Service Hours

B.C. Lift offers rides Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., Saturday from 5:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. to people with disabilities in Broome County's urban core within the triple cities area.

Am I eligible?

Eligible riders may be those who:

1. Cannot get to and from B.C. Transit bus stops because of an impairment,  obstruction or distance,  and/or;
2. Cannot use the B.C. Transit system because of their disability/impairment, even though there are handicap equipped buses.  

How Do I Apply?

Applications can be downloaded online or are available by calling the Broome County Department of Public Transportation at 607.763.4464, option 3. The form must be filled out completely along with all supporting documentation and signed by the applicant.  Applications are to be returned to the Broome County Department of Public Transportation at 413 Old Mill Rd, Vestal, NY  13850. Eligible individuals will receive a permanment or temporary ADA Identification Card which they must show when boarding the bus. Please allow 21 days for processing. Anyone denied eligibility will be sent an appeal process.  

Fares

The fare for the service is $2.50 for each ride throughout the urbanized core of Broome County. Children 5 or under ride free when accompanied by an adult. Fares must be paid by using exact change. Drivers do not have change.

How To Schedule A Ride- 607.763.8747

Once you have applied and received an  ADA Identification Card, you can now schedule a ride. Call the B.C. Lift office at 607.763.8747 Monday through Sunday during the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Call at least one day in advance or up to one week in advance.

• For complete printable instructions on scheduling your ride click here.

Please be advised that the B.C. Lift vehicle times fill up quickly. The more in advance you call for a ride, your chances are better of getting the times you want. BC Lift is a shared ride service. The vehicle may stop along the way to pick up other riders, so plan on extra time for your trip.

To speed the process along, please be ready to leave the following information: Your name, the date of the ride, the time you want to be picked up and returned (if you have an appointment, please leave the appointment time as well), where you want to be picked up and returned and where you want to go.

How To Cancel A Ride

If your plans change, and you cannot go on a previously scheduled trip, it is very important that you call and cancel your reservation at least one hour before your scheduled pick up time. This will allow us to give the ride to someone else.

"No Show" Policy

If the driver goes to your pick up place and you are unavailable to ride, they are required to wait five minutes past your scheduled time and then you will be recorded as a "no-show". Please be aware that three no-shows in a thirty-day period may result in a thirty-day suspension of service.  However, frequency of rides will be considered.  The "no-show" policy includes late cancellations of trips made less than one hour to the scheduled trip time.  Cancellations are to be made more than one hour in advance to not be considered a "no-show"    Note:  A trip is defined as a one-way ride.  If you have multiple trips scheduled, each trip must be cancelled. 

Mobility Aid Accessibility

All BC Lift buses are wheelchair accessible; however, your mobility aid (wheelchair, scooter, etc.) must meet the measurement requirements below:

• Width - cannot exceed 30 inches
• Length - cannot exceed 48 inches (measured two inches above the ground)
• Weight - cannot weigh more than 600 pounds when occupied

When the Bus Comes

Your scheduled pick up time is only approximate. The driver will get to you as close to the schedule time as possible. However, there are factors beyond the driver's control such as traffic, weather, etc. that may affect your time.

You need not wait outside, but you must be where you can see the bus because the driver cannot go inside to get you. The bus may also pick you up as much as fifteen minutes after you scheduled pick up time without being considered late.

Need A Helping Hand?

The B.C. Lift is a CURB TO CURB service. You need to be able to get to and from the vehicle by yourself, if you use a wheelchair you need to be able to get on to and off the wheelchair lift without the driver's assistance. The driver is only required to operate the wheelchair lift and to secure the wheelchair once you are on board. If you require assistance then you need to arrange ahead of time to have someone help you. We will be glad to let an attendant or friend ride with you. There is no fee for this person, however a ride needs to be reserved for them as well as for you.

Safety Guidelines

The following activities are prohibited on any B.C. Lift bus:

• Eating or drinking of any substance on the bus.
• Consumption of alcohol and/or illegal substances.
• Smoking.
• Possession of weapons.
• Boarding the bus with hazardous or dangerous materials or devices.
• Behavior that is considered to a reasonable person to be dangerous, disruptive, obscene, threatening, violent, inciting or insulting language and/or gestures.
• Fighting or mock fighting.
• Throwing objects in the bus or out the windows.
• Using sound producing devices without earphones. (radios, boom boxes, mega-phones, etc).
• Panhandling and soliciting.
• Harassing or intimidating any person.
• Putting hands out the window.
• Putting hands on or touching other passengers without consent.
• Bicycling, rollerskating, rollerblading or skateboarding on the bus.
• Animals, except service animals.
• Lack of shoes, shirts, other appropriate attire.
• Placing of any objects in aisles or other places where a reasonable person would consider dangerous.
• Click here for the BC Transit Policy Manual