If you're looking to "Catch the CAT" when Bismarck-Mandan's public bus system begins operating May 10, there will be some planning in your future.

Bis-Man Transit will run six buses from the starting time of 6:30 a.m. to around 9 a.m., then take two buses off the system. They'll go back on the system around 3 p.m. Robin Werre, director of Bis-Man Transit, said some buses will be pulling double duty, with one assigned specifically to Mandan's streets. The system shuts down for the day at 6:30 p.m. and doesn't run on weekends.

The 12 bus routes stretch as far west as Mandan's Sunset Drive and out to 26th Street in east Bismarck. Bismarck buses will travel north to 43rd Avenue and south to Warwick Loop. Riders can travel between Bismarck and Mandan via Memorial Highway.

The system will have 45 stops scheduled for certain times, or time-points, to keep them on schedule. Annette Tait, account executive of Agency MABU, said if buses are at the scheduled stops early, they'll wait until they're back on time.

Not all routes will begin at Kirkwood and Gateway malls, but riders can catch the buses at specific scheduled stops. Werre said the routes are pretty much the same distance and require 25 minutes from the time buses leave Kirkwood or Gateway malls until they return there. Routes are set to repeat on the half hour or hour, depending on the route.

Because of the time limit, some of the routes are alternates to the main route. Werre said the alternates are available because some distances are so long that buses will only run there and back without other stops along the way.

Along with the scheduled stops, buses will pick up riders who wave them down on street corners. Provided, that is, that there's not a safety hazard created to traffic as a result. For instance, buses can't stop in right turn lanes unless the bus is turning right. In these cases, riders will need to wait on the opposite corner. Werre doesn't know when the bus stops and shelters will be set up, but there will be signs at the time-points.

For the first two months of bus service, riders can test it out free of charge. After, single rides are $1, or 50 cents for seniors and students. Monthly passes are $35 and $23. The buses will carry bike racks. Bikers will need to learn how to load and unload their bikes on the racks from Bis-Man Transit before utilizing them.

Bus maps with schedules will be available soon for the public throughout the two cities, including both city halls, Bis-Man Transit, Kirkwood and Gateway malls.