Star Knight (M45)
Google
First time trying out the Jolley Trolley Coastal as an "alternate transportation idea" to get around the Clearwater/Clearwater Beach/Dunedin area. I had a boat to catch at Clearwater Beach and allowed for 2 hours for any delays. The fares are reasonable and the pickup times and stops plentiful. The trolleys were clean. Unfortunately, that is where the positives ended.
From Dunedin and not knowing exactly what pickup spot to go to was aggravating. I went to 3 different Dunedin "Stop" locations and made 2 phone calls to their dispatch to find the right one that goes to Clearwater Beach. Once on the Trolley, I couldn't get the reader to scan my phone for the payment. The driver couldn't get it to work either. So, being persistent for 2-3 mins, the scanner finally read the Q Code and we were off. Finally made it to the Clearwater Beach Transit Center and arrived with less than a 40 mins for my boat trip.
The major problem came when I took the Jolley Trolley back to Dunedin. No clear instructions on which Trolley Stop we should be to get back to Dunedin. One of the drivers at the Beach Transit Stop (where we were dropped off, earlier) ended up telling us that we had to cross the main street into Clearwater Beach, then walk a block to the far east side of the Marina Parking Lot to get back to Dunedin. We had to wait there in 90-degree temps facing the sun directly with little shade for 45 mins.
Finally, the "right bus" to Dunedin came after 4 other buses passed by. Now onto a 40 min ride to Dunedin. NOT! We get to downtown Clearwater at the main terminal for buses and the driver got out of the bus W/O telling anyone riding that he wasn't leaving for at least 40 minutes. We just sat there...waiting and waiting. When he did come back (30 mins later) he pulled out a book he brought from home and started reading it for 10 mins. Not a word to any of us. Finally, he left to continue the Dunedin stop. Just after 5 mins of driving, he picked up a man and that man took over driving near Drew St and Sunset Point Rd. That took another 7 mins for this change over. The new driver then proceeded down Alt 19 only to stop to chat with a homeless person on the side of the road. He asked if she needed a ride. This wasn't a scheduled stop, but at least he tried to help her. After that unscheduled stop, we finally made it back to Dunedin. I couldn't get off that Trolley, fast enough. I was extremely happy not to have any plans scheduled after this trolly trip. After spending 2 hours on a very hard seat and the ridiculous delays-without an explanation and the minor hassles on the earlier trolly experience, I would NEVER consider taking the Jolley Trolley from Clearwater Beach to anywhere north of the downtown Clearwater area. Going to Clearwater Beach from Dunedin is okay but find another way back. I used Uber continuously for returns back to Dunedin after that fiasco with Jolley Trolley Coastal Route.