Metro Bus Dial-a-Ride | Specialized Service | Scheduling a Ride Return to Home Page
To schedule a ride, call 320.252.1010 up to one week in advance of your ride. The dispatcher will need you to give your name, origin address, destination address, desired arrival time at destination address, and whether a companion or Personal Care Attendant will be accompanying you for each trip scheduled. Drivers cannot take appointments or make changes to any previously scheduled rides.
Every effort will be made to schedule trip requests at the specific time desired. The dispatcher may need to suggest an earlier pick-up time to get you to your destination in a timely fashion. However, due to system capacity and limitations, or for other reasons, it may not always be possible to meet all trip requests.
The caller will be provided with a scheduled pick-up and return time. All passengers should be ready and waiting at the first door of the building they are being picked up and allow 15 minutes to pass beyond their pick-up time before calling the office to inquire about their ride.
Advance Notice Requirement
Specialized Service trips can be scheduled up to seven days in advance. Every effort will be made to schedule trip requests at the specific time desired. Return trips for medical appointments can be scheduled when the initial ride is requested or can be called in when your medical appointment is completed.
Specialized Service does not provide emergency medical transportation.
Metro Bus Dial-a-Ride Shared Ride System
The Metro Bus Dial-a-Ride Specialized Service 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.
Subscription Trips
When an individual is going to the same origin/destination at the same time on a regular basis, subscription service will be issued to Specialized Service individuals where capacity is available on a "first-come first-served" basis.
Companions
One companion may ride with a registered Specialized Service individual. However, additional companions may ride only if there is sufficient vehicle capacity as determined by the Specialized Service dispatcher. Each companion traveling with a certified individual must pay the one-way trip fare each time they ride. Companions must board and deboard from the vehicle at the same location as the certified individual. A companion is defined as a family member or friend unless the family member or friend is acting in the capacity of registered personal care attendant for the registrant. A certified individual suspended under the Guidelines cannot travel as a companion of another certifed individual under this section.
Personal Care Attendant (PCA)
One Personal Care Attendant can accompany a certified Specialized Service passenger at no charge. A Personal Care Attendant is defined as a person who provides care for the certified individual and who is a necessary part of the individual's mobility. The certified individual's application will need to indicate that they may, at times, require the assistance of a Personal Care Attendant. This will be noted in the rider's client file. A Personal Care Attendant's ride must be scheduled with the dispatcher in advance to allow for seating on the Specialized Service vehicle. The PCA must board and dsboard the vehicle at the same locations as the certified individual.
Canceling a Scheduled Trip
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. To cancel a scheduled ride, you must call 320.252.1010.
Last revised on October 17th 2007.