Rules for Riding
On Board Courtesy and Safety
Bloomington Transit’s highest commitment is public safety. Our bus operators are given extensive training on keeping passengers, pedestrians, and motorists safe.
Please help us in maintaining this high standard of safety by observing the following rules and suggestions.
- Do not chase the bus. Drivers are not permitted to stop and let riders board once the bus has left the bus stop.
- For those who need to stand when seat capacity is at maximum or due to medical conditions, please hold on tightly to the poles, rails, or straps at all times.
- Joyriding is not permitted.
Drivers are happy to give out information, however, please refrain from distracting the driver by conversing with him or her while driving. While the bus is in motion, no person is permitted (by law) to stand beyond the yellow floor line located at the front of the bus near the driver .
Passengers must board at the front doors. Please have fare, passes, and IDs ready when boarding. Stroller wheels must be locked and children in the strollers should have their stroller lap belt secured. If both wheelchair areas are occupied, then any strollers in those areas will have to be folded up and secured between seats on the bus. A maximum of two trips will be allowed to carry on bags and packages at a single bus stop. Turn your music off or down when boarding and exiting in order to hear special instructions from the driver. If possible, we ask that you exit the bus using the rear doors. This will expedite the onboarding/off-boarding process at bus stops because onboarding customers in the front will not need to wait for off-loading customers coming out the front door. If you need to cross the street after exiting, do not walk in front of the bus. Please wait until the bus drives away before crossing the street.
Passengers are allowed to board buses going in the opposite direction from their destination in order to avoid crossing a street without paying an additional fare.
Thank you for your part in maintaining a pleasant and safe environment for your fellow passengers and bus drivers.
PUBLIC CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE DOWNTOWN TRANSIT CENTER, GRIMES LANE COMPLEX, AND ON BPTC VEHICLES
(adopted November 20, 2018; Amended July 19, 2022)
SECTION I: PURPOSE
Disruptive conduct or behavior that interferes with the operation of the transit system or with patrons of BPTC may result in loss of riding privileges and/or exclusion from the BPTC Downtown Transit Center and BPTC vehicles. Disruptive conduct or behaviors shall result in removal from BPTC vehicles and/or the Downtown Transit Center and possible involvement of law enforcement agencies.
SECTION II: DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR
Disruptive behavior includes, but is not limited to:
Intoxication or impairment, possession or consumption of open containers of alcohol on BPTC property or vehicles. Illegal possession or consumption of controlled substances on BPTC property or vehicles. Possession of a weapon on BPTC property or vehicles (except as permitted under Indiana Code 35-47-11.1).
Abusive, aggressive, threatening, violent or harassing behavior in any form.
Action or behavior that unreasonably interferes with other persons’ ability to use the transit system or interferes with the ability of BPTC employees to perform their job.
Profane or obscene language.
Damaging, defacing, or theft of BPTC property or equipment. Misuse of furniture or facilities. Any action or behavior which unreasonably causes or creates a risk of damage to property owned, managed, or operated by the BPTC.
Selling, polling, solicitation, panhandling, loitering, or providing free food, drink, or products. BPTC reserves the right to survey customers onboard vehicles, at vehicle stops, and at the Downtown Transit Center subject to the approval of the BPTC General Manager. Loitering is occupying the Downtown Transit Center for any purpose other than waiting for a vehicle or obtaining information, vehicle tickets or vehicle passes. BPTC operates each route at least once per hour. A transfer within the system should be possible within one hour and thus passengers should be not waiting for a BPTC vehicle at the Downtown Transit Center more than an hour. Passengers are allowed to wait at the Downtown Transit Center longer than one hour if they are waiting for a Miller Transportation or Flixbus intercity bus service.
Sexual behavior of any kind.
Action or behavior which constitutes a public nuisance.
Action which is so deleterious to BPTC operations or public interest, or poses grave danger to BPTC employees or BPTC customers t, will result with immediate issuance of 120 day No Trespass Order.
SECTION III: OTHER BEHAVIORAL RULES
Other behavioral rules for the comfort and safety of patrons and staff include, but are not limited to:
Smoking or use of any tobacco products or use of e-cigarettes is strictly prohibited on BPTC vehicles and anywhere inside or outside at the BPTC Downtown Transit Center. Bloomington Ordinance 6.12.030(a)(3) prohibits smoking at vehicle stops, inside public buildings, and in the waiting areas of public transit depots. All areas inside the Downtown Transit Center and outside on property owned by BPTC at the Downtown Transit Center is considered a waiting area and thus smoking is prohibited.
All passengers aboard BPTC vehicles and occupants of the Downtown Transit Center must be fully attired including wearing shirts and shoes (except for babies).
Animals are prohibited aboard vehicles and in the Downtown Transit Center with the exception of service animals or animals used by law enforcement agencies.
