Passenger Guidelines, Etiquette And Rules

The Broome County Department of Public Transportation wants all passengers to have a safe and pleasant ride. We ask all passengers to follow these guidelines, etiquette and rules.

GUIDELINES AND ETIQUETTE

• Please arrive at the bus stop 5 minutes before the scheduled time.
• Please signal to the driver that you wish to board the bus. Please do not loiter at our bus stops if you do not wish to ride B.C. Transit.
• If riding the bus at night, wave a lighted or reflective device so that our driver’s can see you better.
• Check sign above windshield to make sure you are boarding the correct bus route.
• Please deposit the proper fare, swipe your pass, or insert a transfer card in the farebox.
• Please take your seat quietly.
• Please reserve seats for the elderly, pregnant women and those with physical disabilities.
• If you have a child in a stroller or other wheeled carrying device, you must remove the child and collapse the stroller or wheeled carrying device.
• Please use earphones if using sound producing devices (radios, CD players, boom-boxes, etc.)
• Please place any baggage or other items you are carrying on your lap, or under the seats. If you place bags on the seat, please remove them if another passenger wishes to sit.

RULES

The following activities are proper rules for using bus passes and ride cards on the fixed route system:

• Sharing of 31 day passes with others is strictly prohibited. One pass is allowed per person.
• Passes cannot be resold for personal or financial gain.
• Once purchased bus passes and ride cards cannot be refunded.

The following activities are prohibited on any Department of Public Transportation bus:

• Eating or drinking of any substance on the bus.
• Consumption of alcohol, and/or illegal substances.
• Smoking.
• Possession of weapons.
• Boarding the bus with hazardous or dangerous materials or devices.
• Behavior that is considered to a reasonable person to be dangerous, disruptive, obscene, threatening, violent, inciting or insulting language and/or gestures.
• Fighting, or mock fighting.
• Throwing objects in the bus or out the windows.
• Using sound producing devices without earphones. (radios, boom boxes, mega-phones, etc).
• Panhandling, and soliciting.
• Harassing or intimidating any person.
• Putting hands out the window.
• Putting hands on or touching other passengers without consent.
• Bicycling, rollerskating, rollerblading or skateboarding on the bus.
• Animals, except service animals and animals that are caged. (The cage must be able to fit on the passengers lap or between their legs when riding.)
• Lack of shoes, shirts, other inappropriate attire.
• Placing of any objects in aisles or other places where a reasonable person would consider dangerous.

To ensure the safety of all passengers, the Broome County Department of Public Transportation reserves the right to remove and/ or deny service to any passenger who poses a threat to the safety of themselves or others.

ABOUT THE CONDUCT OF ALL TRANSIT EMPLOYEES
Our staff are expected to be professional and friendly. Moreover, they are expected to abide by the same standards as our passengers. If you feel that one of our drivers or other staff violated your rights, compromised your safety, or violated any rules described in this section, please contact us. It will help us if you have the bus driver's operator number, the route number and the time and date you were riding. If it was another staff member, please recall as much information as possible, such as their name and the time you spoke with that person. Whether you have good comment, or point out an area where we need improvement we want to hear from you. Comment cards are available at the B.C. Junction office, the Transit Offices in Vestal and the Transit Office at the Broome Employment Center. You may also call our B.C. Transit Offices at 607.763.4435, or let us know via our online Customer Survey Form.