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BACTS - Barrie Accessible Community Transportation Service

Wherever life takes you

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The 'Barrie Accessible Community Transportation Service' (BACTS) is a specialized bus transportation service operated to assist those persons with mobility difficulties.  This service provides transportation from one accessible door to another and is available on a temporary basis or permanent basis, depending on the user's eligibility.

Reservation Line 737-2304
Self Serve Line 737-6949

Who is Eligible?

1.  Accessible transit services are intended for a person who, due to functional mobility problems, is physically unable to walk a distance of 175 meters (approximately 600 feet).

2.  Elderly persons are not automatically eligible for BACTS service.  Only persons physically unable to board public transit vehicles are eligible for this service.

3.  Blind persons able to board public transit are not elible for BACTS service.

4.  Persons with mental health issues and/or cognitive disabilities may be eligible for the BACTS service if, in addition, they have a physical disability that prevents them from boarding a public transit vehicle.

Applications are available by visiting, writing or calling the:

City of Barrie
70 Collier Street, 3rd Floor
P.O. Boxx 400, Barrie, Ontario
L4M 4T5

Or call (705) 739-4209
Or at www.barrie.ca/btransit

Or click on the link below for the BACTS APPLICATION FORM

BACTS APPLICATION FORM (Four (4) Pages)
All pages are required for registration.

Please click on the link below for the BACTS RIDE GUIDE

BACTS RIDE GUIDE

After completing the applicaton, including the portion which requires your health care professional's signature, return it to the above address or fax to 739-4238. The application will be reviewed and notification of your qualifications as a registrant will be sent to you shortly afterwards. 

Approved clients must reside within the City of Barrie.  BACTS will provide service to any person visiting Barrie who is a registrant of another accessible system.

Barrie transit is pleased to provide our community with accessible low floor buses on most transit routes, for information please call 739-4209.  Low floor buses have no stairs so boarding is easy, plus they have a ramp and space for two wheelchairs.

BACTS may also use a taxi company to supplement the service.

Office Hours for Reservations
Monday to Friday
7:30 am - 4:30 pm
737-2304

For Cancellations
7 days a week
737-2304

BACTS Self Serve Line for Trip Confirmations and Trip Cancellations
Available 24 hour
737-6949

Monday to Friday 7:30 am - 11:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am - 11:00 pm
Sunday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Service is not available on Statutory Holidays (Subject to change)

Registered BACTS clients may use the servie for medical appointments, school, shopping, visiting family and friends, social outings, anywhere you need to go within the City of Barie limits.  BACTS enables you tostay active in your Community!

How to use BACTS

Making a Trip Booking, A Trip Confirmation or a Trip Cancellation

BACTS is a shared ride system and you can expect to be on our vehicles up to 60 minutes before you arrive at your destination, please book accordingly.

BACTS operates with a 30-minute scheduling window.  Pick-up times are accepted every quarter hour and customers will be scheduled for pick-up within 15 minutes plus or minus of this booked time.  This means that you will need to be ready 15 minutes before your scheduled pick-up time.  For example, if you have a booked trip for a 10:00 am pick-up, the BACTS operator will be scheduled to arrive between 9:45 am and 10:15 am.

To make a Trip Booking

To reserve transportation please call up to one week in advance 737-2304 and be ready to provide the following informaiton;

1.  Date you need transportation
2.  Your Client Identification Number and Name
3.  Time of your pick-up
4.  Address of your pick-up and accessible entrance
5.  Address of your destination and accessible entrance
6.  Is anyone accompanying you (i.e. friend)?
7.  Whether you will be using a wheelchair or other mobility device
8.  Pick-up time for your return trip

If a trip is not available, you may ask to be put on a 'Standby List'.  We will call you one business day before your requested trip between 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm if it can be accommodated.  If we cannot reach you directly, no message will be left on an answering service, we will cancel this trip.  Same day service and immediate request for service may be accommodated providing there are gaps in the bus schedule.

