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- HOW TO RIDE
HOW TO RIDE
All of MET's buses are ADA ramp equipped and accessible by citizens who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
For questions about accessibility, please call the MET office at (406) 657-8218. If requested, larger print materials or other alternative accessible formats are available.
ENJOY FREE WIFI WHILE YOU RIDE!
Overview
The MET stops at designated locations marked by MET bus stop signs. A simple wave to the driver when the bus is approaching helps to let the driver know to stop. All MET vehicles are equipped with ADA ramps and kneeling capabilities to assist in boarding; if you need the ramp or the bus kneeled, let the driver know.
Getting on the Bus
Board the bus at designated stop locations throughout the community.
To ensure you are at the correct stop and for ease of trip planning, each bus stop sign has the STOP ID and ROUTES served shown at the bottom of each sign.
It is always a good plan to arrive to your stop earlier than you anticipate the bus arriving.
To ensure you board the correct bus, the route name is displayed over the windshield and curbside window of the bus. The route number is also displayed on the rear of the bus.
Have your fare ready for payment prior to boarding. Use exact fare if paying in cash; drivers cannot make change. If paying with your phone by using the Umo Mobility app or with a printed pass, line up the QR Code with the pass reader's camera. If paying with an UMO Mobility fare card, simply tap your card against the reader. The light on the reader will flash green or yellow when you have used a valid pass; red means the pass is NOT valid. For specific fare and pass information, or to purchase fares, please click here.
Getting off the Bus
To get off the bus, signal the driver by pulling the yellow cord next to the window. The driver will then stop at the next bus stop.
Transfers & the Pulse System
Transfers to a connecting bus to complete a one-way trip are free and the transfer is valid for 30 minutes; if paying in cash, ask the driver for a transfer slip before you disembark the bus. If using a pass or other fare media, scan the media when you board the connecting bus within 30 minutes. Transfers are possible at the transfer centers or at some places where two routes cross.
Please always tell the driver if you need to transfer, even if you don't need to ask for a transfer slip. The driver will notify the other bus of your desire to transfer. The MET System is set up as a "pulse system." This means that a set of buses arrives and departs the transfer centers at the same time and then, around a half hour later, another set of buses arrives and departs the transfer centers.
Reading the MET Bus Map
The MET bus map displays the entire routing system on one side and route timepoint stops with example times for both Weekdays and Saturdays on the other side. Routes are marked with colored lines and corresponding colored circles with the route number inside the circle. Multiple circles on the same street mean multiple routes travel on that street. These same circles are displayed in small transfer center layouts located on either side of the map and show you where the buses park at each location.
The timepoint stops listed on the schedule side of the map are for reference and are NOT the only times or stops the bus will be servicing. The timepoint stops serve as examples of how many minutes past the hour a bus will arrive at that specific stop. These timepoint stop schedules also indicate how often a bus runs (either every 60 minutes, every 30 minutes, or every 15 minutes).
For example, if a timepoint shows 5:45 AM as its example time on a 60 minute route, the bus will arrive at that timepoint at :45 minutes after the hour every hour during MET operations. Many stops exist BETWEEN the listed timepoints; please refer to individual Bus Route Schedules or the bus tracking smartphone app for specific stop locations. A digital copy of the MET Bus map can be found by clicking here; physical copies of the map are available on every MET bus and at locations throughout the community.
Routes that run between the Stewart Park and Downtown Transfer Centers will have an INBOUND run that travels TO Downtown and an OUTBOUND run that travels AWAY from Downtown. Loop routes will have the same stop listed as a starting and ending point.
Reading MET Bus Route Schedules
Individual MET Bus Route Schedules can be accessed by clicking here.
Individual route maps show a detailed map of each route with all bus stops listed by stop identification number. The schedule page of the individual route maps lists each individual stop by STOP ID and a descriptive location. The full timepoint schedule for each route is also listed. Most bus stops listed will be between two reference timepoints. To determine what time to be at your stop, find your stop on the map and use the stop ID listed in the timepoints to determine which two timepoints your stop is between. Be at your stop at the time listed for the prior timepoint (the earlier of the two timepoints).
For example, route 5 - Grand is displayed on this page in map and INBOUND schedule format. In the example, let's catch the bus at stop 0540, which is on the INBOUND trip to Downtown; we'll aim for catching the bus at around 1:00 PM. Find the stop on the map, located at the southwest corner of Grand Ave and 13th St W.
Now, find the two timepoint stops on the INBOUND schedule that stop 0540 is between. Timepoints stop IDs are listed at the top of the schedule table and are also indicated in gray on the stops table; both tables read left to right and top to bottom. Referencing either table, we see that stop 0540 is between timepoint stop 0538 (Grand Ave and 17th St W) and timepoint stop 0545 (Grand Ave and Virginia Ln). We want to arrive to stop 0540 at the time listed for the previous timepoint stop (0538), so we would arrive to stop 0540 at 12:58 PM.
Please keep in mind, the timepoints listed are ESTIMATES based on route timings; the bus may be early or later depending on traffic, the weather, or other issues.
For more convenience and real time bus locations, download the bus tracking smartphone application by clicking the green smartphone app picture on this page.
Ridership and Passenger Conduct Policy
(Information is available in accessible formats upon request; contact MET Transit for assistance.)
For the comfort and safety of all passengers, the following conduct is expected of all individuals utilizing transit services and locations:
- Cooperate with requests from transit personnel including Operators and Transit Police.
- Be considerate.
- Respect the privacy of others.
- Refrain from unnecessary conversation with the bus Operator.
