Planning a Scheduled Ride

  • How Individuals can Schedule Rides Video
  • Practice Script Conversations between Greene CATS Scheduler/Greene CATS Dispatch and a rider (PDF)
  • Greene CATS Public Transit Scheduling a Trip 
    • Rider can also email requests to Scheduling Office, after initial setup of profile, at [email protected] 
      • Email requests must be made a minimum of two business days in advance (by noon) of trip date and/or up to 30 days in advance, just like phone in requests
      • Email requests will be processed during office hours, Monday-Friday, from 8am-4pm, along with requests that have been phoned in, in the order they are received
      • If email request is sent after Scheduling hours, email request will be processed the next business day
  • Definitions of Common Terms

    • Demand-Response Transportation
      • Generally refers to any transportation service that dispatches vehicles by phone requests 
      • Does not follow a fixed route and depending on program resources and demand, requests might need to be made within 24-48 hours or more in advance
      • Vehicles typically carry multiple passengers picked up from different points of entry and dropped off at separate destinations
      • Example: Greene CATS Public Transit operates a demand-response system
        • There are no eligibility requirements to ride
    • Fixed Route Transportation
      • Public transit agencies typically provide fixed route service by bus along established routes with set schedules and no reservations required
    • Complementary Paratransit
      • As an American with Disabilities Act (ADA) required complement to fixed route public transit, this service is limited to those persons who are not able to use fixed route service
      • It must operate in the same areas and during the same hours as the fixed route service
      • It provides door-to-door service for all its passengers
      • To qualify, riders will need to meet specific eligibility requirements established under ADA
      • Example: Greater Dayton RTA operates complementary paratransit
    • Curb-to-Curb 
      • Passengers exit the vehicle at the curb or driveway of their destination. 
      • The driver does not assist the passenger to the door of their residence or other destination
    • Door-to-Door
      • The driver can help the passenger enter and exit the vehicle and may walk with passenger to the front door of their residence or destination
    • Ride Time
      • Passenger may ride up to one hour on the vehicle
    • Pick-up Window
      • Rider may be picked up as much as 30 minutes (60 minutes for waiting list) after the requested pick up time
      • 30 minute example: Joe Smith has requested a ride home for 5:05 pm (he gets off at 5 pm). He could be picked up anywhere between 5:05 pm to 5:35 pm. Arrive home as early as 5:15 pm or as late as 6:35 pm
    • Pick-up Time
      • Rider should be ready at least 10 minutes prior to their scheduled pick up, waiting either outside or at the entrance for the vehicle to arrive
      • Driver will only wait 5 minutes past the scheduled pick up time. The bus will proceed to the next pick up if the rider is not out within 5 minutes and a bus will come back when available
      • Greene CATS will not leave anyone stranded, but, wait time could be extensive if rider is not ready and another bus has to be free to come back and pick them up
      • Greene CATS has to honor the scheduled pick up times promised to other riders, so drivers need to stay on schedule
    • Drop-off Time
      • May arrive up to 30 minutes (60 minutes for waiting list) before the requested drop off time
      • 30 minutes example: Joe Smith has requested a ride to arrive by 12:55 pm (he works at 1 pm). He could arrive at work anywhere between 12:25 pm to 12:55 pm and be picked up as early as 11:25 am from home if his scheduled arrive time is 12:55 pm
    • Shared Ride
      • One vehicle transporting more than one passenger, with separate trip requests, because they are traveling along a similar route on the same day and time
    • Cancellation
      • When a passenger schedules a trip or flex route deviation and notifies Greene CATS that they are no longer taking the trip more than one hour before their scheduled pick-up time
    • No-show
      • When a passenger schedules a trip of flex route deviation, does not take the trip or fails to cancel the trip less than one hour prior to their scheduled pick-up time with Greene CATS