In many cases, your animal friends are welcome to ride along with you on board BCTA vehicles, but with certain restrictions. It is important to note that these restrictions protect the safety of other passengers as well as the animal. “Service animals,” which provide some manner of bona-fide assistance to persons with disabilities (for example, dogs that assist persons with visual impairments), are welcome on board BCTA vehicles at all times. Other animals, not classified as “service animals,” are permitted on board the bus with their owner if the animal is in an approved pet carrier that fits on the owner’s lap. An approved pet carrier would be a device such as one that is purchased at a pet store (Petco, PetSmart, etc.) for the purpose of safely transporting an animal in an enclosed manner. This does not include any bags, cardboard boxes, etc, nor does it include large carriers such as a fish tank, cage, or terrarium that does not fit on the owner’s lap.In all cases, the animal should be under the direct observation and control of its owner at all times while on board the vehicle.
Confused about where you should wait in order to catch a BCTA bus? Don’t be! It’s easy to use our complete stop lists to find a bus stop close to your home, work, or other destination, and just as easy to pinpoint the exact location of that bus stop.Just remember the following guidelines:Printed timetables only include major timepoints – this is the practice due to the large total number of stops in the system.However, we have many more stops that are not listed in our paper timetables.You may call BCTA for specific stops close to your origin and destination, request a full stop list by mail, or, better yet, view and print the full stop lists directly from this website!Bus stops are generally listed in the following format: MAIN STREET / NEAREST CROSS STREET For example, Merchant Street / 11th Street means along Merchant Street, at or near 11th Street.Most stops are also designated “near side” or “far side” For example, a “near side” stop at Merchant Street / 11th Street would mean you would wait along Merchant before the intersection with 11th.Based upon the direction the bus is traveling, it would reach you before it reaches the intersection.Once you figure out where you need to wait, look for the BCTA Bus Stop sign.It is 12″ wide by 24″ inches tall and it features a white, black, and blue color scheme.
After you have identified your bus, please follow these guidelines to ensure a quick, safe, and convenient trip for you and your fellow passengers:1. Please be at a designated stop on-time, and if possible, at least several minutes before the published time.2. For insurance reasons, drivers will not permit boarding at non-designated stops.3. In most cases, drivers must adhere to a very strict schedule and will not be able to wait.4. As the bus approaches, stand close to the stop and signal the driver. Direct eye contact and a quick wave of the hand will do.For your own safety, please do not step into the direct path of traffic.5. Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop, then board at the front door.If you require the bus to “kneel” or if you use a mobility device and require the deployment of a wheelchair lift, please alert the driver.
Whether we let you off right at your door, or if you have to transfer to another BCTA bus, or you have to walk to your final destination, BCTA wants to make sure that you reach that destination quickly and safely. Please allow us to explain the proper procedure for de-boarding the bus:1. Don’t hesitate to ask the driver if you need help identifying your destination.2. Please wait to exit the bus until it comes to a complete stop3. For your safety, if you need to cross the street after de-boarding the bus, please do not cross directly into the path of traffic. Rather, wait until the bus has pulled away from the stop and you have a clear view of traffic in both directions before attempting to cross.
Watch the video to learn how to ride the bus.
Watch the video to learn how BCTA accommodates persons with disabilities and seniors with limited mobility.
