Indian Trails

{{Infobox bus transit

|name= Indian Trails
{{nobold|{{small|Indian Trails, Inc.}}}}

|logo= Indian Trails logo.png

|logo_size= 250

|image= File:Indian Trails 2020 Prevost X3-45 MI-159.jpg

|image_caption=Indian Trails bus in Pontiac, Michigan

|company_slogan=

|parent=

|founded= 1910

|defunct =

|headquarters= Owosso, Michigan

|locale= Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota

|service_area=

|service_type= Inter-city bus

|routes=

|destinations =

|stops=

|hubs=

|stations=

|lounge=

|fleet=

|ridership =

|annual ridership =1 million+{{cite web |title= Indian Trails: About Us |url= http://www.indiantrails.com/about-us |access-date= October 6, 2014}}

|fuel_type=

|operator=

|alliance =

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|leader_type=

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|website= {{official url}}

}}

File:Milwaukee Wisconsin 7990.jpg]]

Indian Trails is an intercity bus operator primarily serving the U.S. state of Michigan, with routes also serving Wisconsin and Minnesota. Indian Trails is based in Owosso, Michigan, with offices in Romulus, East Lansing, and Kalamazoo.{{cite web |url= http://www.indiantrails.com/locations |title= Locations |publisher= Indian Trails |access-date= January 12, 2012 |quote= Owosso (Main Office) 109 East Comstock Street Owosso, MI 48867"; "Kalamazoo 1015 East Michigan Kalamazoo, MI 49048"; "Romulus 28685 Smith Road Romulus, MI 48174 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111126063326/http://www.indiantrails.com/locations |archive-date= November 26, 2011 |url-status= dead }}

History

Indian Trails was founded in 1910 in Owosso by Wayne and Cora Taylor as the Phillips-Taylor Livery Service, whose main business was transporting cargo to and from Durand Union Station and the surrounding Shiawassee County. Cora Taylor was the first woman in the United States to be issued a chauffeur's license.{{Cite web |title=Cora V. Taylor 1884-1971 |url=https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/about/history/transportation-hall-of-honor/cora-taylor |website=Michigan Department of Transportation}} Beginning in the 1910s, the company expanded to include intercity offerings, becoming known as the Owosso-Flint Bus Line and by the 1930s served much of southern Michigan. Many of its buses ran along US 12, known as "the Old Indian Trail." Reflecting this, in 1935, the company took its current name, Indian Trails.{{cite web | title=Indian Trails: History | url=http://www.indiantrails.com/history | access-date=October 6, 2014}}

Indian Trails offers charters, casino trips and regular fixed-route daily service.{{cite news |url= http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/business/2008/02/midmichigan_companies_major_pl.html |title= Mid-Michigan Companies Major Players in Motor Coach Industry |first= Jeff |last= Rauschert |date= February 15, 2008 |access-date=2009-10-30 |work=MLIve |publisher= Booth Newspapers }} In 2006 Indian Trails assumed responsibility for a number of routes in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula which Greyhound Lines had discontinued.{{cite press release|first=Janet |last=Foran |url=http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-9620_11057-156841--,00.html |title=MDOT Announces Indian Trails to Provide Upper Peninsula Bus Service, and Expand Routes in Lower Peninsula |publisher=Michigan Department of Transportation |date=November 22, 2006 |access-date=October 30, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805162515/http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0%2C1607%2C7-151-9620_11057-156841--%2C00.html |archive-date=August 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

Indian Trails' daily scheduled bus service is part of Michigan's [http://www.michigan.gov/documents/MDOT-PTD-intercitymap_78377_7.pdf Intercity Bus System] recognized by the Michigan Department of Transportation.

In November 2006, Indian Trails, in partnership with Okemos Travel, launched the Michigan Flyer, an express service connecting East Lansing, Jackson, and Ann Arbor with Detroit Metro Airport.{{Cite web |date=2012-01-25 |title=Indian Trails Launches Michigan Flyer Fleet With Near-Zero Emissions |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/indian-trails-launches-michigan-flyer-fleet-with-near-zero-emissions/ |access-date= |website=CBS News Detroit |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Hillman |first=Sarah |date=2013-11-20 |title=Early birds and night owls rejoice: Michigan Flyer is spreading its wings |url=https://www.secondwavemedia.com/capitalgains/features/flyer0740.aspx |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=Capital Gains |publisher=Second Wave Media |language=en}} In 2012, the Michigan Flyer absorbed the AirRide express service operated by TheRide, and service to Jackson was discontinued.{{Cite web |last=Flory |first=Brad |date=2012-02-20 |title=Michigan Flyer drops Jackson from Metro Airport bus route |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/2012/02/michigan_flyer_to_drop_jackson.html |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=MLive |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2012-02-17 |title=Michigan Flyer and Ann Arbor Transportation Authority Partner to Provide 12 Daily Detroit Metro Airport Trips |url=https://www.michiganflyer.com/Portals/0/pdf/AirRide_Partnership_Detroit_20120217.pdf |website=Michigan Flyer |publisher=Indian Trails}} In October 2019, a new stop was added at the Meijer store in Brighton.{{Cite web |date=2019-08-22 |title=Michigan Flyer Launches Brighton Service, Adds More Runs in East Lansing & Ann Arbor |url=https://www.michiganflyer.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=dEiIS7LWOAY%3D&portalid=0 |website=Michigan Flyer}}

