limousine (tel: (615) 226 9692). Driving in the City Nashville’s roads have not really kept pace with the town’s expansion and it is a long-standing joke that Nashville is difficult to navigate. There is just enough of a Downtown grid system to lull drivers into a false sense of security but then some streets simply stop, others change their names and some veer off across the river and head for Opryland. Most streets Downtown are one way and signposting is poor. Other than this idiosyncrasy, driving is no better or worse than any other small American city, although rush hours (0700-0900 and 1600-1800) are best avoided. Right turns on red lights are legal, unless a sign says otherwise. Many of the special parking meter lanes in the city centre are inactive during rush hours – cars left there during these periods will be towed away. There is a large 24-hour public car park Downtown, at the junction of First Street South and Broadway, at a cost of US$1 per hour. There are several other parking lots, municipal and private, in that area. Car Hire Service providers include Alamo (tel: (615) 367 1919), Avis (tel: (615) 361 1212), Budget (tel: (615) 366 0800), Enterprise (tel: (615) 872 7722), National (tel: (615) 361 7467) and Thrifty (tel: (615) 275 4257 or 361 6050). To hire a car, visitors must have a full driving licence from their home country, be at least 25 years old and have a major credit card for payment. Rates start from US$39.99 per day, for a medium-sized vehicle. Car hire prices will not include insurance and various levels of insurance are usually available as surcharges. Unlimited mileage is also recommended, if excursions are planned for outside the city. Bicycle Hire Cycling is not unheard-of in Nashville and some local commuters travel to work this way. However, this is fairly uncommon. It is even less common to see visitors risking the Downtown traffic. Most attractions can be reached on foot or by the Nashville Trolley. Nevertheless, there are five state bicycle tours in the hills around Nashville, with details available from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (tel: (615) 741 2848). However, it is very difficult to hire bicycles in Nashville. The best way for visitors to find out about bicycle hire is to get in touch with the tourist office. |
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