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Berrien Bus Guidelines
3. Pick-Up Time
4. Cancellation
5. No-Show
- Transit Regional Reduced Fare Cards
- Personal Care Attendants (PCAs)
- Service Animals
- Safety
- Securement
- Priority Seating Area
10. Fares
Complete listing of Berrien Bus transportation guidelines.
1. Requesting Rides
To reserve your ride, please call the reservation line or dispatcher between one and seven days in advance. Please note: Reservation lines are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. View 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.
- 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:
- Transit 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.
- Bus drivers are not allowed to leave the bus except when operating the lift.
- 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, 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.
Pre-scheduling return rides from a medical or legal appointment
Transit providers ask 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. The transit provider 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, transit providers 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 (15-Minute window)
- Once we have agreed upon a scheduled pick-up time, your bus is scheduled to arrive within a "window" of 15 minutes before to 15 minutes after your scheduled pick-up time. It is important that you keep the 15 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 11:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m
- Buses are required to wait up to two minutes for a customer to come out and board. If you do not come out within two 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 two minute wait time.
- If your vehicle has not arrived by the end of your 15 minute window, please call the transit agency. The dispatcher will give you information about the status of your trip.
4. Cancellation
Trips must be cancelled at least one hour in advance, otherwise your trip will be considered a no-show.
5. No-Show
Your trip will be considered a no-show if you do not call at least 60 minutes before your scheduled pick-up time, or you do not board the vehicle before or during the two minute wait time. A total of three no-shows in a 30 day rolling period or less will be grounds for suspension until payment is made in full.
Please Note: If you no-show a scheduled trip, you must notify the transit agency within 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.
- 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. 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.
8. Holiday Closing
Transit does not run service on the following holidays:
- Memorial Day
- 4th of July
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
- New Year's Day
On most other holidays, transit providers will run a modified schedule. Please contact customer service for specific holiday schedules.
Please Note: Transit agencies reserve the right to revise this holiday list and will notify all subscription riders of any change.
9. Accessibility Details
Reduced Fare Identification Cards
To receive discounted fare, customer may be asked to show a valid reduced fare card or to show a valid identification card issued by a government entity (Medicare card)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 are able to assist all passengers with boarding, disembarking and stowing personal belongings. However, the 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.
Berrien Bus 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 in order to determine that the animal accompanying you is indeed a service animal, Berrien Bus staff 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 Berrien Bus staff. If you fail or refuse to answer these questions, Berrien Bus 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 Berrien Bus Dispatch for it to be allowed on our vehicles or facilities. You may board any of our vehicles with a service animal without Berrien Bus having prior notice or knowledge that you have a service animal.
Operators 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 local transit provider.
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 operator know and the operator will politely ask them to move.
10. Fares
- Reduced Fares Seniors, (60 and older), and people with disabilities are automatically eligible to ride 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 operator.
- Exact Fares are Required Please have your exact fare ready and in a convenient location if assistance is needed when boarding the bus. Operators cannot make change.
- Handling Fares or Fare Cards Operators may assist with fares or fare cards for passengers with disabilities upon request.
11. Inclement Weather
Service will be limited or canceled when adverse weather creates hazardous conditions.
Sidewalks, driveways and ramps must be accessible for operators to safely transport passengers to and from his or her destination.