Hours | CAT Bus Stops | Travel Tips | Real-Time Information | Google Transit
The CAT Rider's Guide contains information on all routes and schedules for the system. The printed guides are published annually or at the time of every CAT service change, should there be more than one service change within a year.
All information contained in the printed CAT Rider's Guide is available online, mainly in the Routes & Schedules section.
Where do I find a Rider's Guide?
1. System Maps
The Rider's Guide contains maps for every route in the system, and two system maps: a Day Service Map and a Night Service Map.
The system maps can help you locate the bus route nearest to your location and/or destination.
The maps also contain information on days and times of operation.
2. Check the color coded Table of Contents
Once you have found the route you need, refer to the table of contents on the inside front cover of the Rider's Guide to show you the page location for each route's detailed information.
OR, use the table of contents and the description of route destinations to determine the route you need, and then go the to page number listed for that route.
3. Go to the Route Page
When you turn to the page for the route you have selected, you will find a map for that route only, and a timetable for the route (web pages, with this same map and schedule information, are available in the Routes & Schedules section.)
How do I read a Route Map?
Route maps show just the path of travel for one bus route. Streets and cross streets are labeled.
Arrows along the route show the direction of travel. A solid line between arrowheads indicates one-way travel on that portion of the route. On sections of where the route travels in two directions, the line is split.
Colored dots indicate CAT bus stops on the route. An icon indicates stops on the route with CAT Bus Finders. Major landmarks on the route are also shown.
Schedule time points are shown in capital letters, and refer to times on the timetable.
Find the stop nearest to you, and the stop nearest to your destination.
How do I read a Route Schedule? 
Route schedule timetables are read from left to right, row by row.
Time points on the route are listed across the top of the schedule. An icon below the time point indicates of the stop is equipped with a Bus Finder.
The timetable shows all the times when the bus on that route is scheduled to arrive at each time point. There are many stops on each route besides the ones shown on the time table.
If you have found the stop nearest to you and to your destination, check the time points in the timetable for the stops just before and after your stops. Use the time points to judge the time you need to be at your stop to catch the bus, and the time the bus will reach your destination.
Real-time information, available through a variety of methods, can help you determine exactly when your bus will arrive.
CAT Rider's Guides are available on board all CAT buses, at the Downtown Transit Station
(615 East Water Street), and at locations including:
Albemarle County Office Building
Albemarle County Office Building South
Albemarle County Department of Social Services
Best Western Cavalier Inn
Budget Inn (Emmet Street)
Central Library, Market Street
Charlottesville Adult Learning Center
Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors
City Hall
Comfort Inn (Emmet Street)
City of Charlottesville Department of Social Services
Courtyard Marriott
Days Inn
Doubletree Hotel
Downtown Transit Station
Econolodge (Emmet Street)
English Inn
Fairfield Inn (Branchlands Drive)
Fashion Square
Gordon Avenue Library
Greyhound Station
Hampton Inn University (West Main Street)
Hampton Inn (Seminole Square)
Holiday Inn (Emmet Street)
JABA
MAACA
Marriot Courtyard
Northside Library
Omni Charlottesville Hotel
PVCC
Quality Inn
Red Roof Inn
Region Ten
Residence Inn
UVA Department of International Studies (Minor Hall)
Virginia Employment Commission