Part three: Are all bus stops accessible? When and how should riders call metro?

Part three: Are all bus stops accessible?  When and how should riders call metro?

Across King County Metro has not been able to fully modify all bus stops to be accessible according to modern day’s requirements.  All of the bus stops in downtown Seattle are fully accessible, but some bus stops in the suburbs have different levels of accessibility.  These differences are marked on bus stop signs. 

Accessible Service Zones

All bus zones are marked with one of three decals in the lower left corner of the bus stop sign. The decals indicate the extent to which a bus zone is accessible:

Fully Accessible Zones

Fully accessible zones display the International Access Symbol

that depicts a person seated in a wheelchair and is white on a blue, reflective background. Use the lift for all persons who request it.

Limited Space Zones

This white-on-blue decal indicates the zone has enough room for the lift to deploy but has limited space at the end of the lift for maneuvering a mobility aid. The zone can likely accommodate standing customers, but may not have enough room for mobility

aids. Inform the customer of the limited space. If the customer wants to use the zone, and you see that there is not enough room for safe boarding or disembarking, place a priority call to the coordinator.

No Lift

A white on reflective red decal marks zone where lift use is not

allowed because of potential lift damage.

(King County Metro, 2012, 104 and 105)

Both drivers manuals have expectations on how customer can access Metro’s staff, and when bus drivers should call the main office for information (which was discussed in the first blog).  Riders can call metro’s service line at 206-335-3000 from 5am to 10pm weekdays and 8 am to 7 pm on weekends.  This line can be used for trip planning or customer service complaints.  If customers are making a complaint a few details that will help are the four digit bus number on the sides and front window space of the bus, the time, bus route and direction.  It may be less of a complaint and more of an informational call to let metro know that your bus stop is not accessible.  Metro’s one bus away service helps riders plan for the estimated arrival time of buses and can be reached at 206-456-0609.