Passengers should remain seated while on a transit vehicle or ensure they are holding onto a stanchion if standing; vehicles make multiple stops and drivers may not always be able to visually verify every passenger is seated or holding a stanchion before the vehicle moves. Passengers may never stand in front of the white "standee" line while the bus is in operations. Passengers should refrain from behavior that violates MET Transit operating rules or intrudes on the comfort, ability to utilize transit, safety, and welfare of others including, but not limited to:
Violence, Harassment, and Interaction with Personnel and Other Passengers
- Interfering with the safe operation of the vehicle.
- Endangering or threatening the welfare of others.
- Roughhousing, horseplay, or fighting.
- Using excessive profanity or offensive language, screaming, or shouting.
- Threatening, harassing, or intimidating others.
- Weapons possession including knives and firearms.
- Throwing any object at transit property or at any person on transit property.
- Discharging a laser emitting device on a transit vehicle or directing device at a vehicle or person.
- Vandalism and tampering with equipment.
- Soliciting unless otherwise authorized by MET management.
Food, Drink, and Other Consumables
- Consumption of food on vehicles unless authorized by the Operator.
- Drinking from a container with no lid.
- Consumption of alcohol.
- Possession of an open container of alcohol.
- Drunk or disorderly conduct; to promote the safety of all passengers, highly inebriated passengers may be refused service at the discretion of transit personnel.
- Possession or use of illegal drugs, huffing, etc.
Smoking and Tobacco Products
- Smoking or using e-cigarettes or vapes in unauthorized areas or within twenty (20) feet of a facility entrance, vehicle, or bus shelter/bench.
- Spitting tobacco products other than into trash cans or containers.
- Disposing of cigarette butts other than in marked containers.
- Lighting matches or lighters other than in designated smoking areas.
Personal Items, Strollers, and Walkers
- Littering or leaving trash and other discarded items on vehicles or at facilities.
- Bringing car batteries onto a bus.
- Bringing any item on the bus which constitutes a hazard to other passengers including tools, building materials, or other items not authorized by the Operator.
- Blocking an aisle way with a stroller, walker, cart, luggage, or other items. All strollers and walkers are required to be folded and stowed out of the aisle.
- Children are to be removed from strollers and held in the passenger’s lap for safety.
- Obstructing a mobility device securement area with any item.
- Playing music, videos, or other electronic devices without using headphones.
- Viewing or using obscene or inappropriate materials.
- Playing musical instruments.
Personnel Hygiene and Dress
- Urinating or defecating except in restrooms.
- .Spitting
- To protect the health of all passengers, MET will remove or deny access to any passenger whose bodily fluids are exposed. This includes, but is not limited to, body eliminations, saliva and blood.
- .Indecent exposure
- Bringing onto transit property or vehicles any odors and substances which unreasonably disturb others or interfere with their use of the transit system, whether such odors or substances are from one’s person, clothes, articles, accompanying animal or any other source.
- All passengers are required to wear basic attire including shirts or styles of tops, pants or styles of bottoms, and foot coverings including shoes, sandals, or boots.
Fare Payment and Passes
- Refusing to pay required fares.
- Refusing to verify eligibility of discount fare rates.
- Sharing a pass (other than punch cards).
Seating and Utilizing Standee Areas
- Refusing to relinquish posted seating to the elderly or individuals with disabilities.
- Placing feet on seats or seat backs, or lying down in the seats.
- Hanging or swinging from stanchions.
- Loitering without the intent to use transit services.
- Using benches, vehicles, or other facilities as a place to sleep or camp.
- Using transit without an intended destination for more than one complete route trip or using transit services, vehicles, or facilities for purposes other than transportation.
TRANSIT PERSONNEL HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE TO ANY INDIVIDUAL NOT ADHERING TO THE RIDERSHIP AND PASSENGER CONDUCT POLICY. ANYONE WHO FAILS TO COMPLY MAY BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE BUS AND/OR FACILITY AS WELL AS BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW
The code of conduct applies to all activities that occur in or on any Department of Aviation and Transit Properties including:
- Any transit vehicle.
- Transit centers.
- Parking areas.
- Bus stops, shelters, benches or other passenger facilities.
- Any Department administrative, operations, and maintenance facilities.
Prohibited Items
The following items are prohibited on MET Transit:
- Gasoline or flammable liquids
- Weapons are not allowed on MET Transit vehicles, at the Transfer Centers, or on any MET property.
- Animals (except service animals).
- Car batteries.
- Fireworks.
- Roller skates, rollerblades, and metal spike shoes (you may hand carry these items on the bus).
Animals
- Animals designated under the American’s with Disabilities Act as service animals are allowed as long as they are under control and providing service to a passenger.
Mobility Devices
- All MET vehicles are equipped with a lift or ramp system to allow passengers who use a mobility device (wheelchair, walker, etc.) to easily board and disembark the vehicle. Passengers do not need to use a mobility device to use the lift or ramp, simply let the driver know you need to use the lift/ramp.
- When the lift or ramp is deploying, please stand clear of the lift or ramp to ensure your safety.
Overview
You can catch the MET at any designated stop, identified by a MET Bus Stop sign. A simple wave when the bus is approaching helps to let the driver know to stop for you and your bicycle. Before the bus arrives, remove items like knapsacks, tire pumps, and other items that could cause a hazard or fall off and begin approaching the arriving bus.
General Precautions & Tips
- For safety reasons, MET drivers are not allowed to help you load or unload your bicycle.
- Always load and unload your bike from the curb side.
- The bike rack is made to hold two bikes. Bicycles are not allowed inside the bus.