How to Ride

GETTING STARTED

The first step in planning your trip is to decide the starting point, where you want to go, and what day and time you want to travel.

Once you have determined the route(s) you need, follow these simple steps to plan your trip:

1. On the route map, locate the beginning and ending point of your bus trip.

2. Locate the time point closest to your beginning and ending bus trip location. Time points are indicated on the route maps by a number inside a circle.

NOTE: Each time point on the route map has a corresponding column on the timetable. Not all bus stops are indicated on the map and there are many bus stops between each time point.

3. Find the column on the correct timetable that corresponds with your selected time point. Be sure you are using the timetable for the correct day of the week and direction of travel. Read down the column below the time point to find the time closest to your desired departure. Time for stops between time points can be estimated by adding the amount of time it will take the bus to get from the previous time point to your stop.

RTA routes have been designed for your convenience. In most instances, one route can serve your trip needs. On occasion, you may need to take more than one route to get to your destination. If you're having trouble planning your trip, please call the RTA Customer Information Center at (951) 565-5002.

SAFETY TIPS

For safety reasons, RTA buses cannot stop at locations under construction or non-designated bus stops.

SERVICE ANIMALS AND PETS

Service Animals

The ADA defines a service animal as any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. Service animals perform some of the functions and tasks that the individual with a disability cannot perform for him or herself. Some examples include:

Service animals can be guide dogs for the blind or visually impaired, signal dogs for the hearing impaired, or other types of animals that can be individually trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability
Service animals perform some of the functions and tasks that the individual with a disability cannot perform in their day-to-day activities
A service animal must always be under the control of the owner or handler
Service animals require no special tag, identification, certification, papers, harness, vest, cape, or pass

What is not a service animal?

Pets are not service animals
Emotional support, therapy, comfort, and companion animals are not service animals, as they have not been trained to perform a specific job or task. These animals would not be afforded access rights under the ADA.

Pets

Small pets and non-service or guide animals are allowed only if owners comply with the following rules:

Small animals such as birds and cats must be secured in a commercially made pet carrier or cage that can be safely placed on the passenger’s lap and does not require a separate seat.
Glass, breakable or homemade carriers are not permitted.
The animal must be completely enclosed within the pet carrier or cage at all times.
The pet carrier or cage must completely prevent the animal from escaping or physically contacting another passenger or of escape.
The pet carrier or cage must be constructed so that no bedding material or pet waste can exit.

The animal must not interfere with, disrupt or disturb any service or guide animals on the vehicle.

TRAVEL TIPS

Arrive to your bus stop at least 10 minutes early.
No eating, drinking, smoking (including e-cigarettes), loud music or changing of clothes or diapers.
Carry-on items should be limited to three small packages or grocery bags per customer.
Shopping carts and strollers should be folded prior to boarding the bus and stowed under your seat or on your lap. Walkers should be folded prior to taking your seat. Customers seated in the front of the bus who are unable to collapse their foldable shopping carts may be asked to move to another area of the bus to keep aisles, doors and steps clear to facilitate safe boardings and wheelchair tie-downs.
Child safety seats are not required on buses.
Please refrain from shouting, using profanity, offensive language, or talking to the operator while the bus is in motion.
No graffiti, alcohol, drugs or weapons of any kind permitted on the bus.
Push the yellow strip between the windows to signal your stop.
All customers should remain seated until the bus comes to a complete stop.
Please exit through the rear doors, if possible, to speed boarding of customers.
Never walk in front of a bus to cross the street. Stay safe by using a crosswalk whenever possible and waiting until you can clearly see traffic.
Fold-up seats and seats directly behind the operator are intended for seniors and customers with disabilities.
Keep your buses and bus stops clean by using trash receptacles.
Please keep your feet off the seats.

DRESS CODE POLICY

Customers are required to wear appropriate clothing (shirt, pants, shorts, dresses, and shoes) while riding. Customers wearing clothing with offensive or obscene images or messages will be asked to cover up or they will not be permitted to ride the bus.

WHEELCHAIRS

RTA is pleased to offer accommodations for our customers in wheelchairs. To ensure proper fastening of the chair during travel, please limit the number of carry-on bags stowed in the back of the chair. To avoid injury to yourself and other customers, please remove any protruding objects such a flag poles and reflectors with sharp points. Be aware that RTA buses deploy a wheelchair ramp for easy boarding and alighting. When the ramp is deployed, the bus will emit a beeping sound. When exiting the rear doors, listen for the beeping sound and be observant of the ramp to avoid injuries. Wheelchairs and electric mobility scooters are allowed on the bus as long as they do not exceed 30 inches wide and 48 inches long and the combined weight does not exceed 800 pounds.

For your safety, please turn off the power to your mobility device while the driver fastens the safety harness and during the entire trip. Refrain from removing wheelchair or scooter securement until you reach your destination and the bus comes to a complete stop. Please use the bus seats whenever possible.

RTA is pleased to offer tether straps for wheelchairs and scooters. The application of tether straps is free of charge and allows for the securement of mobility devices to be faster, easier and safer to perform.

RTA POLICY ON BATTERY-POWERED SCOOTERS & BIKES

Battery-powered bicycles and scooters are allowed on RTA buses: Customers are allowed to place electric bicycles with sealed gel, lithium Ion, or NiCad batteries in the bike rack as long as they fit safely in the bike rack and have standard tires. (Must also meet the bicycle requirements listed above.) Customers are allowed to carry on the bus electric scooters with sealed gel, lithium Ion, or NiCad batteries as long as they can be folded and fit under your seat or on your lap. The following items are not allowed on RTA buses: Customers are not allowed to bring on board the bus items such as used gasoline cans, car batteries, hover boards, gas-powered vehicles, or objects too large to fit under passenger seats. Electric bikes with liquid lead acid batteries are not permitted in the bike rack nor are gas-powered bikes. Electric bikes with liquid acid batteries are not permitted.

SURFBOARDS/BOOGIE BOARDS

Surfboards and boogie boards no longer than six feet and with a maximum 4” skeg are permitted on buses provided they are enclosed in a bag, can be positioned in front of the customer while the bus is in motion and do not take up an additional seat.

NO SMOKING OF ANY KIND ABOARD RTA BUSES

All Riverside Transit Agency buses and stations are entirely non-smoking. This includes cigarettes, cigars and electronic smoking devices, such as electronic cigarettes. The smoking of marijuana or ingestion of cannabis products for any purpose is also prohibited, and sealed containers are required for the transportation of any cannabis-related product.