Discounted Shared Rides for Adults With Disabilities From BARTA

To be eligible you must be 18 to 64 years of age, have any disability as defined by the ADA certified by a physician or agency, complete the Registration Form, and be taking a trip outside the metropolitan region or more than 3/4 mile from a bus route. If you already use BARTA Special Services, this program will not replace your current service and is designed to be the funding source of last resort.

The cost varies depending on where you are traveling. Ask the amount of the fare when you make your reservation, because you must have the exact fare when boarding the vehicle.

An application must be completed to be approved. You can apply online through Find My Ride Apply, call 610-921-2361 to have an application mailed to you, or print a copy from the Persons With Disabilities Application link on the page. BARTA decides on eligibility within 21 days of receiving your application. If you are approved, BARTA sends a letter of approval with instructions on how to use the service. If you are denied, you have the right to file an appeal with BARTA within 60 days of receiving the notice of denial.

To apply or to book a trip, call BARTA at 610-921-2361 or 1-800-383-2278, or visit in person. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. If you are hearing impaired, BARTA encourages you to use the PA Relay Service, reached by calling 711, free of charge. The general email address is barta@bartabus.com.

Rides are generally available Monday through Friday between 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday you can also travel up to 10 miles outside the county borders of Berks and Lancaster. Check with the office about the days and times available for where you want to go. Out of county trips must be scheduled by 5:30 p.m. at least 2 days before the appointment, not counting Saturdays and Sundays.

Once you are a rider, you can use Find My Ride Schedule at FindMyRidePA.org to book trips, check your account balance, track your driver's estimated arrival time, view upcoming rides and cancel trips. You need your BARTA Shared Ride ID number, which you get by contacting Customer Service, and you select Berks County for your residence and enter your birthdate. Not all trips can be scheduled online. For help, call BARTA Special Services at 610-921-2361.

A few policies to know. A personal care attendant rides free of charge only if you are certified in advance to travel with an attendant. A companion may travel with you, pays the same fare as you and rides if space is available. Cancel a trip at least one hour before your scheduled pickup, or BARTA may charge you a no-show. Service animals are welcome, but pets are not allowed in vehicles. For a complaint or compliment, including discrimination complaints under the ADA, call 610-921-2361 or email barta@bartabus.com, and BARTA will record the complaint, investigate it and respond within five days.

Source: bartabus.com/barta-special-services/programs-eligibility/…, read September 18, 2026.

The details

In BARTA’s words

Individuals with a disability are eligible for this program if they need transportation in areas that are not served by fixed-route transportation (mostly rural areas). If you are already using BARTA Special Services, the Persons With Disabilities Program will not replace your current service and is designed to be the funding source of last resort. The cost of the service will vary depending on where you are traveling. If eligible for the service, you will receive a discount on the shared-ride…

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