PARATRANSIT IS AVAILABLE TO ALL STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF AND VISITORS WITH DISABILITIES.
Shuttle-UM offers Paratransit as its curb-to-curb, on-demand shuttle subscription service available to students, faculty and staff with temporary and permanent disabilities.
- Those with temporary disabilities (impact of less than six weeks) who wish to use this service must register with the University Health Center (UHC).
- Students with permanent disabilities and temporary disabilities lasting for more than six weeks must be registered with Accessibility and Disability Services (ADS).
- Faculty and Staff with permanent disabilities and temporary disabilities lasting for more than six weeks must be registered with University Human Resources (UHR).
Paratransit is also available for campus guests who schedule their rides directly with Shuttle-UM.
Learn more about obtaining certification and scheduling a ride.
HOURS OF OPERATION
Fall and Spring Semesters: 24 hours, 7 days a week
OBTAINING PARATRANSIT CERTIFICATION
FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY & STAFF WITH TEMPORARY INJURIES
- Contact DOTS Shuttle-UM at 301-314-3687 (4-DOTS) to schedule a ride to the UHC.
- Obtain certification from UHC.
- The certifying doctor or nurse will register the passenger in the online Paratransit Scheduling Application.
- Once the passenger's information has been entered into the system, the passenger can schedule rides through the app throughout the duration of their certification.
FOR STUDENTS WITH A PERMANENT DISABILITY
Please register through ADS: 301-314-7682
FACULTY & STAFF WITH A PERMANENT DISABILITY
Please contact University Human Resources
FOR CAMPUS VISITORS
Campus visitors should contact shuttledrm@umd.edu or call 301-314-2660 to schedule a ride. Rides should be scheduled well in advance of the needed time so that accommodations can be made. Scheduling at 48 hours in advance, at minimum, is helpful.
SCHEDULING PARATRANSIT RIDES
DOTS is launching Terp Ride, a new app that provides paratransit services to the University of Maryland Community. Terp Ride is available for download for Apple and Android. Riders can also contact shuttledrm@umd.edu or call 301-314-2660 to schedule a ride
Every effort is made to meet the needs of our passengers. However, the practical reality is that the schedule can fill up quickly. As a result, paratransit scheduling occurs on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority is established by the date on which the trip is scheduled in the Terp Ride App.
Shuttle-UM prefers you request your ride at least one week in advance. However, ride requests can be made as late as one hour before your desired ride. Same day trips can be scheduled by contacting Shuttle-UM dispatch at 301-404-3687 (4-DOTS)
VIOLATIONS OF PARATRANSIT POLICIES
NO-SHOWS
A no-show will be documented when a passenger:
- Calls to cancel a ride less than 30 minutes prior to the scheduled ride time.
- Does not call to confirm ride(s) for the same day and does not show to a ride that day.
- Is more than five minutes late for any scheduled ride.
One no-show: Passengers who “no show” any ride, will see their remaining ride(s) cancelled for the rest of the day
Two no-shows: Passengers who accumulate two “no-shows,” he/she will be contacted through email and/or letter.
Three no-shows: On the third no-show, the passenger will be fined $20.00. Additionally, the passenger will be fined $20.00 for every “no show” incurred thereafter.
After two weeks of consecutive no-shows, DOTS will assume that the passenger no longer requires paratransit service and will cancel their schedule. If passengers are consistently late to their pickups, they will be contacted to discuss and update the existing schedule.
SUBSTANDARD SERVICE
In the event that paratransit passengers believe they received substandard service from a DOTS staff member, those passengers may contact the demand response manager by calling 301-314-2660.
PASSENGER MISCONDUCT
DOTS operates on a three-strike policy:
- The DOTS staff member involved will document the first two incidents of passenger misconduct and a warning letter will be sent to the passenger.
- In the event of a third instance of passenger misconduct, the passenger will receive a suspension of service letter that will be in place until the issues are resolved. All violations of the paratransit policies will be reviewed individually.