Overview
While the BAT is colloquially known as the "Bangor Area Transit", "BAT" in fact does not mean that or anything else officially despite it implying an acronym by being in all capital letters. The managers of the system did not want to identify it with any one city or town. Despite this, "Bangor Area Transit" caught on and many websites referring to the attractions of Bangor, Maine and how to get to them often refer to this public transportation system by the incorrect name.
The buses, are distinguished by their bright red color, decorated with a large stylized bat on their exteriors. The BAT system is structured to make it easy for riders to reach points of interest in the Bangor area. In 2003, the Mall Hopper line was added to facilitate easy connections between the Airport Mall, the Bangor Mall, and the Broadway Shopping Center. The Mall Hopper is also the only line not to go through the Bangor Depot.
Several of the newer buses offer plush seats and air-conditioning, as well as low floors, designed to make it easier for wheelchair passengers to board the bus without having to use a wheelchair lift. All buses are ADA compliant and are wheelchair ready.
Riders are allowed to get on and off at almost any intersection along the road, without having to use designated bus stops. There are a few exceptions where passenger safety is an issue.
A free mobile phone application for the BAT Community Connector was released in March 2012 for both the iPhone and Android platforms. The app includes routes and schedule information, displays the amount of time until the next scheduled bus arrival, and calculates the distance and time information for the stops that are closest to your current position.
Read more about this topic: BAT Community Connector