atkinson wrote:

BTW, this is the only resort on the East Coast that even offers a free bus service to backcountry runs. Everywhere else is hitch-hiking or car stash, so how about a little love for the extra help from the Bush? John

The bus ride back to Stowe from the Matterhorn after skiing the Bruce trail says hi.

Sorry for the misinformation. The Couloir Du Bar also has bus service. And about four times the runout as Slide Brook.

John

Tin Woodsman wrote:

Yard Sale wrote: skituner8 wrote: first come first serve. seems pretty simple rite! Yes, except for if some one pays for something that includes a particular privlege such as guided ski tours, ski/board lessons and Blazers that get preference at the lift corrals and apparently the madbus. It is just the way it is. By this logic, it would be OK for a SB skier to get on the bus at any stop on the line instead of someone in town just visiting relatives, or skiing MRG perhaps. Doesn't seem to make much sense to me. I think the contribution SB makes is to the system, not for that particular stop along the way.

Madbus: 101
Several years ago, Sugarbush made the decision to explore using its transportation dollars spent on a 'closed system' (mountain run, owned, served) as a 'local match' toward a public transportation system that would serve not only the mountain, but the greater community. After much work from the local transit advisory council, we were able to secure state/fed funds, buy buses (titled to the chamber) and launch a sysstem that has offered various levels of service. Some years we have run a summer service, most years not. It's about money and ridership.

So Sugarbush, along with a handful of local lodging properties on the route fund the local match of this seasonal system. The rest is state/fed funds. The system costs about $425k annually(seasonally) to run.

You can flag the bus down anywhere on the route (as far north as Kenyon's and as far south as Warren Village, as well as Access Rd/German Flats to ME) and if it is safe, the bus will stop for you. There is no charge to ride the bus.

My opinion, personally, is first come first served on the Slidebrook stop, with allowances for common courtesy. I don't believe anyone is 'entitled' to board the bus with any type of priority. Tour group or otherwise. That is my personal opinion. Am I allowed to have one of those here?

Tin Woodsman wrote:

The bus ride back to Stowe from the Matterhorn after skiing the Bruce trail says hi.

.

Hmmmm, one less person on the Mad Bus from Slidebrook.
I'll take that spot!

007 wrote:

Tin Woodsman wrote: The bus ride back to Stowe from the Matterhorn after skiing the Bruce trail says hi. . Hmmmm, one less person on the Mad Bus from Slidebrook. I'll take that spot!

No thanks. I still prefer Slidebrook - you'll have to wait for the next bus.

noski wrote:

Madbus: 101 So Sugarbush, along with a handful of local lodging properties on the route fund the local match of this seasonal system. The rest is state/fed funds. The system costs about $425k annually(seasonally) to run.

Based on this, as a Sugarbush Village condo owner (Castlerock, hence the screen name), with a village condo bus route stop, at my property (Castlerock/Paradise stop), I am billed quarterly by Sugarbush for roads, water, sewer and services.

Am I correct in assuming that part of what I pay to Sugarbush underwrites Sugarbush's contribution to this fund?

castlerock wrote:

Am I correct in assuming that part of what I pay to Sugarbush underwrites Sugarbush's contribution to this fund?

I cannot answer that for sure. Honestly, I would guess not- though I suppose some small portion could be allocated to Madbus funding. I really, really want to outreach to the condo associations for some sort of contribution on an annual basis. The lodgings properties and Sugarbush are bearing the cost of the local match at this point. Again, just my best attempt at an answer.

noski wrote:

I cannot answer that for sure. Honestly, I would guess not- though I suppose some small portion could be allocated to Madbus funding. I really, really want to outreach to the condo associations for some sort of contribution on an annual basis. The lodgings properties and Sugarbush are bearing the cost of the local match at this point. Again, just my best attempt at an answer.

Based on what we pay I would assume that we do! (I'm a complainer at heart)

But a reality is, if Sugarbush didn't have the Madbus, Imagine how big the parking lot would have to be with the condo owners driving to the hill.

castlerock wrote:

noski wrote: I cannot answer that for sure. Honestly, I would guess not- though I suppose some small portion could be allocated to Madbus funding. I really, really want to outreach to the condo associations for some sort of contribution on an annual basis. The lodgings properties and Sugarbush are bearing the cost of the local match at this point. Again, just my best attempt at an answer. Based on what we pay I would assume that we do! (I'm a complainer at heart) But a reality is, if Sugarbush didn't have the Madbus, Imagine how big the parking lot would have to be with the condo owners driving to the hill.

In the winter months we average over 55,000 rides. It will be interesting to see how the numbers pan out this season.

How many true ski on/ski off condo spots are there? Not many right? C Rock, South Village ? Most include some walking. Maybe that is part of what makes the mountian feel like it does. Kind of like condos on a golf course.

You are right, there are few. That is because the (a) the development goes out, not up, and (b) our mountain goes up, not out!

Till somebody figures how to throw up a Snow creek looking complex up Cat's Paw!! Hope not. Actually, on second thought. I'll take one! Dreaming.

slaw wrote:

How many true ski on/ski off condo spots are there? Not many right? C Rock, South Village ? Most include some walking. Maybe that is part of what makes the mountian feel like it does. Kind of like condos on a golf course.

At South not too many. Snow Creek and Mountainside, some South Village. Many South Village folks will ski on and off, after using a car to get some vertical above the base. Other "walk to's" would include, Castlerock, Center Village. After that, there is a ton of others that almost exclusively use the bus. North Lynx, Paradise, Summit, Glades, plus the ones off the mountain, Club Sugarbush and Southface.

The SV crowd seems much softer than those hardcore CR shredders!

slaw wrote:

The SV crowd seems much softer than those hardcore CR shredders!

The more accepted term is "Less Hard".