Take a moment to consider the three most famous buses of all time: The Magic School Bus, Rosa Parks’ bus, and Sandra Bullock’s bus in Speed…or Harry Potter’s Knight Bus (depending on your genre preference). What makes each of these buses notable? The Magic School Bus was practical and left you feeling just a bit smarter, Rosa Parks’ bus left a beautiful dent in history and those other buses were just plain fun. Add all of these elements together, and you’ve got Richmond’s newly famous To the Bottom and Back Bus.

The To the Bottom and Back Bus, also referred to as 2BNB or “the drunk bus,” was established on August 12, 2009, but it was something that founder, Jim Porter, had been working towards since he was much younger. When Jim was a teenager, he used to borrow his dad’s Winnebago and drive his buddies around from place to place. He discovered that safely delivering people to their destinations was both fun and rewarding, so he made a career of it. However, to assume that 2BNB’s sole purpose is chauffeuring Richmond City drunks is to grossly underestimate what the organization is all about.

The program’s official and more obvious missions can be found, with other basic information, on their website at 2bnb.org. Their secondary missions involve a couple of basic principles. 2BNB wants to keep their passengers out of trouble while offering them a fun commute. Therefore, their policy is to be very lenient, and even welcoming, towards a lot of questionable behavior. Brandi Parker, one of the bus’ hosts, shares, without any disdain, her experiences cleaning up vomit at the end of a shift. “It happens… and usually people try to be considerate about it,” she offers cheerfully. Bus driver and Operations Manager, Jeff Stefanski, speaks highly of the passengers, admitting, “To do what we do, you really gotta’ love it. And we do!”

Additionally, the company strives to bring the community together and have everyone working towards a common mission. Porter beams as he talks about the citywide baby steps they’ve already noticed. “When we first started, there were no signs welcoming college freshmen. So, we put a sign on our bus. Now we’re starting to see other signs for them around the community.” The entire 2BNB brigade prides itself in the efforts they are taking to make a lasting impact on Richmond’s community.

In asking around, I found that there are some “drunk bus” topics about which local residents are universally curious. So, in a nutshell… They generally frown upon any alcohol on the bus, but are not in the practice of turning people away (but, make sure you leave glass containers at home!). The drivers generally strive to stay on a set route but will ultimately do what it takes to ensure that individual passengers are not putting themselves in unsafe situations. The bus is too big for a drive-thru, so late-night Taco Bell runs are a no-go. The drivers have come across some crazy people, but most of them were seen on the city’s streets, as opposed to on their bus. There are currently two running buses; however, they recently announced a new sponsorship by the University of Richmond, which will extend their route to include a UR stop. In case there aren’t enough reasons to own a smart phone, you can now add “live 2BNB bus tracking via their website” to the list. If you see the bus, and you want a ride, all you have to do is wave them down. The organization will rent out its services for private parties, and they donate their services to various non-profits. The program runs exclusively through generous donations and sponsorships. “We put everything we get to creative use, and we put everything we have back into this company,” says Stefanski.

Likely, your mind has been blown by all of the philanthropic and good-spirited dimensions that are behind this company’s efforts. Just remember, 2BNB’s primary message is that there is never a reason to drink and drive. Do yourself, and your fellow Richmonders, a favor…be smart, help make a difference, and have a blast–take the bus!
For more information or to track the bus so you can hop on, go to www.2bnb.org.