In Southern Nevada, the buses are run by the RTC, the Regional Transportation Commission. If you’ve ever stood at a bus stop wondering which bus goes where, or when it’s coming, or how much it costs, this lesson is for you.

Here’s the good news: you no longer have to guess. The two most stressful parts of riding the bus (figuring out your route and paying your fare) can both be handled on your phone before you ever leave home. I’ll show you how, and I’ll also show you the no-internet backup for every step, because a lesson about the bus shouldn’t leave anyone at the curb.

Who is this lesson for?

This lesson is for anyone in the Las Vegas valley (including Henderson, North Las Vegas, and Boulder City) who wants to use public buses to get to work, school, appointments, or anywhere else. It builds on the searching skills from “How to Find Answers Online,” but every step here also has a phone-call or in-person alternative.

What do I need?

A phone or a device with internet access, or failing that, any phone at all: RTC customer service is at 702-228-RIDE (702-228-7433), and a real person can help you plan a trip or answer fare questions.

Step 1: Plan your trip before you go

You need to answer three questions: which bus, which stop, and what time. There are two easy ways to get all three.

Option A: The RTC Trip Planner. Search “RTC trip planner.” The result you want ends in rtcsnv.com, the RTC’s official site. Enter your starting point, your destination, and the date and time you want to travel. It gives you full directions: which route to take, where to catch it, when it arrives, and whether you’ll need to transfer to a second bus.

Option B: A maps app. If your phone has Google Maps or Apple Maps, open it, type your destination, and tap the bus/transit icon (it looks like a little bus or train) instead of the car icon. It shows the same information: routes, stops, and times. Use whichever feels easier; they’ll agree with each other.

One tip either way: bus stops are labeled with the route numbers they serve. When your bus approaches, check the sign on its front to confirm the route number and direction before boarding. Many stops serve several routes, and this one glance saves you from a scenic detour.

Step 2: Figure out your fare

Fares depend on how long a pass you buy: a 2-hour ride, a full day, or longer passes for regular riders. I’m deliberately not printing prices here: transit fares change, and the RTC has been reviewing its fare structure recently. Instead, get the current numbers from the source. Search “RTC fares and passes” and choose the rtcsnv.com result, or call 702-228-RIDE.

What I can tell you reliably:

• Children 5 and under ride free with an adult.
• Reduced fares (roughly half price) are available for seniors 60+, youth ages 6–17, K–12 students, veterans and active-duty military, people with disabilities, and Medicare cardholders. More on how to get that in Step 4.

Step 3: Pay for your ride

You have two main choices:

Cash on board. You can pay the driver with cash when you get on, but you need exact change. The farebox doesn’t give money back.

The rideRTC app. This is the RTC’s official app for buying passes and planning trips from your phone. To get it, open your phone’s app store (the App Store on iPhone, the Play Store on Android), search “rideRTC,” and install it. It’s free. Inside the app you can buy a pass with a card, and you can even add cash to your app account at participating stores if you don’t have a bank card. When you board, you show or scan the pass on your phone. No paper ticket to lose.

If apps still feel like too much, that’s fine: exact change works, and passes are also sold at transit centers. Start with what’s comfortable and upgrade later.

Step 4: Get your reduced fare (if you qualify)

If you’re 60 or older, a student, a veteran, disabled, or a Medicare cardholder, don’t pay full price. To get the reduced fare, you apply through the RTC. Some groups (like seniors, veterans, and Medicare holders) can apply online by searching “RTC reduced fare” and following the application on rtcsnv.com, and anyone can apply in person at the Bonneville Transit Center, 101 E. Bonneville Ave. in downtown Las Vegas. Bring ID that proves your eligibility (for seniors, that’s a Medicare card or DMV-issued ID).

This is worth an afternoon of effort: it cuts the cost of every ride you take from then on, roughly in half.