Transportation Services for the Mobility Impaired

Priority seating on buses and curb-to-curb van services are available as a courtesy to members of the University community who are eligible. All services are available upon request for on-campus facilities.

Application for Paratransit Service

Contact Paratransit Services

Suzanne Ruggiers
Paratransit Manager
vans@uga.edu
(706) 369-5991

West Deck – 5th floor office
146 East Cloverhurst Avenue
Athens, GA 30605

Additional Resources:


Paratransit Van Service Schedule

Fall and Spring semesters when class is in session:

  • Monday – Wednesday: 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. regular service / 7:00 p.m.–1:00 a.m. on-call service
  • Thursday – Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. regular service / 7:00 p.m.–3:00 a.m. on-call service
  • Saturday: 10:00 a.m.–3:00 a.m. on-call service
  • Sunday: 12:00 p.m.– 9:00 p.m. on-call service

Intersession (see calendar here):

  • Monday – Friday: 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. on-call service

Summer:

  • Monday – Friday: 7:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. on-call service

For further service and eligibility information, call Paratransit at (706) 369-5991 or email vans@uga.edu.

Additional Paratransit Information

Eligibility for Paratransit Services

Accessible van service is provided by the Transportation and Parking Services and is available to eligible persons with mobility, visual, and other health-related impairments. Eligibility for use of the van service on a regular basis must be established through the Disability Resource Center in Clark-Howell Hall (706-542-8719).

Students, staff and faculty with temporary conditions who desire service on a short-term basis should contact Paratransit at (706) 369-5991. Service may be provided if space is available.

Passengers with disabilities and their personal care attendants (if required) are authorized to use the van.

Please complete the Application for Paratransit Service (found at the top of this page), including the last page to be filled out by your doctor, and email it to vans@uga.edu.

Scheduling Paratransit Service

We offer two types of service. Regularly scheduled service allows you to schedule trips that occur on a repeating basis over an extended period of time. On-demand service allows you to schedule trips that occur on an irregular basis or trips that will occur over a short period of time.

Service Delays and Problems

Delays and problems often occur due to traffic, weather, and patrons being late. To avoid delaying other patrons, be ready to board the van when it arrives. Call our office (706-369-5991) if your van does not arrive within 15 minutes of the scheduled time. Office hours are from 6:00 am – 7:00 pm. To contact us after hours, please call 706-369-5991.

Off-Campus Service

Through a contractual agreement with the Athens-Clarke County Government, students, staff and faculty with disabilities who are registered to use their service may use Athens Transit “The Lift” at no charge. Athens Transit requires prior certification for users and 24-hour notice on most trips. Riders must:

  1. Navigate to ParaPlan Connect (https://connect.paraplansoftware.com)
  2. Login with email address and password. If you do not have a password, click “Use a PIN instead” and enter PIN as defined above.
  3. Populate Trip Request with:
    1. Pick Up and Drop Off Location
    2. Desired Pick Up OR Appointment time
  4. Click Request Trip.
  5. Verify the details and wait for email confirmation.
  6. Click Request return trip to book a second leg if needed.
Visitors with Disabilities
  • A state issued disability placard or license plate must be displayed to utilize disability spaces.
  • Any visitor may use Campus Transit to travel to their destination. Check the bus routes or call (706) 369-6220.
  • All Pay decks contain conveniently located disability spaces.
  • Please call (706) 542-PARK should you require any accommodation.
Paratransit / ADA Feedback and Complaints

Please fill out this form.


Paratransit Policies

Passenger Policies
  • Passengers are responsible for getting ready at least 15 minutes before their scheduled pickup time and for being at the curb of the residence / facility where they are to be picked up. TO AVOID DELAYING OTHER PASSENGERS, it is important that you are at your pickup location on time and ready to board. Drivers can only wait three minutes before proceeding on their route.
  • If a passenger knows they will be late, it is their responsibility to call before the van arrives.
  • Drivers are not allowed to go into residences or other facilities to look for passengers, nor can they help passengers to or from a building or home.
  • Fasten your seat belts. For your safety, drivers are not allowed to put the vehicle in motion until your seat belts are fastened.
Restrictions

Passengers will not consume any beverages, use illegal drugs, smoke, eat, use obscene language or behave in a violent or disruptive behavior, or play radios while on board the van. Passengers will only bring on the van a number of packages / bags of groceries which can be carried on board at one time. Drivers are not allowed to make several trips carrying packages or lifting heavy items which could cause back injury.

Guests and Escorts

If you require an escort, one may ride with you.

Changes and Cancellations

Changes in pick-up times and/or destinations must be made with the scheduler one hour prior to the time for your scheduled trip.

If you need to cancel your scheduled trip, be sure to email us at vans@uga.edu at least one hour prior to your trip. Cancellation emails received less than one hour before the scheduled pickup time may result in a “late call” within a one-month period, eligibility shall be suspended for one week. Failure to notify us of your cancellation will result in your being charged a “no show.” After a no show, you will be suspended from using the service.

No Shows

If a rider repeatedly misses scheduled rides, he or she will be recommended for suspension. Missed rides or “No-shows” are compiled quarterly during these time periods: January–March, April–June, July–September and October–December. After each quarter records are cleared. If a customer has four more or no-shows within a quarter, Riders will be issued a letter from TPS Paratransit listing the days and the time in which the no shows occurred. TPS Paratransit will review the percentage of missed rides occurring each quarter relative to total rides scheduled. For example, if between January and March a rider has scheduled 16 trips and missed 8 s/he has a 50% cancellation rate. If the percentage of no-shows is 50% or greater, a one-week suspension will be scheduled. A 30 day minimum notice will be given prior to scheduled suspensions. All suspensions will be limited to one week.

No-shows for reasons that are beyond the customer’s control will not be counted. Examples of excused no-shows include but are not limited to:

  • Illness and/or hospitalization;
  • Family or other emergencies;
  • TPS Paratransit staff error;
  • Inclement weather such as ice and snow.
Subscription Service

If you will be making the same trip three or more times per week, please notify the scheduler so that subscription service can be arranged, if time slots are available. Subscription service allows you to schedule all of your trips with one email. According to ADA, subscription service may not absorb more than fifty percent of the number of trips available at a given time of day.

A full suite of parking services

Register for permits, view your permits, pay a citation or get support for your account.

Apply for a Permit All Parking Services