MART, is proud to bring Travel Training to our region.
What is Travel Training?
Travel training is instruction in how to use MART public transit to get to where you need to go. It’s an overview of MART’s services and how to use them, individualized for each person or group interested in travel training. Travel training can be offered to staff at community organizations so employees can become informed resources to the public. Travel training can also be personalized, one-one-one training about how to get to specific destinations. MART will work with you to ensure that the topic, information, and training match what your needs are. Who should participate? Anyone, who wants to better understand MART’s ride services to older adults and individuals with cognitive, mental health, or physical impairments who wish to become more independent.Benefits of Travel Training:
- Enhances freedom, mobility and independence
- Provides access to safe and low-cost transportation
- Increases self-confidence
- Promotes healthy living by helping you stay active in the community
Travel Trainers Can Teach You:
- How to plan your trip
- Which MART service(s) fit your travel needs
- How to get to and from your bus stop
- How to ride a specific route
- How to recognize bus routes, bus stops, and landmarks
- How to pay fares and purchase passes
- How to board with a mobility device
- Where to position your mobility device on the bus
- How to prepare for the unexpected
- Street crossing safety
- Stranger awareness
- How to read and understand bus schedules
- And more!
Is there a cost for training?
Travel training is provided free-of-charge except for your bus fare while training is taking place.How do I get Travel Training?
For travel training, please contact the office to get in touch with our Travel Trainer: kathryn.witherow@mrta.usHow to Ride
- Flag the bus to stop at any safe location.
- Please arrive at your stop a few minutes ahead of time and have fare ready.
- Signal the driver by raising your arm as the bus approaches
- Once on board, listen for your stop; all published stops are called out.
- To signal the bus to stop, simply press the black strip or pull yellow chord beside a window as the bus approaches your stop.
Our Rules of the Road
- Please keep children safe and supervised during your trip.
- Only hand-carried parcels are permitted on the bus. Once on board, passengers are not permitted to get off the bus to retrieve any additional parcels.
- No bicycles are permitted in the bus.
For Disabled Riders
- All MART buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts.
- In the event a lift is not available to you because of an emergency or maintenance, your driver will notify MART, and a lift-equipped MART van will be sent to enable you to complete your journey.
- To qualify for discount fares and get a proper ID, please call 800-922-5636.
- The TDD number for deaf and hearing-impaired passengers is 800-789-0577.
- In Fitchburg, Leominster, Gardner and Athol ADA service is available to those who are unable to use the regular bus. ADA service is also available in Lunenburg, Lancaster, Westminster, Phillipston, Templeton and Winchendon restricted to the ¾ mile boundary around the fixed bus route. To enroll, please call MART at 800-922-5636 Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
No Smoking
No writing on seats or bus destruction
No eating or drinking
Keep arms, hands, and head in the bus
Reserve designated seats for passengers with disabilities
Please stay behind the yellow standee line
No playing of audio devices or sound equipment
Disruptive or combative riders, especially those under the influence of alcohol or drugs, will be removed by security or the police
All strollers and carts must be folded before entering bus
Shirts and shoes must be worn
No littering
Service animals are allowed on buses
No cursing or disruptive behavior
Do not engage in unnecessary conversation with drivers
Do not cross in front of the bus when deboarding