For our valued customers with disabilities, as well as seniors with limited mobility, BCTA offers a wide range of accommodations to make travel more convenient, safe, and comfortable. The following is an overview of these accommodations: Lift-equipped vehicles BCTA is very pleased to announce that all vehicles in regular fixed route and DART service are equipped with either a lift or a ramp to accommodate passengers using mobility aids such as wheelchairs or scooters. If you require the use of a lift or ramp to board a BCTA vehicle, please notify the driver as you board. A few words about mobility aids If you use a mobility aid – such as a wheelchair or scooter – and need to board a BCTA vehicle, there are two points you should remember. First, the mobility aid must be secured to the floor for the entire time between your boarding and de-boarding stops. This is to ensure your safety and the safety of other passengers. If you are willing and able to do so, you may move out of your mobility aid into a regular seat for the duration of your trip, but the mobility aid itself must remain secured. Second, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a mobility device as: a mobility aid belonging to any class of three or more wheeled devices , designed for and used by individuals with mobility impairments, whether operated manually or powered. Transit providers must carry a wheelchair and occupant if the lift and vehicle can physically accommodate them, unless doing so is inconsistent with legitimate safety requirements. “Legitimate safety requirements” includes such circumstances as a wheelchair of such size that it would block an aisle, or would be too large to fully enter a railcar, would block the vestibule, or would interfere with the safe evacuation of passengers in an emergency.
BCTA has several locations where you can park your vehicle and ride a bus. Chippewa Central Square on Route 51, Chippewa PA Rochester on 200 W. Wasington Street, Rochester, PA Expressway Travel Center at 131 Pleasant Drive, Aliquippa, PA. Northern Lights Shopping Center at Route 65, Economy Borough, PA. Ambridge Borough Municipal Complex at 11 Street, Ambridge, PA. For More information on Park and Ride options in and out of Beaver County,
If you need assistance in determining how to use cash, tickets, or passes when boarding a BCTA vehicle, please read on:As you board the bus, please have your exact fare ready in the form of cash, pass, or ticket.This will help speed the boarding process and keep the bus on-time. Drivers do not carry change. You will not be permitted to de-board at an interim stop to get the correct change to pay your fare – this makes it too difficult for the driver to keep track of customers and their individual fares, and exposes BCTA to fraud.Fare Cards, tickets, passes and transfers are non-refundable. BCTA will not refund, replace or exchange any type of Fare Media. Passengers are responsible for all fare cards, tickets, passes and transfers. It is important to keep cards in good condition. If the fare card is unable to be read by the fare box, the passenger is responsible to pay the correct fare using another form of payment; either another fare card or cash.If paying by cash, fare cards or paper transfer:You will notice two slots on the fare box.Coins are dropped in the right slot.Paper media are deposited in the slot on the left or swiped across the magnetic strip reader in the middle.To ensure that the correct fare is being paid, and help to prevent fare box breakdowns, bills must be unfolded before being placed into the farebox.Do not bend or fold fare cards. Keep the magnetic strip protected from damage.This includes not storing it near a magnet or a cell phone as this might erase the magnetic strip.If you need to transfer to another BCTA bus, ask the driver for a transfer.If you are purchasing a Day Pass, please notify the driver.If paying by magnetic pass, ticket, or BCTA transfer:There will be a small box with a slot in the top in the immediate area of the main fareboxIf the magnetic card is used up or expired, the box will reject it – expired cards are not valid for fare paymentIf you have trips or money remaining on the card, the box will process it and pass it back to you for future use.
You have read the schedules, you know what time your bus is scheduled to depart and arrive, and you’re waiting patiently at a designated BCTA bus stop. But how are you supposed to know which bus to board? Allow us to give you the following helpful hints: Look at the destination sign on the front of the bus, above the windshield, these signs list:Route NumberFinal DestinationMajor Interim Destinations In many cases, buses have signs along the side that list these same types of information.Don’t hesitate to flag down the driver and ask questions if you are unsure of which bus to board!
Watch the video to learn how to read the bus schedules.
We always do our best to provide our customers with a pleasant, safe ride to their final destination. But we can’t do it alone! We depend on our customers to follow basic, common sense rules of conduct, and to treat other passengers the way they would like to be treated.
Be Alert - Always be alert. Be Aware - Watchful of your surroundings and belongings. Be Ready - Have your ticket or money ready before you board the bus. Be Prepared - Plan your trip ahead of time. Call local law enforcement if you see anything suspicious! Beaver County 24 Hour Non-Emergency number is (724)775-0880 24 Hour Emergency number is 911
