BARTA Fixed Route System

Welcome Aboard the BARTA Fixed Route System!
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BARTA is the principal provider of public transportation services in the city of Reading and Berks County. We are presenting this information as a service to our new and potential customers as well as our existing customers. We hope to answer any questions you may have and make riding BARTA as simple as possible. If you cannot find the information you need, please contact us at barta@bartabus.com or by phone at 610-921-0601.

How to Ride BARTA

Here are some tips on how to ride the BARTA Bus System.

1. If you are a new rider or will be taking the bus to a new destination, get the information you will need before you begin your trip. Bus schedules are available at most libraries, city halls, hospitals and many stores and businesses throughout Berks County.
2. After checking the schedule and locating your route and the times you want to travel, stand at the bus stop. BARTA bus stops are marked with posted bus stop signs. If there is not a posted bus stop near the area in which you want to board along a route, go to the nearest intersection and wait on the same side of the street in which the bus is traveling. Always try to be at the bus stop several minutes early.
3. Stand where the driver can see you. If you’re inside a bus shelter, step outside once you see your bus approaching. Otherwise, it is helpful to wave at the drive as the bus approaches to indicate that you would like to board the bus.
4. Read the bus destination signs before boarding. BARTA buses are marked with both the names and numbers of the route they serve. They are located on the front of the bus, as well as to the left of the front door.
5. Please wait to get on the bus until all riders wishing to get off have done so. If several riders are getting on the same bus, please form a line to speed boarding.
6. Have the exact fare, your BARTA Pass or your Ten Trip Ticket ready when you board. Stopping to count change or find your pass or ticket can delay other riders who are waiting to get on or off the bus.
7. If you are purchasing a One Day Anywhere Pass onboard the bus, YOU MUST TELL THE DRIVER BEFORE YOU INSERT THE MONEY INTO THE FAREBOX!
8. Have your children ready to board and your stroller folded before the bus pulls up.
9. When you approach your destination, remember to pull the chime cord located above the window area, about one block before your bus stop. If another passenger has rung the bell, a sign will light up behind the driver stating, “stop requested”. It is not necessary to ring the bell again.
10. If, while traveling on route, you have passed out of the base zone, a zone fare should be deposited in the farebox upon leaving the bus. (Please see individual schedules for zone locations.)
11. Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before deboarding.
12. If you plan on changing buses to complete your trip, pay your transfer fare, along with your base fare, when you board your first bus and ask the driver for a transfer. BARTA Pass holders do not need to purchase trasnsfers.

13. Passengers transferring to another bus must take the first bus available for the transfer. A transfer may not be used to make a return trip or to continue a trip on the same route or in the same direction. When you change buses, insert the transfer into the farebox in the second bus.

15. Be considerate of your fellow passengers and keep conversations and cell phone calls in a low tone.
16.The following are prohibited on BARTA vehicles: smoking, drinking, eating, playing music (except with headphones at a low volume) and the use of the speaker phone feature on cell phones.

Bus Riding Courtesy
1. Please observe the following:

No Eating

No Drinking

No Smoking. Smoking on the bus is against the law.

No Playing Music without headphones (Radios, Tape Players, CD Players, etc.)
2. The seats near the driver are designated for the elderly and handicapped. Please volunteer your seat to anyone who is less able to stand than you are.
3. Standing in front of the yellow standee line on the floor of the bus or sitting or standing in the bus stairwells is prohibited.
4. Behavior, that disturbs others, interferes with the safe operation of the vehicle or causes damage, may result in ejection from the bus. Fighting, throwing things, pushing, shouting, rough behavior and vulgar language are all forbidden.
5. Vandalism or graffiti to seats and other portions of the bus is subject to fine and/or prosecution.
6. For safety reasons, please do not engage in unnecessary conversation with the driver while the bus is in motion.
7. Service animals, to aid the disabled, are permitted on the bus but may not occupy a seat and must be on a leash. No other pets are allowed.
8. Each passenger should only take one seat. If it is necessary to stand, please hold on to the safety bar above or the hand rail on the back of each seat.
9. Keep the aisles clear of parcels, strollers, umbrellas or other objects that might cause harm to others.
10. Firearms, weapons, fireworks, chemicals or hazardous materials of any type are not allowed on the bus.
11. Anyone who intentionally assaults a transit operator or destroys transit property will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

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Lost & Found
If you think you have lost something on a BARTA vehicle, call BARTA at 610-921-0601. Please give the Dispatcher the following information:

What it was that you lost

On which bus or bus route you think you lost the item

At what time you think you lost the item

Where you were sitting on the bus

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Kneelers
All of the buses in BARTA's fixed-route fleet are equipped with kneelers. A "Kneeler" lowers the front of the bus, bringing the bottom step closer to the sidewalk or street surface. The kneeler is designed to assist passengers who have difficulty reaching the lowest step comfortably. Simply ask the driver to "please lower the steps" to make boarding the bus easier.

