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 to 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 a.m. pick-up, the BACTS operator will be scheduled to arrive between 9:45 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.
To Book a Trip:
To reserve transportation please call one week in advance and be ready to provide the following information:
- Date you need transportation
- Your Client Identification Number and Name
- Time of your pick-up
- Address of your pick-up and accessible entrance
- Address of your destination and accessible entrance
- Is anyone accompanying you (i.e. friend)?
- Whether you will be using a wheelchair or other mobility device
- 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 p.m. and 3 p.m. if it has been 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 available 24 hours a day, seven 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 as the Reservation line is very busy. If you must cancel a same day trip or a weekend trip outside the scheduling office hours, you must call the Cancellation line. See “Contact” section.
Using the BACTS Self Serve Line 705-737-6949:
When you call the BACTS Self Serve Line, it will ask you for your Client Identification Number. Once you have it entered, 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 of the following:
To hear a list 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,
- For Saturday press 6,
- For Sunday press 7,
Or you may enter a specific date i.e.: For information on a trip December 20, 2006, 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 p.m., 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…
If you no longer wish to cancel you may choose to abort by pressing 2 or simply hang up.
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 ready at the accessible door to meet your vehicle.
**Please remember that the operators will only wait five minutes and customers who are not available at the time and location of pick-up will automatically be counted as a no-show.
*Remember that your Password is the same as your Client Identification number.
A Subscription Service is Available
Passengers who wish to use the service 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 per cent 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).
Companions/Escorts/Friends
If a companion, escort or friend will be accompanying you, tell the dispatcher when you make your trip reservation as you must reserve them a seat as well. Remember, they must pay a fare when traveling with you. If you are using a Monthly Pass, the pass is only valid your you, your companion, escort or friend must use their own
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 required 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 inches (106 cm) in length and 30 inches (76 cm) in width. Our vehicles will not be able to accommodate anything larger. Furthermore, our wheelchair 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 toward the bus.
What is the Fare Structure?
One- way fare for each passenger and companion is $3.00. Passes and Ride Cards can be purchased at the Barrie Transit Terminal ticket counter at 24 Maple Avenue, City Hall, Allandale Recreation Centre, East Bayfield Community Centre, Holly Community Centre and Georgian College Book Store. Passes and Ride Cards may be used on BACTS and Barrie Transit.
The 10 Ride Adult and 10 Ride Reduced cards are also available by placing your order through the BACTS office at (705) 737-2304, the day before your scheduled trip. The BACTS Operator will deliver the Ride Card to you on the day of your trip and you must pay by cheques made out to the "City of Barrie". The current BACTS pass will be phased out but for now is equivalent tot he Barrie Transit 10 Ride Adult Ride Card and can also be used on Barrie Transit. Receipts are issued upon request.
| Cash Fares |
|
| Adults, students, children |
$3.00 |
| Seniors over 65 |
$2.60 |
| Passes |
|
| Adult |
$82.40 |
| Students |
$63.85 |
| Power Pass - High School |
$27.55 |
| Children & Seniors Over 65 |
$54.00 |
| Elementary School Children:
(Restricted to school days only 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) |
$35.50 |
| Georgian College Semester Pass |
$240 |
| Ride Cards - Ride cards are sold in groups of 2, 5 and 10 rides. |
| All Customers |
2 Ride Card - $5.20 |
| Adults and Post Secondary Students |
5 Ride Card - $13.00 |
10 Ride Card - $26.00 |
| High School, Seniors and Children |
5 Ride Card - $11.50 |
10 Ride Card - $23.00 |
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 accommodate other passengers. Same day cancellations up to 30 minutes before your scheduled pick-up time will be subject to a $2.75 charge payable the next time BACTS is used.
What is the "No Show" Policy?
The "No Show" policy applies to passengers who are more than five minutes past their scheduled pick-up time or who cancel within 30 minutes of their scheduled pick-up time. A $3.00 "No Show" charge is 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 to accommodate you, but there may be a lengthy 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 Responsibilities
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 companions 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 Operator Responsibilities
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 five 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 other medical locations to locate a passenger.
Lost and Found
All articles found on the buses are taken to the Lost and Found at 24 Maple Avenue. Call 705-737-2304 during regular office hours to confirm if your item has been found.
Customer Tips
- Please be ready at the door 15 minutes before our scheduled pick-up time.
- You may use the service for any trip purpose and remember to book early.
- If you must cancel, do so as early as possible to allow others to use the time.
- An attendant is necessary if you require more than door to door service.
- If you are more than five minutes late, the bus will proceed to the next scheduled ride and the “No Show Policy” will take effect.
- Expect to share your ride with others, and expect a longer ride than if traveling by taxi or car.
- 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”.
- Please be considerate of the operator. He or she has many people to assist and a schedule to maintain.
- Occasionally, 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 reservation lines are busy, please call again in a few minutes.
- Please have a clear accessible path to your door (even in the winter months). Inaccessible paths may result in a refusal of trip.
- Please have your pass or fare ready for the operator.
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