The public transportation system in Fort Myers consists of a city bus network that is wheelchair accessible. Due to the size of Lee County, the distance between tourist attractions and the limited service schedules for public transit, relying wholly on the city bus will be difficult for tourists eager to experience all that Southwest Florida has to offer. That said, there are still many fantastic use cases, which I will describe below.
Fort Myers Wheelchair Accessible City Bus Service
100% of city buses in Fort Myers are wheelchair accessible with a wheelchair ramp that folds out from the front door of the bus.
City bus service is provided by LeeTran, the Lee County Transit Department, which operates just over 20 different routes throughout Fort Myers and the surrounding communities.
Each bus has a wheelchair ramp and two wheelchair securement spaces with tie-downs.
For a list of bus routes, maps and schedules, visit RideLeeTran.com.
Useful city bus routes for tourists
The following routes operate year-round and serve downtown Fort Myers, in addition to areas outside of the city center:
- 10 — Edison Mall and Dunbar
- 15 — Downtown Fort Myers and Tice
- 20 — Dunbar and Downtown Fort Myers
- 70 — Cape Coral and Fort Myers
- 100 — Riverdale to Downtown Ft Myers
- 140 — Merchants Crossing to Bell Tower
Bus Route 50 (Airport Service)
Serves Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), connecting riders to other routes that serve downtown Fort Myers, Cape Coral and elsewhere.
Downtown River District Trolley (Blue, Gold) (Seasonal)
LeeTran operates a wheelchair accessible trolley service known as the Downtown River District Trolley. The service is seasonal, normally operating from November to April each year. Information on the trolley service, routes and schedules is available through the River District Trolley brochure (PDF). The trolley buses are wheelchair accessible with a wheelchair lift.
Beach Tram (#420) (Seasonal)
Suspended until January 2022, the Fort Myers Beach tram is a free service that connects visitors to destinations in Fort Myers Beach. The tram is seasonal and runs the length of Estero Island, from Bowditch Park to Lovers Key State Park. The typical months of operation are from January through April. More information is available in the Fort Myers Beach Tram & Trolley brochure (PDF). The open-air tram is wheelchair accessible via a ramp.
Fort Myers City Bus Fares & Passes
Fares are available for purchase on the bus with cash or using the reloadable TropiCard, a reusable fare card that stores value as well as unlimited ride passes. Detailed information about the TropiCard can be found in the video below, or on the LeeTran website.
The current fare structure is as follows:
- Single Ride Adult Fare — $1.50
- Single Ride Discount Fare (Ages 65+, Disabled & Students) — $0.75
- Children 42″ & under — FREE
- All-Day Pass (All Riders) — $4.00
- 7-Day Pass (Adult) — $15.00
- 7-Day Pass (Seniors & Disabled) — $11.00
- 31-Day Pass (Adult) — $40.00
- 31-Day Pass (Seniors & Disabled) — $23.00
- 12-Trip Pass (Adult) — $13.50
- 12-Trip Pass (Seniors & Disabled) — $6.50
Although my experience riding public transit in Lee County was limited, I found the drivers friendly and the service reliable. I was invited to tour LeeTran’s headquarters, and found there a dedicated team focused on delivering mobility options to residents and visitors of Fort Myers. I hope you’ll get to experience the same when visiting Southwest Florida!
