One of the provisions of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) is a requirement that public transit be accessible to passengers with disabilities. The solution in several urban areas is a system known as paratransit. Paratransit often works in conjunction with fixed routes to make it easier for all passengers to use an area's public transportation system.
Equipment Provided
Paratransit services often feature modified vans to handle the bulk of their services. These vans are equipped with lifts to accommodate passengers who use wheelchairs. The vans are much smaller than conventional public transit buses and seat fewer passengers. The routes are mapped according to the needs of the passengers as much as possible but are also frequently limited by budget constraints.
Requirements for Qualification
Passengers on paratransit systems must be certified as eligible to use the services. Establishing eligibility often requires filing an application that describes the passenger's disability and explains why he is unable to use regular transit. The application often requires the signature of a health care professional as well. Once a passenger has established his eligibility, he usually receives a special card that allows him to purchase paratransit fares and schedule rides on the system.
Prescheduled Rides
On many paratransit systems, passengers call to schedule rides, usually the day before. The passenger gives the time and date she needs to be picked up, along with her location and destination. If they have an appointment at their destination, passengers are advised to allow time to get on and off lifts and navigate the distance between the vehicle and the building where the appointment is located.
On-Demand Service
With some paratransit services, passengers may schedule rides on demand. The passenger is picked up by a taxicab, which may be equipped with a lift if the passenger needs one. The cab takes the passenger where he needs to go, and the passenger pays with a voucher provided by the paratransit service. The service is usually more expensive than conventional paratransit service but less than a conventional taxicab ride.
Considerations
Once a passenger has been certified as eligible for one paratransit service, she is often able to transfer that certification to another service, either temporarily, such as on a vacation, or for a permanent relocation. Additionally, many transit services have retrofitted at least some of their fixed route train stations and most, if not all, of their fixed route buses with lifts to allow access by passengers who use wheelchairs.
Tags: paratransit service, schedule rides, than conventional, certified eligible, equipped with, fixed route, often requires