CT Fastrak – Hartford Cycle

Images from 2022’s final Domingo. After a summer heat wave postponement, the weather for this one was a bit cold:

2023 stayed cold, with snow into March. But towards the ides, the first sign of spring – our friends:

Finally, March 31. The last day of free bus fares, Toro rides the Fastrak:

If you live in CT and would like to comment on the end of free bus fares, feel free to fill out this survey.

Free fares were supported by federal COVID funds, but going forward the state would have to foot the bill. While I’d personally love to see them continue, my overwhelming impression is that the majority of Connecticans:

own cars
blanch at the idea of riding a bus
have zero empathy for those who do

So continuing the program for now seems like a long shot. But hope springs eternal, and like the season, I suspect it will come around eventually.

Time to put the Senator’s new configuration to the test. With fares suspended seemingly indefinitely, we’re going to scout out CT Fastrak.

Taking South Road lets us skirt the edge of car-infested Westfarms, then we get to skirt Batterson-Park-Pond.

Our next park connector is Stanley Quarter, where the geese (and their droppings) are out in force. Then a few landmarks…

… and we’ve arrived at Downtown-New-Britain, home of the Downtown-New-Britain-Fastrak-Station.

Well, that was nice. Time to take a… wait, what’s this?

The Fastrak-Multi-Use-Trail-to-Newington, which (mostly) runs along the (dedicated) bus track.

End of the line is Newington Junction Station, with fifteen minutes until the next bus.

The rear cab contains a two-bike rack. Unlike CTRail’s bungees, this one uses velcro straps. Stick the front wheel in the rack, and strap the seat tube to keep the bike from lurching backwards (had to figure that out).