How To Ride

Driver and Dispatch Staff Responsibilities
Passenger Responsibilities
Passenger Conduct
Safety Belts and Wheelchair Securements
Passengers with Mobility Aids, Wheelchairs, or Life Support Equipment

Driver and Dispatch Staff Responsibilities
WTA drivers are friendly, responsible people with safe driving records and professional training in quality customer care. In addition, all WTA drivers pass State Patrol criminal checks and ongoing drug and alcohol screening. Our drivers are also trained in First Aid, CPR and Disability Awareness,

We deliver:

1. Safe, friendly and reliable transportation

2. Clean, well-maintained vehicles and well trained drivers

3. Prompt and thoughtful responses to your questions and concerns.

4. Consideration for your special needs

Passenger Responsibilities
As a passenger, you have responsibilities too. Appropriate use and realistic expectations regarding our service allow us to provide the best service to all users.

1) Be ready at least one hour before your scheduled arrival time at your destination. If the Driver arrives and you are not ready, the Driver can wait NO MORE THAN five minutes.

2) Make sure the address of your residence is clearly visible from the street.

3) The pick-up area at your house needs to be safe and easy to access. We require an obstruction-free approach and sufficient turn-around area for our vehicles. Otherwise, we may need to pick you up and drop you off on the street.

4) We suggest you ask someone (an attendant or companion) to accompany you if you have difficulty traveling independently or if you need more than door-to-door service. Many riders find having an attendant accompany them helps them get around more easily.

5) Drivers will enter buildings or residences only with permission from Dispatch when there are no alternatives available and no other riders are on board.

6) Please tell the Customer Service Representative (on the phone) where you will wait for your return trip.

7) Please notify us of any changes in your address or assistance needs at least the day before your next ride so we can arrange our schedules and know where to pick you up!

Passenger Conduct
1. Just as we treat you with courtesy, we expect you to treat our Drivers, Customer Service Representatives, Dispatchers and other Riders with consideration. Fighting, throwing things, pushing, shouting, hitting, spitting, and using abusive language are considered serious service disruptions and are not allowed. Abusive language on the telephone is also prohibited. Some disruptions are grounds for immediate suspension of service.

2. Personal hygiene must meet acceptable standards for the comfort and safety of all.

3. All riders must comply with safety rules established in Washington State Law (Title 9.91.025) which forbids smoking, eating or drinking, spitting, the playing of radios or other noisy equipment, possession of firearms, weaponry, and hazardous chemicals or acid on public transit vehicles.

Safety Belts and Wheelchair Securements
All passengers must use the safety belts provided, including passengers in wheelchairs. Drivers are trained in the professional use of wheelchair securements, which much also be used.

For children under the age of three, accompanying adults must provide an approved child car seats. If a child over the age of three cannot be secured by a regular safety belt, an approved child car seat must be provided.

Passengers with Mobility Aids, Wheelchairs, or Life Support Equipment
If you use a mobility aid or wheelchair, please keep it in good condition! If a Driver believes you cannot be safely transported in your wheelchair, she or he will tell you so, and we may not be able to transport you.

Your wheelchair may be considered unsafe if:

• The wheels or other parts are loose or dangerous.

• The tires are flat.

• One or both brakes do not hold the wheels securely.

• The footrests are missing.

• The battery on an electric wheelchair has a very low charge. Let us know if you are having problems with your mobility aid.

• If you use a manual wheelchair, please bring an attendant if you require assistance over rough terrain or steep slopes, and if the combined weight of you and your wheelchair exceeds 350 lbs. These conditions present a safety hazard to you, other passengers, the driver and the vehicle.

• Please use a positioning belt to insure your stability in your chair.

• Let us know if your wheelchair is oversized. Our lifts can accommodate wheelchairs up to 30" wide, 48" long and up to 600 lbs. in weight when occupied. If you & your wheelchair exceeds these dimensions and weight, we will do our best to serve you but we may not be able to accomodate you.

• If you use a wheelchair, and have more than one step at your residence or destination, you will need to arrange for someone to assist you up and down the steps. Our Drivers will assist you up or down one step, but cannot assist with more than one step by themselves.

• You may ride a power scooter on our vehicles. However, you may want to transfer into a seat while riding. We will secure your scooter, and assist you to a seat if you wish.

• We do transport riders who use portable medical equipment, such as portable oxygen, respirators, etc. However, if your equipment is unwieldy in size or dimension, and you are not able to carry it or operate it independently, we expect someone to accompany you.

• Drivers cannot safely assist you onto the vehicle and carry equipment at the same time, nor can they administer oxygen or operate any other life support equipment.

• You must be able to hold your equipment securely, or we must be able to secure it on the vehicle. We will not transport equipment that is not safely secured.