Rider's Guide
excerpts
WELCOME TO ACCESS SERVICES!
Now that you are eligible for Access Services, it's important to learn how to use our system. This guide will explain how to:
What We Are
Public Transportation. Access Services is a form of public transportation. We offer a shared-ride service for people who are unable to use regular bus and light rail services, some or all of the time.
Your travel time will be similar to travel time on a regular bus or rail line. You probably will not go directly to your destination, because other riders need to be picked up or dropped off first. In that way, we are like a shared-ride airport service.
Our Service Area. Our vehicles operate in the same general area as the regular Los Angeles County local bus and rail routes. If your pick-up and drop-off locations are 3/4 of a mile or less from the regular routes, Access Services can take you where you want to go.
The map on page 37 shows how large our service area is. It extends from Antelope Valley in the north to San Pedro in the south, and from Malibu in the west to Claremont in the east.
You can make an appointment to be picked up from and dropped off at almost any curbside location you choose within this area.
Above and Beyond ADA Requirements. Our service in Los Angeles County is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the civil rights law passed by the U.S. Congress in 1990. All of our service meets the "minimum" standards set by the law. We also go beyond the ADA requirements in two important ways.
What We Are Not
We are not the same as your local city Dial-A-Ride, which can sometimes be cheaper than our service.
We are not like a private taxi, because we must be called a day in advance, and your ride is shared with other Access Services riders.
We are not the same as the regular bus, which has a fixed route and schedule. Riding the regular bus allows for more flexibility because you don't have to make a reservation a day in advance.
We are not a medical non-emergency transportation service.
HOW TO RIDE: GETTING STARTED
What Kind of Eligibility Do You Have? Please read your Welcome Letter to find out whether you have Unrestricted or Restricted eligibility. (If you are restricted, you may schedule only the type of trips described in the letter.) If you have Temporary eligibility, please note the expiration date. If you keep scheduling trips that you are not eligible to take, you may be temporarily suspended from using Access Services.
Your Rider Identification (ID) Card. Every time you use Access Services, you will need to show your ID card before boarding the vehicle. If you lose your card, please call Customer Service right away. A replacement card costs $3. Do not allow anyone else to use your ID card for any reason.
Understanding Next-Day Service. The Americans with Disability Act says that you must schedule your ride a day in advance. So, if you want to ride somewhere tomorrow, you can call today between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. to make a reservation. You may schedule just one trip or as many as 6 one-way trips per call.
Understanding the One-Hour Reservation Window. On an average weekday, we have 750 vehicles in service. They make a total of about 7,500 trips in an area that spans 4,060 square miles - in one of the most crowded places in the United States. So it would be impossible to pick up everyone who needs a ride at exactly the time they would like.
That is why we have a "one-hour reservation window." This means that the Customer Service Representative can offer you a pick-up time up to 1 hour before or after your requested time. For example, if you ask for a pick-up at 6 a.m., you can be offered a trip some time between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. The one-hour window is permitted by federal law.
Understanding Pick-Up Times. Access Services has a 20-minute pick-up window. This means that a vehicle is considered on time if it arrives up to 20 minutes after the requested time. For example, if the pick-up is for 11 a.m., the vehicle can arrive any time between 11 a.m. and 11:20 a.m. and still be considered "on time."
Understanding Curbside Pick-Ups. Access Services is a curb-to-curb service. This means that the driver cannot leave the vehicle to come to your door or enter your building. In some cases, our vehicles will not be able to enter private driveways or gated communities or gated apartment buildings. If you need help getting to the curb, please be prepared to rely on your personal care assistant or a friend or relative.
excerpts
WELCOME TO ACCESS SERVICES!
Now that you are eligible for Access Services, it's important to learn how to use our system. This guide will explain how to:
- Schedule (and, if necessary, cancel) your ride
- Wait for your ride
- Help make sure your trip is a pleasant one
What We Are
Public Transportation. Access Services is a form of public transportation. We offer a shared-ride service for people who are unable to use regular bus and light rail services, some or all of the time.
Your travel time will be similar to travel time on a regular bus or rail line. You probably will not go directly to your destination, because other riders need to be picked up or dropped off first. In that way, we are like a shared-ride airport service.
