Paratransit

Accessible van service is provided by the Transportation and Parking Services and is available to eligible persons with mobility, visual, and other health-related impairments. Eligibility for use of the van service on a regular basis must be established through the Disability Resource Center in Clark-Howell Hall (706-542-8719).

Students, staff and faculty with temporary conditions who desire service on a short-term basis should contact Paratransit at (706) 369-5991. Service may be provided if space is available.

Passengers with disabilities and their personal care attendants (if required) are authorized to use the van.

Please complete the Application for Paratransit Service (found at the top of this page), including the last page to be filled out by your doctor, and email it to [email protected].

We offer two types of service. Regularly scheduled service allows you to schedule trips that occur on a repeating basis over an extended period of time. On-demand service allows you to schedule trips that occur on an irregular basis or trips that will occur over a short period of time.

Delays and problems often occur due to traffic, weather, and patrons being late. To avoid delaying other patrons, be ready to board the van when it arrives. Call our office (706-369-5991) if your van does not arrive within 15 minutes of the scheduled time. Office hours are from 6:00 am – 7:00 pm. To contact us after hours, please call 706-369-5991.

Through a contractual agreement with the Athens-Clarke County Government, students, staff and faculty with disabilities who are registered to use their service may use Athens Transit “The Lift” at no charge. Athens Transit requires prior certification for users and 24-hour notice on most trips. Riders must:

1. Navigate to ParaPlan Connect (https://connect.paraplansoftware.com)
2. Login with email address and password. If you do not have a password, click “Use a PIN instead” and enter PIN as defined above.
3. Populate Trip Request with:
   1. Pick Up and Drop Off Location
   2. Desired Pick Up OR Appointment time
4. Click Request Trip.
5. Verify the details and wait for email confirmation.
6. Click Request return trip to book a second leg if needed.

• A state issued disability placard or license plate must be displayed to utilize disability spaces.
• Any visitor may use Campus Transit to travel to their destination. Check the bus routes or call (706) 369-6220.
• All Pay decks contain conveniently located disability spaces.
• Please call (706) 542-PARK should you require any accommodation.

Please fill out this form.

• Passengers are responsible for getting ready before their scheduled pickup time and for being at the curb of the pickup location at least 5 minutes before the scheduled pickup time. TO AVOID DELAYING OTHER PASSENGERS, it is important that you are at your pickup location on time and ready to board. Drivers can only wait three minutes before proceeding on their route.
• If a passenger knows they will be late, it is their responsibility to call before the van arrives.
• Drivers are not allowed to go into residences or other facilities to look for passengers, nor can they help passengers to or from a building or home.
• All passengers, including wheelchair users, must fasten their seat belts. For your safety, drivers are not allowed to put the vehicle in motion until your seat belts are fastened.

Passengers will not consume any beverages, use illegal drugs, smoke, eat, use obscene language or behave in a violent or disruptive behavior, or play radios while on board the van. Passengers will only bring on the van a number of packages / bags of groceries which can be carried on board at one time. Drivers are not allowed to make several trips carrying packages or lifting heavy items which could cause back injury.

If you require an escort, one may ride with you.

Changes in pick-up times and/or destinations must be made with the scheduler one hour prior to the time for your scheduled trip.

If you need to cancel your scheduled trip, be sure to email us at [email protected] at least one hour prior to your trip. Cancellation emails received less than one hour before the scheduled pickup time may result in a “late call” within a one-month period, eligibility shall be suspended for one week. Failure to notify us of your cancellation will result in your being charged a “no show.” After a no show, you will be suspended from using the service.

If a rider repeatedly misses scheduled rides, he or she may be recommended for suspension.

An individual is considered a “no-show” if they:

• Reserve a ride but do not meet the vehicle within 3 minutes of its arrival.
• Cancel a trip less than one hour before the scheduled pick-up time.

If you are a “no-show” for a trip and you do not contact us, any subsequent trips scheduled for the same day may be canceled.

If you “no-show” three (3) times within a semester you may be suspended:

• 1st time – 1 week suspension and loss of subscription ride privileges
• 2nd time –2-week suspension and loss of subscription ride privileges
• 3rd time –30-day suspension and loss of subscription ride privileges

No-shows for reasons that are beyond the customer’s control will not be counted. Examples of excused no-shows include but are not limited to:

• Illness and/or hospitalization
• Family or other emergencies
• TPS Paratransit staff error
• Inclement weather such as ice and snow

If you will be making the same trip at least two times per week, please notify the scheduler so that subscription service can be arranged, if time slots are available. Subscription service allows you to schedule all of your trips with one email. According to ADA, subscription service may not absorb more than fifty percent of the number of trips available at a given time of day.