ON-DEMAND: PARATRANSIT
On-Demand Paratransit service is for eligible riders who have a disability that prevents them from making some or all of their trips on fixed-route buses. Paratransit offers a shared-ride, curb-to-curb (origin-to-destination) service which operates in the same areas and during the same days and hours as the fixed-route bus system.
People who are determined to be eligible for paratransit service are assigned an eligibility category that is consistent with their ability to use the fixed-route bus service. Categories are:
- Unconditional, if the applicant is determined to be unable to ever independently use the fixed-route bus service, even with training.
- Temporary, if the applicant is unable to use the fixed route bus service for a limited period of time.
- Conditional, if the applicant can use the fixed-route bus service sometimes, but may require paratransit service in special circumstances when the interaction of the individual’s disability and the environment, or a special circumstance creates a barrier for safe, independent use of the fixed-route bus service for a particular trip
General Purpose trips are offered to customers who take trips for purposes such as medical appointments, shopping, or recreation. Reservations can be scheduled between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., seven days a week by calling (661) 869-2GET(2438).
Trips must be limited to the GET District boundaries in metropolitan Bakersfield, in areas that are 3/4 of a mile on either side of the current Golden Empire Transit On-Demand Paratransit area.
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Not all wheelchairs and mobility aids will fit on a bus. While the accessibility standards for buses are designed to accommodate the majority of power and manual wheelchairs and mobility aids, there will be some that are too large or heavy to fit.
On-Demand will carry a wheelchair and occupant if the lift and the vehicle can physically accommodate them, can be boarded and de-boarded safely.
Applications are available at GET’s District office. You may also request an application be sent to your home by calling our District office at (661) 869-2438 or you can download a Paratransit Application. When you have completed the application and doctor's assessment and deliver the completed form to GET, an official will review it and determine eligibility within 21 days. You will be notified of the decision in writing or another appropriate format. An ID card will be sent to you in the mail if you are approved. If you are denied certification, you will be notified of the reasons and the procedure to appeal. You will have 60 days from the date of your notification to file an appeal.
On-Demand Paratransit operates seven days a week. Trips can be made as early as 6:30 a.m. or as late as 7:30 p.m.
On-Demand Paratransit operates every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas; operating on a holiday schedule on the following holidays:
New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King Day
Presidents Day
Easter Sunday
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Yes, all riders must pay a fare to ride On-Demand Paratransit. There is a fare for each trip, as fares change from time-to-time, contact us for the latest fare rates. Drivers DO NOT have the ability to provide change. Passengers must have the exact fare or purchase a 10-Trip Voucher Book at our main office or from drivers.
When someone no shows or late cancels a scheduled ride, it is very expensive and takes away the opportunity that a ride could have been scheduled for someone else. Riders may have their service suspended when they have a behavior pattern of either not being ready or simply not showing up to take their scheduled ride.
What is a No Show?
A “No Show” is when you schedule a paratransit ride, but then you:
Call On-Demand Paratransit and cancel the ride too close to your pick-up time (less than 1 hour).
Are not ready to board the bus within five minutes of arrival, delaying a prompt departure.
Do not come out to board the bus and take your scheduled ride.
Delay the departure of the bus by not getting off the bus.
Delay the bus' departure when you cannot be left unattended and no one is at the drop off location to receive you.
Review On-Demand Paratransit Riders’ Guide for additional detail on our No Show Policy and how a rider’s service may be suspended.
(***NOTE: GET is currently not offering this service. Check back later for updates.***)
GET offers free travel training. Travel training teaches new riders how to safely use the bus. Learn the bus schedule, plan trips, and learn bus safety from a qualified travel trainer. For more information or to schedule travel training, please call (661) 369-2438.
