How
to Ride Guide Information:
Bus
Schedules and Routes (back
to top)
Route
and schedule maps show where routes begin and end, and
departure and arrival times for specific locations along
the route called timepoints. The times shown on schedules
may vary due to traffic conditions, weather, or unforeseen
events. PSTA buses operate a holiday (same as Sunday) schedule
on New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor
Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Here's
How to Use the Bus (back
to top)
Check
the bus schedule to find the hour and time-point closest
to your arrival and departure times. Be sure to check the
correct time for the day you are traveling since schedules
differ throughout the day and on weekends and holidays.
Wait for the bus at a designated bus stop sign located
every few blocks along the route. PSTA bus and trolley
operators will only stop for you if you are at a marked
PSTA bus stop. When the bus approaches, check the number
located above the windshield and at the top left of the
entry door. Once you've determined this is the bus you
want, motion so the bus operator will be sure to see you.
Please
fold strollers and carts before boarding the bus. Board
the bus through the front door with your exact fare or
GO Card ready. All buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts
and most have kneeling devices; tell the Bus Operator if
you need to use either feature. Seats closest to the front
of the bus are reserved for seniors and disabled persons;
please give up your seat in this area if requested. Destinations
will be announced upon request for our passengers with
disabilities. Passengers are required to wear shirt
and shoes.
When approaching your destination, signal the Bus Operator by pulling
the cord or pushing the strip near the window. A bell will alert the
Bus Operator to stop at the next PSTA bus stop. A bus requires more
braking time than a car, so be sure to signal well in advance of your
stop. Please exit through the rear door whenever possible.
How
to Pay Your Fare (back
to top)
For faster
boarding, our fareboxes DO NOT accept pennies, foreign coins,
or slugs. Before you board the bus or trolley, have your
GO Card or exact fare ready. Bus operators cannot make change.
Deposit cash in the slots provided on the right front of
the farebox. The first time you use a GO Card, insert it
into the slot on the left rear of the farebox to activate
and ride. To use an activated GO Card, swipe it through the
slot on the right rear of the farebox with the stripe toward
you (20-Ride Premium GO Cards must be inserted every time).
To learn more about GO Cards, click
here.
PSTA allows
up to three children who are five years old or younger to
ride free (except on the 100X and 300X) with an accompanying
adult. If you are riding for a reduced fare, present proper
identification to the bus operator before paying your fare.
If you wish to purchase a Daily Unlimited Ride GO Card on
board the bus, please request your GO Card BEFORE inserting
money into the farebox.
Going
Beyond the End of the Line? (back
to top)
When
the bus reaches the end of the route and turns around to
start the route in the opposite direction, it has reached
the end of the line - and of your fare. Passengers who
remain on board past the turnaround point will be required
to pay an additional fare or reinsert their GO
Card to ride back in the opposite direction.
Trip
Planning? Give Us a Call (back
to top)
Finding
the right PSTA bus is easy. Just call the PSTA InfoLine
at (727) 540-1900 and tell the Customer Service Representative
the address you're traveling from and where you want to
go. The Customer Service Representative will tell you what
bus you should take. For your convenience the InfoLine
is answered seven days a week and on most holidays.
Emergency Ride Home (back
to top)
The
Emergency Ride Home Program (ERH) is designed to take
the anxiety out of leaving your car at home, allowing you
to take advantage of other commute options that are right
for you. The ERH program provides you with up to eight
taxi rides home each year in case of personal illness,
family emergency or unexpected overtime (certain restrictions
apply).
When
you choose an option other than traveling alone in your
car, you help relieve traffic congestion and improve the
quality of life in our area. And, if you do so two or more
days every week, you automatically qualify for the ERH
program. Call Bay Area Commuter Services at 1-800-998-RIDE
(7433), or access their website at www.tampabayrideshare.org for
a program application.
By providing
incentives like the ERH program, we are encouraging commuters
like you to keep commuting the smart way!
Wheelchair
Accessibility
Click here for How to Ride Presentation for Disabled Citizens.
Although
wheelchair manufacturers are designing bigger wheelchairs
and scooters, please be aware that our buses are not equipped
to handle oversized wheelchairs and scooters. To prevent
damage to the wheelchair lift and to safely board our wheelchair
passengers, we are only equipped to transport “common
wheelchairs”. Section 37.3 of the DOT’s regulations
implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
(ADA) (49 CFR Parts 27, 37, and 38) defines a "common
wheelchair" as a mobility aid belonging to any class
of three or four-wheeled devices, usable indoors, designed
for and used by individuals with mobility impairments, whether
operated manually or powered. A "common wheelchair" does
not exceed 30 inches in width and 48 inches in length measured
two inches above the ground, and does not weigh more than
600 pounds when occupied.
If an electric
scooter or other mobility device meets the physical specifications
of a common wheelchair as defined by the DOT’s ADA
regulations, it will be treated as a “common wheelchair”.
For more information, visit this site: http://www.fta.dot.gov/office/civrights/faqs.html
"Show
Me" Service (back
to top)
First-time
riders can get schedules, route maps, fare information, and
more brought right to their door. A PSTA representative will
even take the first bus-trip with you. Just call (727) 540-1800
and ask about our "Show Me" Service. (Click here for "Show Me Service" Application)
|