On March 1, 2023, Indian Trails ended its longtime operating agreement with Greyhound Lines, and introduced a new ticketing system.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Chloe |date=2023-02-22 |title=Greyhound ends busing contract in Jackson, new provider will continue routes |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/2023/02/greyhound-ends-busing-contract-in-jackson-new-provider-will-continue-routes.html |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=MLive |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Rowe |first=Corey |date=2023-08-21 |title=Intercity Connections: Navigating a Volatile Bus Network |url=https://coreyrowe.me/2023/08/21/intercity-service |access-date= |website=The Café Car: Mode Shift in the Mitten}} The company also overhauled its route network, reintroducing direct service from Detroit to Chicago, among other changes.{{Cite web |last=Bus & Motorcoach News |date=2023-02-27 |title=Indian Trails launches national bus ticketing system |url=https://www.busandmotorcoachnews.com/indian-trails-launches-national-bus-ticketing-system/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=Bus & Motorcoach News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Bus Routes |url=https://www.indiantrails.com/bus-routes |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328055245/https://www.indiantrails.com/bus-routes |archive-date=2023-03-28 |access-date= |website=Indian Trails}} Chicago service was subsequently discontinued in November 2023.{{Cite web |title=Bus Routes |url=https://www.indiantrails.com/bus-routes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105220111/https://www.indiantrails.com/bus-routes |archive-date=2023-11-05 |access-date= |website=Indian Trails}}

Current routes

= Mainline =

Effective November 1, 2023.

class="wikitable"

!Route

!Major stops

1483

|Detroit, Southfield, Pontiac, Flint, Owosso, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo

1484

|Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Cadillac, Traverse City, Charlevoix, Petoskey, St. Ignace

1485

|Detroit, Southfield, Pontiac, Flint, Bay City, Alpena, St. Ignace

1488

|Detroit, Southfield, Ann Arbor, Jackson, Lansing, Mt. Pleasant, Clare, Gaylord, Petoskey, St. Ignace

1489

|St. Ignace, Sault Ste. Marie, Escanaba, Iron Mountain, Crystal Falls, Ironwood

1490

|Hancock, Houghton, Marquette, Escanaba, Green Bay, Manitowoc, Milwaukee

1491

|Ironwood, Hurley, Ashland, Iron River, Superior, Duluth

= Michigan Flyer =

File:Michigan Flyer logo.png

File:Michigan Flyer 2020 Prevost H3-45 3941 (East Lansing).jpg

Indian Trails operates the Michigan Flyer, an express service connecting East Lansing, Brighton, and Ann Arbor with Detroit Metro Airport. As of March 2024, the service makes twelve round trips daily.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-23 |title=Michigan Flyer Schedule |url=https://www.michiganflyer.com/schedule-route |website=Michigan Flyer |publisher=Indian Trails}}

== Hytch ==

In May 2023, Indian Trails introduced Hytch, a shuttle service which provides door-to-door transportation from Lansing-area addresses to the Michigan Flyer stop in downtown East Lansing. Operated by Via Transportation, Hytch uses minivans, driven by independent contractors (referred to by Via as "driver partners") to provide rides.{{Cite web |title=Driver Partner {{!}} Lansing, MI |url=https://www.helpwanted.com/45a51c928ab2413089dd63ed59c79992-Driver-Partner-job-listings |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504005112/https://www.helpwanted.com/45a51c928ab2413089dd63ed59c79992-Driver-Partner-job-listings |archive-date=2023-05-04 |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=helpwanted.com |language=en-us}} The service was available exclusively for ticketed Michigan Flyer passengers, who were able to add the service to their trip reservation for $10 extra per ride.{{Cite web |title=Hytch Rideshare by Michigan Flyer FAQ |url=https://www.michiganflyer.com/hytch-faq |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=Michigan Flyer |publisher=Indian Trails |language=en}} Hytch service was suspended on February 10, 2024.{{Cite web |title=Hytch Rideshare by Michigan Flyer FAQ |url=https://www.michiganflyer.com/hytch-faq |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240325014716/https://www.michiganflyer.com/hytch-faq |archive-date=2024-03-25 |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=Michigan Flyer |language=en}}