To Confirm or Cancel a Trip

You are encouraged to confirm your trip by calling the Self Serve Line, 737-6949, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  If you wish to cancel your ride please call as soon as possible.  We recommend that you call the Self Serve Line 737-6949 as the Reservation line is very busy.  if you must cancel a same day trip outside the scheduling office hours, you must call 737-2304

Using the BACTS Self Serve Line 737-6949:

When you call the BACTS Self Serve LIne, it will ask you for your Client Identification Number.  Once you have entered it, it will ask you to enter your Password (same as your Client Identification Number).  The Self Serve Line will remind you that at any time you may press '0' for assistance.  The Self Serve Line will then greet you by name and ask you:

Press 1:  to confirm a previously booked trip

Press 2:  to cancel a trip

Trip Confirmation:  if you have chosen to press 1 to CONFIRM a previously booked trip, the system will ask you one the the following:

To hear a lit of all your trips on a specific date press 1, you will then choose as follows

For Monday press 1, for Tuesday press 2, for Wednesday press 3, for Thursday press 4, for Friday press 5 and Saturday press 6 and for Sunday press 7

or you may enter a specific date i.e.:  for information ona tip December 20, 2008, you would enter the year, month and date, 2006, 12, 20

We encourage you to confirm your estimated pick-up time for all your BACTS trips to enhance your readiness and reduce wait times.  You may call the BACTS Self Serve line to confirm your estimated time of pick-up anytime after 4:30 pm, the day before your trip.

Trip Cancellation:  If you have chosen to press 2 to CANCEL a previously booked trip, the Self Serve line will ask you one of the following:

To cancel a single booking press 1, you will then choose as per previous instructions in 'trip confirmation' starting with, For Monday press 1, etc...

Important:  The Self Serve Line will offer you several options in regards to your confirmations and/or cancellations; choose the one that answers your needs.

*Please note that the time of your trip booking is an estimated time.  Your vehicle may arrive 15 minutes before or 15 minutes after your scheduled time.  Please be aready at the accessible door to meet your vehicle 15 minutes before your scheduled pick-up time.

**Please remember that the operators will still only wait 5 minutes and customers who are not available at the time and location of pick-up will automatically be counted as a no show and all oher scheduled trips will be cancelled for that day.

*Remember that your Password is the same as your Client Identification number.  Customers without touch-tone telephone service or who wish to speak to a booking agent may call 737-2304 for all their needs.

A Subscription Service is Available

Passengers who wish to use the servie at the same time and location more than twice weekly on a regular basis for work, education and medical appointments can book their trips in advance through a subscription service.  Transportation can be provided only if resources are available for the time requested.  Please note that if you cancel a regular morning pick-up, your afternoon ride is assumed to be cancelled as well, unless otherwise notified.  Once your subscription service is set up you must use these bookings unchanged at least 75% of the time or you will be contacted and your booking may be suspended or cancelled.  All subscription bookings are automatically cancelled on Statutory Holidays (Subject to change).  Please remember to cancel your trips in the event that you will not be requiring the service.

Companions/Escorts/Friends

If a companion, escort or friend will be accompanying you, tell the booking agent when you make your trip reservation as you must reserve them a seat as well.  Remember, they must pay a fare when travelling with you.

Attendants

An Attendant is a care provider required to accompany and provide special assistance for the applicant while using BACTS.  Customers, who cannot be left unattended on the vehicle or at any drop-off location, must be accompanied by an Attendant.  The Attendant is not requied to pay as they ensure the safety and well being of the client.

Wheelchairs

Our vehicles are able to accommodate wheelchairs that are no larger than 42' (106 cm) in length and 30' (76 cm) in width.  Our vehciles will not be able to accommodate anything larger.  Furthermore, our wheelcahir lift can only accommodate a maximum of 600 lbs (273 kg) at a time, therefore, the combined weight of the passenger and wheelchair must not exceed 600 lbs (273 kg).  It is important to ensure that your wheelchair is in good repair, i.e. air in tires, brakes, if your wheelchair is deemed unsafe your trip may be refused.  When boarding and alighting, passengers using power wheelchairs should position their wheelchairs on the lift to have the largest wheels towards the bus.

