Celebrating 50 Years of Service in 2025

Harbor Transit is proud to announce a new community-focused initiative offering free rides to and from food pantries within its service area. As the holiday season approaches—a time when many families experience increased financial pressure—Harbor Transit aims to remove transportation barriers and help ensure that every resident has access to essential food resources.

Beginning immediately, and continuing through December 31, 2025, riders can schedule no-cost trips to any food pantry within Harbor Transit’s service area by scheduling a ride through the Lakeshore Go mobile app, or by calling Harbor Transit’s dispatch center. The initiative is open to all community members, with no eligibility requirements beyond traveling to or from a food pantry.

“We know the holidays can be an especially challenging time for many in our community,” said Scott Borg, Executive Director. “By providing free, reliable transportation to local food pantries, we hope to ease some of that burden and support the well-being of our neighbors.”

In addition to offering free transportation, Harbor Transit is hosting a Cans-n-Coats drive at its facility at 440 N Ferry Street in Grand Haven, through November 21, 2025. Community members are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items, as well as new or gently used winter essentials such as coats, hats, gloves, and blankets, which can be brought to the Harbor Transit lobby during business hours. All collected items will be distributed to local food pantries and partner organizations to support residents facing both food insecurity and the challenges of colder weather. By aligning with ongoing initiatives, Harbor Transit hopes to expand the impact of community support systems and ensure a united approach to addressing food insecurity.

“We’re grateful for the incredible work already being done throughout the Tri-Cities area,” Borg added. “Our goal is to complement those efforts and work hand-in-hand with community partners to ensure everyone has access to the resources they need.”

For more information or to schedule a free ride to a food pantry, residents are encouraged to call Harbor Transit at 616-842-3200 or visit www.harbortransit.org. Riders should note that they need to sign up with Love In Action to utilize the partner food pantries. Learn more about Love In Action food pantries here.

Food Pantries (partnered with Love In Action), and Hours of Operation, within Harbor Transit’s Service Area:

Mondays
1. All Shores Community Church 9AM-Noon, 15550 Cleveland, Spring Lake
2. Ferrysburg Community Church 9:30AM-Noon, 17785 Mohawk Dr, Ferrysburg

Tuesdays
1. St Patrick’s Catholic Church 10AM-4PM, 920 Fulton, Grand Haven
2. 1st Reformed Church 5PM-8PM, 300 Washington Ave, Grand Haven

Thursdays
1. St Mary’s Catholic Church 9:30AM-4:30PM, 421 E Exchange (corner of Prospect and Exchange), Spring Lake

Fridays
1. Spring Lake Presbyterian Church 10AM-1:30PM, 760 Savidge St, Spring Lake

Help Our Bus Operators See You — Especially at dawn and dusk.

As the days get shorter, it becomes harder for bus operators to see passengers waiting in dark clothing or standing away from the stop. Your visibility can make all the difference.

Here’s how you can help keep yourself safe:
• Wear bright or reflective clothing — light colors, safety vests, or items with reflective stripes.
• Carry a small light or use your phone flashlight to signal the bus as it approaches.
• Stand near the pickup location and step forward (safely) as the bus nears so the operator can see you sooner.
• Avoid wearing all black or dark hoodies when waiting at night or early morning.

Remember: Operators want to see you before they’re right at the stop — your visibility gives them time to pull over safely.

Together, we can make every ride safer — for you, for our operators, and for everyone on the road.

Beginning on October 1, 2024, Harbor Transit riders purchasing ride credits with a credit/debit card will incur a small service fee charged by a third party electronic payment processing company.

Currently, riders can purchase ride credits with a credit or debit card through the Lakeshore Go app, through Harbor Transit’s website at www.harbortransit.org/fares, or in person at our facility with a card, cash, or check. A service fee is charged for each electronic payment transaction, and will be charged automatically. Riders do not have to perform any additional actions when purchasing ride credits. 

The service fees are as follows:

• In-Person Payment with a Credit/Debit card = 2.95% + $0.50 service fee per transaction
• Online Payment or Lakeshore Go Payment with a Credit/Debit card = 2.9% + $0.30 service fee per transaction 

The good news is, there are several ways that riders can reduce electronic payment service fee charges:

• Purchase a Monthly Pass if you are a frequent rider.
• Purchase a “Bundle” of ride credits (they come in the amounts of $9, $18, or $27), or purchase your ride credits in bulk for any other amount of your choosing. 
• Pay with cash or a check at our facility at 440 N Ferry Street to avoid incurring any fees at all. Your ride to and from Harbor Transit to add ride credits to your account will be free.

With a fleet of 29 accessible buses, Harbor Transit is committed to providing affordable and convenient transportation to all of our Tri-Cities residents. Since 1975, we’ve provided transportation for thousands of passengers going to work, school, medical appointments, and other important destinations.