|
What is BTaccess?
BTaccess is a transportation
service for persons with disabilities who, by means of a disability, cannot
use the existing Bloomington Transit "fixed route" bus
system.
BTaccess is operated by the
Bloomington Public Transportation Corporation. It is the same organization
that operates the Bloomington Transit fixed route bus system.
BTaccess service is provided
with vans equipped with wheelchair lifts. If you are eligible, our vans can
pick you up and take you anywhere in Bloomington.
There are no restrictions on where in the city you can go or how often,
depending upon your eligibility.
Who Can Use BTaccess?
Anyone may apply for BTaccess
paratransit eligibility. You may call Bloomington Transit at 336-RIDE
(7433) and request that an application be mailed, e-mailed or faxed to you.
Please let the Customer Service Representative know which accessible format
best suits your particular needs (tape, e-mail, compact disk). You may
obtain a BTaccess Application on our website. A form
must be completed and approved before you may schedule your first trip.
Verification of your eligibility by a medical doctor licensed to practice
in the state of Indiana
may be necessary.
Eligibility to use BTaccess
may be granted on a full or conditional basis depending on the person's
ability to use regular fixed route bus service. Those persons who receive
full eligibility status may use BTaccess
for all trips within the service area during days and hours that service
operates. Conditional eligibility may be granted to persons who under
certain conditions may be able to use regular fixed route service. Persons
with conditional eligibility may use BTaccess
when their disability prevents them from using the regular fixed route
service.
All persons granted full or conditional eligibility for BTaccess are subject to periodic
recertification of their eligibility status. Such recertification shall
generally be done every 1-5 years.
In order to properly schedule the vans so that we can be there when you
need us, you must schedule your trip by 5:00 pm the day before you wish to
travel.
BTaccess can pick you up and
drop you off only within the city limits of Bloomington. If you aren't sure of a
location, simply call the BTaccess
information number for help. If you like, a friend or relative may act as
your companion and accompany you on your trip. Companions must pay the full
fare requested ($2.00) per one-way trip. Personal Care Attendants, if
required, may accompany you at no charge.
BTaccess drivers may pick you
up and drop you off at your curbside. For security reasons, drivers may not
enter your home, apartment building or place of business. Therefore, please
remember to make appropriate arrangements in advance.
BTaccess will sometimes accept
standing orders for recurring trips on the same day and time from week to
week. Such standing order trips shall not exceed more than 50 percent of
the total trips made during that given time of day. Please contact
Bloomington Transit if you are interested in setting up a standing order.
Passenger Responsibilities
BTaccess passengers
have the following responsibilities:
- Schedule BTaccess service at least the day before a trip is planned.
- Paying the proper fare to
the driver at the time of the trip.
- Use BTaccess service only when regular fixed route service
cannot be used because of the person's disabilities.
- Treat BTaccess personnel and other passengers with respect.
- Show up for scheduled trips
within 5 minutes of the scheduled time.
- Show up at the curb of your
origin point to board the vehicle. It is not the drivers’
responsibility to look for the passenger in buildings or elsewhere.
- Limit "no shows"
and cancellations since these affect service availability and
timeliness for others.
- Obey all vehicle and service
rules with respect to no eating or drinking on vehicles, no smoking on
vehicles, no playing loud music, proper use of seatbelts, keeping
service animals under control, not bringing on oversized packages and
other items, not asking the driver to attend to personal requests of
the passenger such as entering their home, handling keys, medications,
or running errands.
Repeated failure to adhere to the
responsibilities outlined above may result in refusal of service and
possible sanctions in future use of the service.
How Much Does It Cost?
Registration is free. Each time you ride, you must pay the driver $2 or
$4 for a round trip. Drivers will not make change. Ten ride punch cards are
available for $20 and 30 ride punch cards for $60 at the Bloomington Transit
office, 130 W. Grimes Lane
and at the 4th and Washington
bus terminal. Passes are also available by mail. Call us for
more details.
When and Where Does BTaccess Operate?
BTaccess vans operate on the
following days and times:
|
Time of Year
|
Days
|
Span of Hours
|
Service Area
|
|
Year round
|
Monday - Friday
|
6:10 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
|
All areas within Bloomington
incorporated area
|
|
IU Fall & Spring Semesters only – break periods
not included
|
Thursday, Friday,
Saturday
|
11:30 p.m. - 3:35 a.m.
|
Origins & destinations must be within 3/4 mile of Routes
6 and 9
|
|
Year round
|
Saturday
|
7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
|
All areas within Bloomington
incorporated area
|
|
IU Fall & Spring Semesters only
|
Saturday
|
7:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
|
Origins & destinations must be within 3/4 mile of Routes 6 and 9
|
|
IU Fall & Spring Semesters only
|
Sunday
|
9:30 am -
10:30 pm
|
Origins & destinations must be within 3/4 mile of Routes
6 and 9
|
|
IU Summer Break only
|
Sunday
|
9:30 am -
7:30 pm
|
Origins & destinations must be within 3/4 mile of Route
6
|
The span of hours noted in the table above indicates the earliest time a
pickup can be made and the latest time a drop-off can be made. All trip origins
and destinations must be within the incorporated area of the City of Bloomington. In cases
where BTaccess is provided only
during special times during the IU fall and spring semesters, trip origins
and destinations must be within 3/4 mile of the appropriate fixed route (9
Route or Route 6 Campus Shuttle).
BTaccess service is not
provided on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If these holidays fall on a Sunday, they will observed the
following Monday.
How Do I Apply?
Just follow this link to obtain a BT Access Application Then simply
print the form, fill it out entirely and return it to BTaccess, c/o Bloomington Transit, 130 W. Grimes Lane, Bloomington,
IN 47403.
Follow this link for a Large Print Application.
Get More Information
Follow this link to view the BT Access Customer Handbook.
How Can I Advocate and Help Improve BTaccess?
The Bloomington Council on Accessible Transportation (BCOAT) is an
advisory group to BPTC staff that meets regularly to provide input on the
development of policies and procedures relative to BTaccess service and BT fixed route. These
open-to-the-public meetings are held at the BT offices at 130 W. Grimes Lane.
For more information about the meetings, please contact Mr. Eli McCormick, Customer Service Manager, at
332-5688. The next scheduled BCOAT meeting is May 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the
Bloomington Transit Conference Room. BTaccess
clients can ride for free to and from the meeting if the trips are
requested at least a day in advance.
|
