Cass County Transit Guidelines

Home Public Transit Find a Provider Cass County Guidelines

11. Accessibility Details

Transit Regional Reduced Fare Cards
Personal Care Attendants (PCAs)
Service Animals
Safety
Securement
Priority Seating Area

1. Requesting Rides

To reserve your ride, please call the reservation line or dispatcher between one (1) and seven (7) days in advance. Please note: Reservation lines are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Click here to view or print the brochure!

Please have the following information available when you call to reserve your ride:

Your name and the date you want to travel.
Your pick-up address, including an apartment or suite number.
Your drop-off address, including an apartment or suite number
A contact name and phone number if you are visiting a private residence.
The time and length of your appointment.
If a service animal or pet will accompany you.
If an attendant or companion will accompany you.
Whether you will be using a mobility aid such as a wheelchair, walker, crutches or oxygen.
All the above information for your return trip.

Multiple trip requests for the same day must be scheduled at least 30 minutes apart from your scheduled arrival time.

Please note the following information when booking rides with your transit provider:

Cass County Public Transportation (CCPT) reserves the right to limit service in cases where the ride request is less than ¼ mile from point of origin. Such requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
A driver’s responsibility for a rider begins at the curb where the trip begins and ends at the curb of the rider’s destination. This means drivers will assist you on and off the bus and will secure your carry-on items in the bus.
If you need assistance from your apartment to the lobby or from a building entry to an office on another floor, you must have someone other than the driver to assist you.
Drivers will not come into the ‘common area’ of an apartment or office building to meet you because there may be other riders on the bus and drivers need to stay within sight of the bus.
Drivers may not enter your home, even to assist you with a mobility device or help you with your coat. Please do not invite the bus driver into your home.

Prescheduling return rides from a medical or legal appointment

CCPT asks that you schedule your round-trip transportation when setting up any ride. Medical or legal staff can help you determine how long you may need for your appointment.

If your appointment takes longer than expected, please call when you are available for your return ride. CCPT will send another vehicle for you as soon as one is available.

2. Same Day Trip Request

Same day trip requests (including changing your pick-up or drop-off location) are scheduled on a space/time available basis. Because there are very limited times available, CCPT cannot guarantee that any same day trip request can be accommodated.

Do not ask the bus driver to change the scheduled return trip place or time, or to schedule another ride for you. Drivers cannot make these changes. Please call a reservationist with these requests.

3. Pick-Up Time (20-Minute window)

Once we have agreed upon a scheduled pick-up time, your bus is scheduled to arrive within a "window" of 20 minutes before to 20 minutes after your scheduled pick-up time. It is important that you keep the 20-minute window in mind when reserving trips and when waiting for your vehicle.

Example: Your scheduled pick-up time is 12:00 p.m. A vehicle will be scheduled to arrive for your trip between 11:40 a.m. and 12:20 p.m.

Buses will wait up to three minutes, so please be ready when the bus arrives. If you do not come out within three minutes, the vehicle will depart without you, and you will be declared a "No-Show." We suggest you wait indoors during inclement weather in a location where you can see the vehicle and will be able to reach it within the three-minute wait time

If your vehicle has not arrived by the end of your 20-minute window, please call the transit agency. The dispatcher will give you information about the status of your trip.

4. Cancellation

Cancellation: For a cancellation to be considered "advanced" customers must notify/call the transit agency sixty (60) minutes or more before the scheduled pick-up time. Please cancel any unnecessary trips to avoid taking up seats for other customers.

Late Cancellation: Your trip will be considered a late cancellation if you notify the transit agency less than sixty (60) minutes before your scheduled pick-up time. You must pay for the "no show" ride before riding the bus again. If you accumulate three late cancellations within a 30-day rolling period, you will be notified by mail that you are out of compliance with our late cancellation policy and you may be temporarily suspended from service.

5. No-Show

Your trip will be considered a no-show if you do not call at least sixty (60) minutes/1 hour before your scheduled pick-up time, or you do not board the vehicle before or during the three-minute wait time. A total of three no-shows in a 30-day rolling period or less will be grounds for suspension and you will be notified by mail that you may be temporarily suspended from the service. Customers incurring no more than two no-shows during a 30-day period or less may receive a courtesy warning letter advising them that they will be out of compliance with the no-show policy upon incurring three or more no-shows in a 30-day period or less.

Customers may receive warning letters and suspension letters simultaneously and/or may receive a suspension letter alone depending on the order of the no-show occurrences. If you feel the violations are incorrect you may request an appeal to dispute the no-shows that caused this suspension. The initial suspension period is for 7 days. If you continue to incur no-shows, multiple suspensions will lead to an increase in the length of the suspensions. This information is explained in more detail in the suspension letter that you will receive.

Please Note: If you no-show a scheduled trip, you must notify the transit agency within sixty (60) minutes in order to confirm any trip reservations for later that day.

6. Temporary Suspension

The following is a list of offenses that may lead to temporary suspension and are not tolerated:

Willfully make threats, sexually harass, disturb, upset, physically or verbally harass or use offensive language or gestures towards other customers, drivers or towards the any transit staff on the phone.

Fail to pay exact fare upon boarding.

Drink alcohol on board any transit vehicle.

Smoke on board any transit vehicle.

Show a general disrespect for the transit agency's rules.

Violate the no-show or cancellation policy.

Fail to follow the transit agencies’ policies.

Please Note: Repeat instances of these types of behavior may result in temporary suspension of service.

