What is paratransit or shared ride services?
The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that public transit be accessible to passengers with disabilities. Paratransit often works in conjunction with fixed routes to make it easier for all passengers to use an area’s public transportation system. Vans or mini-buses are typically used to provide shared-ride paratransit services. Some systems pick up passengers along a given route, while other systems offer on-demand call-up curb-to-curb service from any origin to any destination in a service area. Paratransit services are operated by public transit agencies, community groups or not-for-profit corporations, and for-profit private companies or operators.