What is the Fare Structure?

One way fare for each pasenger and companion is $2.60.  For the convenience of the rider, a pass card is sold in a group of 10 rides for $26.00.  Passes may be paid by cash or by cheques made out to the City of Barrie.  Passes are available at the Ticket Sales counter at the Barrie Transit Terminal at 24 Maple Avenue or by placing your order through the BACTS office at 737-2304 the day before your scheduled ride.  BACTS passes can be purchased at City Hall, Finance Dept., 1st Floor.  Receipts are issued for bus passes upon request.  (The above fares are subject to change.)

What if you need to Cancel?

Please remember to cancel your trip as soon as possible should you not be able to go out.  Your cancellation may accomodate other passengers.  Same day cancellations up to 30 minutes before your scheduled pick-up time will be subject to a $2.60 charge payable time BACTS is used.

What is the 'No Show' Policy?

The 'No Show' policy advises passengers who are more than 5 minutes past their pick-up time or who cancel within 30 minutes of their pick-up time, will be subject to a $2.60 'No Show' charge payable the next time BACTS is used.  BACTS will automatically cancel the remainder of your trips for that day unless we hear from you.  You will then be responsible for alternative transportation or if we have time available to accommodate you, there may be a lenghty delay.  A maximum of three no-shows in one calendar month may result in a letter sent to the passenger as a reminder to call and cancel their trip.  A second letter will be sent after the fourth no-show within the same calendar month which may result in a five-day suspension of service.

Passenger Responsibilites

Be ready at the nearest accessible door 15 minutes before your pick-up time.  Notify the booking agent of any change in address or phone number.  Be specific with pick-up and drop-off locations, (i.e. front door, rear door).  Have a manageable number of parcels for you, your companion or your attendant.  If you require an Attendant, it must be provided by you.  BACTS will provide service only if the Attendant is present.  Passengers who use a scooter must transfer to a seat on the bus.

BACTS Opertor Responsiblities

Operators will assist you to and from the bus, secure all belts and take you through the closest accessible door, but are not required to attempt more than one vertical step or to carry your parcels and personal effects.  Operators are not required to wait more than 5 minutes past your pick-up time.  Operators do not ring buzzers/doorbells or search for passengers.  Operators do not report to specific stations at personal care homes or oher medical locations to locate a passenger.

Customer Tips

1.  Please be ready at the door 15 minutes before your sceduled pick-up time.
2.  You may use the service for any trip purpose and remember to book early.
3.  If you must cancel, do so as early as possible to allow others to use the time.
4.  An attendant is necessary if you require more than door-to-door service.
5.  If you are more than 5 minutes late, the bus will proceed to the next scheduled ride and the 'No Show' policy will take effect. 
6.  Expect to share your ride with others, and expect a longer ride than if traveling by taxi or car.
7.  Inform medical people that you are using the service so that they may assist by keeping you on time.  If possible, please call to cancel or reschedule if your appointment is running late to avoid a 'No Show'.
8.  Please be considerate of the Operator.  He or she has many people to assist and a schedule to maintain.
9.  From time to time, demand may exceed capacity, so we may not be able to accommodate you every time you request a ride.  We'll do the very best we can but please do your part too.  If our reservations lines are busy, please call again in a few minutes.
10. Please have a clear accessible path to your door (even in the winter months).  Inaccessible paths may result in a refusal of trip.
11. Please have your pass or fare ready for the Operator.

Lost and Found

All articles found on the buses are taken to the Lost and Found at 24 Maple Avenue.  Call 737-2304 during regular office hours to confirm if your item has been found.

Let us know how we are doing

Contact the City of Barrie if you have any comments, concerns or complaints at 739-4209.  We value your comments, they help us to improve our service.

Information	739-4209
Reservations	737-2304
Self Serve Line	737-6949
Barrie Transit	739-4209
City of Barrie	726-4242
Barrie Transit Terminal	739-1500
Emergency Response Service	911

Funded by The City of Barrie