Exciting News: Trolleys Make a Comeback in Bangor This Fall

Bangor's public transit system has changed over the years.

If we're being honest, I feel like Bangor has never quite found the right name for their public transportation system. When I was a kid, it was literally just called The Bus. That's it. It was painted in black letters against this orange-y, striped background. And they were these really small diesel buses. But they did the job.

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Later on, it became known as The Bat, which is a little odd. It stood for Bangor Area Transit, I believe. They even doubled down, and they were painted orange with actual bats painted on them. I'm guessing at some point, someone decided that was too strange, and it's been the Community Connector now for several years.

A popular feature is returning in November... Kind of...

A while back, Bangor added some trolleys into their mix of vehicles. They were a huge hit with residents. But in 2021, the service was retired after the last one was in an accident, according to Fox 22. But Bangor recently had the chance to buy three of them and will begin using them this November.

But this time around, they're only going to be used on special occasions. For instance, they will be used on Election Day to bring people to the polls, and there will be no charge to ride them. They'll also be used for things like parades, and other special events where they'd be appropriate.

Why not use them all the time?

Well, there's only three. And they look slightly smaller than the regular buses. So they may not carry quite as many people. Also, they have wooden seats on the inside, so I'm not necessarily sure they're built for what I'd describe as "comfort". But it is truly a nostalgic wonder to ride, I'm sure. Like eating in the train car at the old Captain Nick's.

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All that said, it's going to be a fun addition to throw into the mix now and then. It'll also help keep the experience feeling special. If you could take the trolley all the time, it wouldn't be as fun anymore. So we may as well just enjoy them when we can. It'll certainly be a fun way to hit the polls this November.

None of these people take the bus anywhere, anymore...