Travel Training
SamTrans offers travel training, free of charge, to teach people with disabilities how to ride SamTrans. Participants learn where to wait; how to get on the right bus; how to pay the fare; where to sit; how to get off at the right stop; how to make connections and how to get help if they have trouble during the trip. SamTrans instructors conduct one-on-one training for people with physical disabilities (such as those who use a wheelchair or a walker). For people who are blind or visually impaired, SamTrans contracts with the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired to provide travel training. SamTrans also has an agreement with the Janet Pomeroy Center to provide training for persons with developmental disabilities. People with developmental disabilities are assessed by a travel-training instructor and an individual program is presented in stages at a pace determined by the participant. For more information about travel training, call SamTrans at 650-508-6202 (TTY 650-508-6448.)

Bus Stops
Many of SamTrans’ existing bus stops already meet regulations established by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Lifts and ramps can be deployed at many stops which do not meet full regulations. SamTrans is working to upgrade key bus stops to meet ADA regulations, and all new bus stops are ADA accessible.

Discounted Fares
Seniors and persons with disabilities holding a Regional Transit Connection Discount Card, Medicare Card or Department of Motor Vehicle Disabled Placard Identification Card may ride all Bay Area public transit systems at a discount. To request an RTC Discount Card application, call SamTrans at 1-800-660-4287 (TTY 650-508-6448). Discount card holders also may purchase a Senior/Disabled SamTrans Pass. Passes are sold through the mail and at 80 sales outlets throughout SamTrans’ service area.

Boarding - Lifts and Ramps
All SamTrans buses are equipped with lifts or ramps that can be used by people who use mobility devices or cannot climb steps. Each bus also has a kneeling feature that lowers the front end so the first step is easier to reach. If you have difficulty boarding the bus, ask the operator to lower the front end or deploy the lift or ramp.

Seating Area
The side-facing seats in the front of every bus and the first two forward-facing seats are priority seating for seniors and persons with disabilities. If you need to use one of these seats and they are occupied, tell the operator.

Announcements
All SamTrans buses are equipped with an automated system that makes amplified announcements of major transfer points, intersections and destinations. An electronic message board inside the bus simul-taneously displays the same information. External loudspeakers announce the route number and destination of the bus at all bus stops.

Getting Off the Bus
On most buses, there is a bell cord in the wheelchair area that is easy to reach. The newest buses also have a touch bar to request a passenger stop. If you are unable to pull the bell cord or press the touch bar, tell the operator when you get on the bus which stop you need. Operators will announce any stop on request. When you board, ask the operator to call out your stop and sit in the front seat so that the operator can let you know when the bus has reached your stop.

Service Animals
Service animals, such as guide dogs, may accompany persons with disabilities on the bus. The animal must be under the constant supervision and control of the person with disabilities. It must be on a lead that does not interfere with other passengers. While riding, the animal must sit or stand on the vehicle floor without blocking the aisle. If the animal misbehaves, the customer will be asked to remove the animal from the vehicle. Riding privileges may be revoked for repeated misbehavior.

Using a Mobility Device on SamTrans
All SamTrans buses can accommodate mobility devices that are a maximum of 30 inches by 48 inches and do not exceed 600 pounds, including the weight of the occupant. If your mobility device exceeds this standard, call SamTrans at 650-508-6202 so that it can be determined if the device can be accommodated on the bus.

Two-wheeled Mobility Devices
SamTrans customers with disabilities may bring an Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device, such as a Segway, on SamTrans if it is used as a mobility device.

To ensure safety for all onboard passengers, the customer using the EPAMD must follow the bus operator’s instructions for boarding and securing the device.

The term EPAMD refers to a self-balancing, non-tandem, two-wheeled device not greater than 20 inches deep, 25 inches wide and 60 inches tall, inclusive of accessories. The device has an electric power system less than 750 watts and can achieve a maximum speed of 12.5 mph.

Boarding
Remove poles or flags attached to your mobility device before boarding. You may be asked to remove your handlebar bag to facilitate securement of the EPAMD. If you need to use the lift or the ramp, the driver will ask you to board the bus before any other passengers. When you arrive at your stop, the driver will help you off the bus after any other passengers. When boarding the lift in a mobility device, it is recommended that you back onto the lift platform. When boarding a ramp, face forward. Lock your brakes to prevent rolling while the lift is in operation. Once the device is secure, the operator will raise the lift until it is level with the bus floor.

When boarding a ramp in a lift or ramp with an EPAMD it is recommended that you face forward.

Seating Area
The first forward-facing seats on either side of the bus fold up to allow room for mobility devices. For safety reasons, it is recommended that passengers in three- or four-wheeled scooters transfer to a seat, if possible. Passengers using an EPAMD, once secured, are asked to sit in the closest available seat.

Securing a Mobility Device
You must allow the bus operator to secure your mobility device. However, the Americans with Disabilities Act states that if your mobility device cannot be secured, you may still ride the bus.

Belts
The bus is equipped with belts to secure wheelchairs and scooters. The belts on the majority of SamTrans buses are a retractable design, making it easy for bus operators to quickly secure the mobility device. All buses also have a lap belt (or lap and shoulder belt) to secure the passenger.

Clamps
Some SamTrans buses also are equipped with a wheelchair clamp on the underside of the folding seat. The clamps are designed for chairs with large rear wheels. To properly secure your wheelchair, back the wheelchair into the clamp, so that one wheel locks in the clamp. If the clamp will not work with your mobility device, the bus operator will use the belts to secure it.

Back-Up Service
SamTrans bus operators are required to test the lift or ramp to make sure it is working properly before starting their route. If the lift fails to operate when the bus is in service, the bus operator will call the dispatcher to determine when the next bus is scheduled to arrive. If the bus will arrive within 30 minutes and the weather is good and/or there is a bus shelter you can wait in, the operator will ask you to wait for the next bus. Otherwise, the dispatcher will send a paratransit vehicle to transport you. If the ramp fails to operate electronically, the operator can deploy it manually.

We appreciate your comments.
Call 1-800-660-4287
(TTY) 650-508-6448
1250 San Carlos Ave.
San Carlos, CA 94070-1306