StaRT GENERAL POLICIES & PROCEDURES FOR SHUTTLES, RUNABOUT & DIAL-A-RIDES

How to Schedule a Ride on a Shuttle, Runabout or Dial-A-Ride
Call 1-800-262-1516. For curb-to-curb service, customers may call and make reservations up to seven days in advance. We recommend that passengers call no later than of 4 hours before the ride. Your request will be filled on a time and space available basis. Please be ready to go 15 minutes before your scheduled pick-up time.

Minimum Age Requirements - Minimum age for a child traveling on the bus without adult supervision is nine (9) years old. Children eight (8) and under must travel with someone sixteen (16) or older. They may not ride unaccompanied. Children age five (5) and under ride free when accompanied by a paying adult. Only one free child fare is allowed for each paid adult.

Please have the following nine items of information ready when you call to schedule your first
Dial-A-Ride or curb-to-curb Runabout ride:

  • Name (last, first, and middle)
  • Birth date
  • Sex (male or female)
  • Home address
  • Mailing address (if different from home address)
  • Telephone number
  • Mobility aids you use (e.g., cane walker, wheelchair)
  • Emergency contact person
  • Major trip purposes (e.g., work, education, doctor, therapy, recreation, etc.).

The information will only be used to help us serve you. The information will help us keep track of your rides, to make sure you are receiving good service. This information is required of all riders. You only need to give the information at the time of your first appointment. After that, you only have to tell us
your name.

Thereafter when scheduling a reservation, please have the following ready:

  • Desired time for pick-up, or appointment time
  • Time for return pick-up (if required)
  • Address of pick-up
  • Address of drop-off
  • Number of passengers or any attendants
  • Any special requirements, such as wheelchairs, walkers, etc.

Runabouts and Dial-A-Rides will take you from one specific location to another as long as you have called in advance and made a reservation for curb-to-curb service; however, you will be riding with many other people.  Although Runabouts and Dial-A-Rides provide curb-to-curb service, it is still a public transit service. All other passengers on the bus must be picked up and dropped off also. This could cause a time delay in your trip. Runabouts and Dial-A-Rides are not intended to be a taxi service. You may be on the bus for a considerable amount of time when compared to a taxi trip.

How Long Will the Bus Wait for a Passenger?
The bus will wait five (5) minutes for a person who uses a wheelchair and/or a Senior and three (3) minutes for everyone else. StaRT does not prioritize rides based upon trip purpose.

How Long Will the Passenger Wait for a Shuttle, Runabout or Dial-A-Ride?
It is important for the passenger to realize that a bus has half hour window around their scheduled pick up time. The bus may be there 15 (fifteen) minutes before their scheduled pick up time or 15 (fifteen) minutes after their scheduled pick up time.

Shuttle, Runabout and Dial-A-Ride Subscription Service
Shuttle, Runabout curb-to-curb and Dial-A-Ride passengers may book rides in advance for regular appointments or regularly scheduled destinations. This is an aspect of the Runabout and Dial-A-Ride services (only) which allows passengers to guarantee seating on a repetitive basis over an extended period of time without having to make more than one call.
  • If possible, subscription rides/passengers should not be more than 50% of the bus seating capacity at any time.
  • Passengers are responsible for calling and canceling a subscription ride. Failure to do so will result in a No Show Notice. This is critical to maintain open seats on the daily service.
  • Canceling an initial ride does not cancel a second return ride.
  • If a passenger no-shows an initial ride on a round trip the return ride is automatically cancelled.

Turn Arounds - We will wait three (3) minutes for a turn around. Please try to limit the number of turn arounds to two (2) at one time. If Scheduling permits, we will accommodate you. Please remember, this is a shared-ride service and other people may be waiting to get to their destination.

No Show and Cancellation Procedures for Shuttles, Runabout and Dial-A-Rides
If you don't need a ride after you have scheduled one, please call and cancel as soon as possible, but no less than 2 hours before the scheduled pick-up time. Reservations canceled with less than two hours notice are considered a "No-Show". "No-Shows" or those who do not cancel 2 hours prior to the scheduled pick-up time will be charged.

Three "No-Shows" in a year will be cause for suspension of Shuttle, Runabout or Dial-A-Ride service for 30 days. 

Passengers who fail to cancel three separate scheduled rides:

  • Before the two hour period
  • Without reasonable cause
  • Within a one year period, will receive a 30-day suspension of rider eligibility. A formal progression of notification precedes any action to suspend eligibility.

Prior to formal suspension a series of warning notices will be issued.

First Warning
A first letter of notification will be sent to the passenger, noting the date and time of the passenger’s no-show. The letter will inform the passenger that three no-shows within a one-year period are the basis for a 30-day suspension of rider eligibility.

Second Warning
A second letter of notification will be sent to the passenger, noting the date and time of the passenger’s first and second no-shows. The no-show policy of rider eligibility will be restated.

Suspension
A third letter of notification will be sent to the passenger, noting the date and time of the passenger’s third no-show and two previous no-shows. This letter will notify the passenger of a 30-day suspension of their rider eligibility.

Passengers are responsible for fares for their no-show rides, and outstanding balances must be paid in full before rider eligibility can be restored.

Appeals
Any passenger who wishes to appeal a no-show notice may contact the Stanislaus Regional Transit Operations Manager at (209) 527-3206.
 

Shopping Bag Policy / Packages & Strollers
No more than three (3) bags for each paying passenger. All items must be in the bags and may not be loaded above the top of the bags.

Some passengers will be carrying strollers, infant carriers, suitcases and/or packages. When possible, drivers may assist passengers in making sure that all carried on items are properly stored. Drivers may require the passenger to hold the item on their lap. When de-boarding, passengers with carried on materials may have to wait until the other passengers have de-boarded to retrieve their stored items. Go Back