No roller blades, hover-boards, scooters (motorized or non-motorized), or skateboards may be used on BPTC property. Bicyclists and scooter users shall dismount from their bikes or scooters while at the BPTC Downtown Transit Center. Persons may not use the bike racks or lockers for any other purpose than to store and secure bikes for periods not to extend beyond the closing time of the terminal on that particular day. Bikes or scooters may not be brought inside the Downtown Transit Center. Scooters cannot use the bike racks on BPTC buses or be brought on board BPTC vehicles. Any bikes or personal property left in bike lockers or at bike racks beyond the closing time of the terminal for that particular day are subject to being confiscated and disposed of by BPTC.
No eating is allowed aboard vehicles. Eating is allowed at the Downtown Transit Center with the expectation that those consuming food not litter and clean up after themselves. Beverage containers aboard vehicles must have lids or covers.
Persons shall refrain from littering at all times while on BPTC vehicles or while on BPTC property. Trash and litter are to be disposed of properly in trash receptacles.
Persons shall keep their feet off of seating and walls of vehicles and the Downtown Transit Center.
As safety is of paramount importance, the public shall not enter certain areas of the Downtown Transit Center including areas designated as authorized staff only and areas where vehicles operate. This includes crossing in between, in front, and behind vehicles in the vehicle parking areas as well as the vehicle driveway areas in locations that are not a designated crosswalk.
Possessing or transporting any flammable or combustible materials such as gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, propane, car batteries, etc. is prohibited. Fireworks and explosives are prohibited as well.
Oversized objects that cannot be safely or properly secured cannot be brought into the Downtown Transit Center or on the vehicle.
Children must remain seated at all times when the vehicle is in motion. When on the vehicle, all persons must be seated while the vehicle is in motion assuming seats are available. Front seats of the vehicle are reserved for persons with disabilities and senior citizens.
Passengers shall not distract drivers by talking to them while they are driving.
Wheelchair and other mobility devices have priority over seated persons, strollers, shopping carts, and other items in the areas of the vehicle where the securement positions and devices are located.
People on BPTC property or vehicles must use earphones while listening to music or other forms of audio or video entertainment. The volume shall be such that it cannot be heard by anyone nearby.
Persons using cell or public phones while at the Downtown Transit Center or on the vehicle are expected to refrain from the use of profane or obscene language while engaged in such phone conversations and to talk in a manner that doesn’t disrupt or interfere with other members of the public or BPTC employees.
SECTION IV: REMEDIAL PROCESS
BPTC employees and law enforcement officers as defined by Indiana Code have the authority to enforce this Code of Conduct. When a person has exhibited disruptive behavior at the Downtown Transit Center and/or on BPTC vehicles and/or is observed to have violated any of the behavioral rules contained in this ordinance, he or she will be warned to cease and desist the offending conduct immediately. If the person refuses to cease and desist the offending conduct immediately, he/she will be asked to leave the BPTC vehicle or property. If the person refuses to leave, and if the enforcing authority is not a law enforcement officer, the enforcing authority will contact the Bloomington Police and request that the person be removed from the vehicle or BPTC property and informed that he/she may not return for the remainder of the day. If the enforcing authority is a law enforcement officer, he or she may take appropriate action as authorized by law and this code. If the person returns later that day, he/she is subject to arrest for trespassing.
Persons who are repeat offenders of these behavioral rules are subject to longer suspensions and to being prohibited from using the BPTC Downtown Transit Center and using BPTC service for defined periods of time as follows:
- 2nd offense in a two year rolling period – 7 calendar day suspension
- 3rd offense in a two year rolling period – 30 calendar day suspension
- 4th offense in a two year rolling period – 60 calendar day suspension
- 5th offense in a two year rolling period – 120 calendar day suspension
- 6 or more offenses in a two year rolling period – subject to arrest and prosecution for trespassing
In the event a person returns to BPTC property or a BPTC vehicle before such a suspension ends, he/she shall be subject to arrest and prosecution for trespassing.
The person may appeal such suspension to the BPTC Chief Safety Officer within 7 days of notice of the suspension. Such appeals shall be in writing and addressed to the BPTC Chief Safety Officer and include the name, mailing address, date/time of the incident, and reasons why a suspension should not be imposed. The BPTC Chief Safety Officer or his/her designee will meet with the person within 15 days of receipt of an appeal to hear their appeal and provide a written response to the person within 7 days of the appeal hearing. The person may appeal the BPTC Chief Safety Officer’s decision within 7 days of receipt of the BPTC Chief Safety Officer’s decision by filing a similar written appeal to the BPTC General Manager. A committee consisting of the BPTC General Manager and two (2) members of the BPTC Board of Directors as appointed by the BPTC Board Chair, and one (1) fixed route customer as appointed by the BPTC General Manager will schedule a hearing date within 30 days of receipt of the appeal and will meet with the person to hear their appeal. The committee will issue a written decision on the appeal within 15 days of the appeal hearing. The committee’s decision shall be final.
DATE OF INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE: October 16, 2018.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of the Bloomington Public Transportation Corporation of the City of Bloomington, Indiana, this 20th day of November, 2018.
Amended by the Board of Directors of the Bloomington Public Transportation Corporation this 19th day of July, 2022.