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Call-a-Lift Program

In order to make arrangements to ride on one of BARTA's wheelchair accessible transit coaches, you are asked to call BARTA at 610-921-0601 24 hours in advance of the need for service. This allows BARTA to make sure that an accessible bus is operating on the route you would like to take.

Tell the Dispatcher:
1. Where you will be boarding.
2. Where you will be traveling to and if you will need to transfer buses.
3. At what time you will be boarding, both to and from your destination.

The Dispatcher will be happy to assist you in finding the routes and schedule information you need to complete your trip.

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Holiday Service
The BARTA will not be in operation on the following holidays:

New Year's Day Easter Sunday Memorial Day Fourth of July
Labor Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day

Half Fare Program for Persons with Disabilities

If you are physically challenged, you may be entitled to a Reduced-Fare Transit Identification Card. A Medicare card is sufficient proof of disability for persons under the age on 65. Simply bring your Medicare card to BARTA's Special Services Office - 1700 N 11th St in Reading (between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday), show the staff member your Medicare card, fill out the application, and you will receive a Reduced Fare Transit Identification Card immediately. If you do not possess a Medicare card, you may request to have an application mailed to you. A doctor will need to sign the application to verify your disability. Once this is done, you may either mail the completed application to BARTA or return it in person and a Reduced Fare Transit Identification Card will be issued to you. This card will allow you to ride for half fare on the BARTA Fixed Route bus system ALL DAY / EVERY DAY!.

FARE STRUCTURE (Effective Jan. 1, 2011)
Base Cash Fare	$1.70
Student Cash Fare (Grades 1 - 12 with student ID card)	$1.20
Transfers	25¢
Zone Fare (for each zones crossed)	25¢
Children 5 and under (Limited to 3 children when accompanied by an adult)	FREE
Handicapped Fare (With proper ID)	85¢

DISCOUNT FARES	BARTA 31 DAY PASS	TEN TRIP TICKET
Adult Anywhere	$47.00	$17.30
Student Anywhere	$29.00	$11.00
Park-N-Ride Pass	$31.00

(Park-N-Ride passes are valid to & from

designated P-N-R lots only)

ONE DAY ANYWHERE PASS

$ 3.00 purchased at a Sales Outlet

ONE DAY ANYWHERE PASS

$ 4.00 "ON BUS" purchase

**PRE-PURCHASED PASSES AND TICKETS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE**

How can I keep my pass working?

First, carry the card in a wallet, purse or elsewhere where it lies flat and remains clean and dry. Second, be careful to keep the pass away from portable electronic devices, which can demagnetize passes, making them unreadable. Demagnetizing of passes is a growing problem now that most people carry one or more electronic devices, including cell phones, iPods, PDAs, and handheld games. All such devices can generate magnetic fields and many can demagnetize passes. Finally, take care not to place a pass in a purse or wallet so that its magnetic strip rubs against that of a credit card or debit card. This can also demagnetize a pass.

BARTA 31 Day Passes, One Day Anywhere Passes and Ten Trip Tickets may be purchased at the following locations:

BARTA Transportation Center (BTC) - 8th & Cherry Streets, Reading. The BARTA Customer Service Office is located in the BTC and is open Monday through Saturday, from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, except on Holidays. 31 Day Pass, One Day Anywhere Pass and Ten Trip Tickets can be purchased here.

BARTA Dispatcher's Office - 1700 N. 11th Street, Reading
31 Day Pass, One Day Anywhere Pass and Ten Trip Tickets can be purchased at the Dispatcher's Office from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday through Saturday.

BOSCOV's North - 31 Day Adult Base, 31 Day Adult Anywhere, 31 Day P-N-R, 31-Day Student Anywhere, and Ten Trip Tickets Adult Base. Tickets are sold at the Courtesy Desk during regular business hours.

BOSCOV's East - 31 Day Adult Base, 31 Day Adult Anywhere, and 31 Day Student Anywhere. Tickets are sold at the Courtesy Desk during regular business hours.

BOSCOV's Berkshire Mall - 31 Day Adult Base, 31 Day Adult Anywhere, 31 Day P-N-R, 31 Day Student Anywhere, Ten Trip Tickets Adult Base. Tickets are sold at the Courtesy Desk during regular business hours.