I remember someone on here did some great research on the bus a while back. If he did arrive by bus, a single ticket for that particular route in 2001 cost 50 cents (no matter how far you traveled). Did Lyle break into a crisp $20 like the other ones he had in his room?

The bus stop outside the motel/store was a "request stop" (it didn't stop there automatically, you had to alert the driver). This would make it more likely that a driver would remember him, but they didn't. It's also a real quiet route. Not many passengers.

There was just one bus on Saturday (the day Lyle was pacing outside the store). Was he waiting for this bus and become anxious when it was late/didn't turn up? Maybe he had an appointment with someone, and that bus was the only way to get out of Amanda Park for the day.

I think he took the bus, but the drivers just can't remember him. The times match up (the bus stopped just minutes before Lyle checked in, according to the lady in the hotel). And there was no abandoned car anywhere.