Our Service Area. Our vehicles operate in the same general area as the regular Los Angeles County local bus and rail routes. If your pick-up and drop-off locations are 3/4 of a mile or less from the regular routes, Access Services can take you where you want to go.
The map on page 37 shows how large our service area is. It extends from Antelope Valley in the north to San Pedro in the south, and from Malibu in the west to Claremont in the east.
You can make an appointment to be picked up from and dropped off at almost any curbside location you choose within this area.
Above and Beyond ADA Requirements. Our service in Los Angeles County is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the civil rights law passed by the U.S. Congress in 1990. All of our service meets the "minimum" standards set by the law. We also go beyond the ADA requirements in two important ways.
- One, we coordinate service throughout the county, so that you can cross city boundaries with ease. You can schedule your entire trip with just one phone call. Except for trips to and from Santa Clarita or the Antelope Valley, you can stay in the same vehicle, with no need to transfer.
- Two, we have a special Operations Monitoring Center that can help you if you have a problem with your ride. (See page X for instructions for using this service.)
- To visit friends
- To keep a doctor's appointment
- To take a class
- To your paid or volunteer job
- To worship at a church, temple or mosque
- To a store
- To see a movie
- Or anywhere else you wish.
What We Are Not
We are not the same as your local city Dial-A-Ride, which can sometimes be cheaper than our service.
We are not like a private taxi, because we must be called a day in advance, and your ride is shared with other Access Services riders.
We are not the same as the regular bus, which has a fixed route and schedule. Riding the regular bus allows for more flexibility because you don't have to make a reservation a day in advance.
We are not a medical non-emergency transportation service.
HOW TO RIDE: GETTING STARTED
What Kind of Eligibility Do You Have? Please read your Welcome Letter to find out whether you have Unrestricted or Restricted eligibility. (If you are restricted, you may schedule only the type of trips described in the letter.) If you have Temporary eligibility, please note the expiration date. If you keep scheduling trips that you are not eligible to take, you may be temporarily suspended from using Access Services.
Your Rider Identification (ID) Card. Every time you use Access Services, you will need to show your ID card before boarding the vehicle. If you lose your card, please call Customer Service right away. A replacement card costs $3. Do not allow anyone else to use your ID card for any reason.
Understanding Next-Day Service. The Americans with Disability Act says that you must schedule your ride a day in advance. So, if you want to ride somewhere tomorrow, you can call today between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. to make a reservation. You may schedule just one trip or as many as 6 one-way trips per call.
Understanding the One-Hour Reservation Window. On an average weekday, we have 750 vehicles in service. They make a total of about 7,500 trips in an area that spans 4,060 square miles - in one of the most crowded places in the United States. So it would be impossible to pick up everyone who needs a ride at exactly the time they would like.
That is why we have a "one-hour reservation window." This means that the Customer Service Representative can offer you a pick-up time up to 1 hour before or after your requested time. For example, if you ask for a pick-up at 6 a.m., you can be offered a trip some time between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. The one-hour window is permitted by federal law.
Understanding Pick-Up Times. Access Services has a 20-minute pick-up window. This means that a vehicle is considered on time if it arrives up to 20 minutes after the requested time. For example, if the pick-up is for 11 a.m., the vehicle can arrive any time between 11 a.m. and 11:20 a.m. and still be considered "on time."
Understanding Curbside Pick-Ups. Access Services is a curb-to-curb service. This means that the driver cannot leave the vehicle to come to your door or enter your building. In some cases, our vehicles will not be able to enter private driveways or gated communities or gated apartment buildings. If you need help getting to the curb, please be prepared to rely on your personal care assistant or a friend or relative.
client
Access Services
project
Rider's Guide
audience
Individuals (including the elderly) who have a disability that prevents them from using regular public transit
goal
To provide a clear, concise, and friendly explanation of the complex rules that govern the use of this transit service
Access Services
project
Rider's Guide
audience
Individuals (including the elderly) who have a disability that prevents them from using regular public transit
goal
To provide a clear, concise, and friendly explanation of the complex rules that govern the use of this transit service