7. Subscription Trips

Subscription trips are not available at this time.

8. Trip Chaining

Trip Chaining (making additional stops) or drop-offs at locations other than the initial requested destination are not allowed. Once you leave the bus, you cannot get back on unless you pay an additional fee.

9. Transfers

If you want to transfer to another bus system such as the Niles Dial-A-Ride, inform the driver when you board. You will be required to pay the fares on the bus system that you will transfer to. It is your responsibility to make arrangements for pick-up up or drop-off at the designated transfer location.

10. Holiday Closing

Transit does not operate on the following holidays:

Memorial Day
Independence Day (“4th of July”)
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
New Year's Day
Martin Luther King Day

On most other holidays, CCPT will run a modified schedule. Please contact customer service for specific holiday schedules.

Please Note: CCPT reserves the right to revise this holiday list.

11. Accessibility Details

Reduced Fare Cards

To receive a discounted fare, clients may be asked to show a valid reduced fare card or to show a valid identification card issued by a government entity upon boarding. Please do not be offended if drivers ask for your reduced fare card as they are simply verifying your certification.

Personal Care Attendants (PCAs)

One (1) Personal Care Attendant (PCA) may accompany ADA passengers at no additional charge if the ADA certification provides for a PCA. Additional travelers that accompany the passenger are considered companions and must pay the regular fare. A PCA is anyone whose purpose is to help passengers meet their disability-related personal needs. A ride for the PCA must be reserved at the time the passenger’s ride is scheduled, and the PCA must have the same origin and destination as the eligible passenger. Transit personnel can assist passengers with boarding, disembarking and stowing personal belongings, however, transit personnel cannot assume the duties of a PCA. Under certain circumstances management may strongly recommend a PCA for passengers with lost sensory or motor functions to such an extent that they need assistance with personal needs, behavior, and/or general safety.

Service Animals

Cass County Public Transportation is required under 49 CFR §37.167 (d) to permit service animals to accompany individuals with disabilities in vehicles and facilities. If you have a service animal, your animal may accompany you on our buses and into our facilities. Please keep in mind that, for the purpose of determining whether the animal accompanying you is indeed a service animal, Cass County Public Transportation staff members are permitted under federal transit law to ask you these two questions:

Is your animal a service animal required because of a disability?
What work or task has your animal been trained to perform?

You are required to answer these two questions if asked by Cass County Public Transportation staff. If you fail or refuse to answer these questions, Cass County Public Transportation may deny you permission to board our vehicles or enter our facilities.

Please note that if an animal’s only function is to provide you emotional support or comfort, it is regarded as an emotional support animal, not a service animal, and therefore not covered by DOT ADA requirements and therefore is not allowed on our vehicles or in our facilities.

It is also important to note that your service animal is never required to be “registered” in any way with Cass County Public Transportation Dispatch for it to be allowed on our vehicles or facilities. You may board any of our vehicles with a service animal without Cass County Public Transportation having prior notice or knowledge that you have a service animal.

Safety

In the event of a service emergency please call CCPT first. If you have a medical emergency, or your condition is very fragile and you require specialized care, please CALL 911. CCPT drivers are not trained as paramedics.

Securement

Drivers have been trained in the proper use of the securement systems. Optional lap belts and shoulder harnesses will be offered for your use. If you have concerns regarding the securement of your mobile assistive device, please contact your transit provider.

Priority Seating/Securement Area

A priority seating area is designated at the front of the bus for seniors and riders with disabilities. A designated seating area is also available on the bus for users of mobile assistive devices. If other passengers are using these seats, please let the driver know and the driver will politely ask them to move.

12. Fares

Reduced Fares Passengers who have disabilities and are seniors (60 and older) are automatically eligible to use services at half the regular fare. For passengers who travel with an attendant, the attendant will also be eligible to ride for free. The Reduced Fare card identification should be shown to the driver.

Exact Fares are Required Please have your exact fare ready and in a convenient location if assistance is needed when boarding the bus. Drivers cannot make change.

Handling Fares or Fare Cards Drivers may assist with fares or fare cards for passengers with disabilities upon request.

13. Inclement Weather

Closing of Cass County Public Transportation due to weather will be broadcast on local radio stations and/or the television stations based i the South Bend, Indiana area. Service will be limited or canceled when adverse weather creates hazardous conditions.

Every effort will be made to deliver essential transportation for those in dialysis and those who have other medically necessary appointments, however, nonessential rides may be cancelled.

Sidewalks, driveways and ramps must be accessible for drivers to safely transport passengers to and from his or her destination.

14.Terms and Definitions

No- Show: When a rider fails to board the bus within the 5-minute wait time or has not called to cancel the trip at least sixty (60) minutes before their scheduled time.

Wait time: Wait time is the time that it takes for the transportation provider to reachet the destination after the scheduled pick-up time. Riders should know that the provider is allowed a 20-minute window after the scheduled pick-up time due to unforeseen traffic, weather conditions, etcSubscription Trip: A Subscription trips is a recurring trip made with a single reservation. The trip must be to and from the same place at the same time on the same day(s) of the week.

Trip Chaining: Trip chaining is the practice of requesting one or more additional stops before the requested destination. Trip chaining is not allowed.CCPT.

Cancelling in Advance: For a cancellation to be considered "advanced" customers must notify by calling the CCPT 60 minutes or more before the scheduled pick-up time.

Reduced Fares: Fares less than full fare. These apply only to those with disabilities and seniors 60 years and older.

This page last updated on 7/29/2024.