Metro Bus Dial-a-Ride | Specialized Service | Policies Return to Home Page
Beverage Policy
Beverages must be in approved containers. Travel mugs with snap on tops or plastic bottles with screw on caps are acceptable. Paper or Styrofoam cups are NOT approved containers.Grocery or Shopping Bags
Passengers are allowed to bring on the bus as many packages as they are capable of carrying in one trip. Drivers are only allowed to assist with two bags OR one cardboard grocery box. If help is needed for additional packages, a companion must be available to assist the passenger.Seat Belt Policy
All non-wheelchair passengers must use a seat belt if one is available. For those riding in a wheelchair, the driver will secure the wheelchair tie-down devices and engage separate seat belts.Fare Payment/Check Policy
Cash, coins or bills ($1 - $20) may be used in any Metro Bus farebox to pay for your ride. Change is given in the form of a debit change card, good in any Metro Bus farebox towards the cost of your next ride. Checks or cash may be used to purchase Metro Bus Dial-a-Ride 31-Day passes and 10-Ride cards at major grocery stores and the Metro Bus Transit Center. Drivers cannot accept checks for fares or accept checks or cash for 31-day and 10-ride passes. For additional information call (320) 251.1499 ext #100.Advance Notice Requirement
Specialized Service trips can be scheduled up to seven days in advance. There is no guarantee that the trip can be scheduled but dispatchers will make every effort to find a trip for you. Metro Bus Dial-a-Ride does not provide emergency medical transportation.Shared Ride System
The Metro Bus Dial-a-Ride program operates on a shared-ride basis. Your ride may be shared with other Special Service and General Public individuals. All trips will be coordinated to carry as many passengers as possible.Passenger Preparedness
Passengers must be prepared and ready at the first door at their scheduled pick up time in order to keep the bus on schedule. If the driver arrives and the passenger is not ready at the first door, the driver is allowed to leave one minute after the scheduled pick up time which will result in a no-show for the passenger.Companions
One companion may ride with a certified Specialized Service individual. However, additional companions may ride only if there is sufficient vehicle capacity as determined by the dispatcher. Each companion traveling with a certified individual must pay the one-way trip fare each time they ride. Companions must board and disembark from the vehicle at the same location as the certified individual. A certified individual suspended under the Guidelines cannot travel as a companion of another certified individual under this section.Children
Up to two children, five and under, ride free with a paid fare on any Metro Bus.Cancellation Policy
If a trip has been scheduled that will not be used, please cancel it as far in advance as possible. To avoid a no show, a scheduled pick up time must be cancelled at least two hours in advance. Drivers are not authorized to accept cancellations.No-Show Policy
A no-show occurs when an individual schedules a ride and fails to use the service by missing his/her scheduled ride or does not give sufficient cancellation notice. If a no-show occurs, a letter will be sent to the individual. The letter contains information about when the no-show occurred and gives instructions on appealing the no-show. Passengers who accumulate three no-shows in any ninety-day period, from the date of the first no show, are subject to suspension of their riding privileges. A first suspension will be the loss of Dial-a-Ride privileges for a period of seven days. A second suspension (after receiving three more no-shows in any ninety-day period) will be the loss of Dial-a-Ride privileges for thirty days. A third suspension will result in the loss of Dial-a-Ride privileges for sixty days, and a fourth and subsequent suspension will result in the loss of Dial-a-Ride privileges for ninety days. An individual receiving a no-show has ten business days from receipt of the letter to notify Metro Bus that they wish to appeal the no-show. The appeal may be made in writing, by phone, or in person to Metro Bus.Last revised on October 17th 2007.