HOW TO RIDE THE FIXED ROUTE: 

1. PLAN YOUR TRIP

Talk to one of Western Piedmont Regional Transit Authority's (WPTRA) Customer Information Agent at 828-464-9444 hearing impaired customers please call relay service at 7-1-1 or 1-877-735-8200. Please be prepared with exact addresses and your desired travel time, and be ready to make a note of your trip plan.

2. GET ON BOARD

Arrive at least 10 minutes early! Do not risk missing the bus-you will have at least an hour wait for the next bus. All buses have a bike rack that will carry two bikes. Signal the driver before you load a bike. Children under the age of five may ride FREE with a fare paying adult. When the bus arrives, look at the destination signs on the front and side. The sign will tell you the route number and where the bus is going. More than one bus route may serve an area, and not all routes operate at all times. Make sure you know and get on the right bus! Pull the signal cord above the window about one block before your stop. If you are unfamiliar with the area, ask the driver to assist you. Major stops will automatically be announced, but not every stop.

How to Pay

Please have exact change, a pass or a transfer ready when boarding the bus. Tell your bus operator if you would like a one-way pass, a day pass or a transfer. If paying for your ticket, drop coins one at a time into the Coin Insertion Cup on the bottom right hand side of the fare box. If paying with bills, feed them flat and unfolded into the Bill Insertion Slot, which is right above the coin cup. Place the transfer in the fare box. Fareboxes and operators do not make change. Please have your correct fare ready when boarding the bus. Persons boarding the bus who do not pay a fare will not ride. The single-ride ticket and one-day pass can be purchased on buses with electronic fareboxes (Buses 106, 206, 306, 406 & 506).

3. BUS SCHEDULE

Use the schedule to find the time point number closest to where you will get on and off the bus. Along the top of the schedule, find the time point number at or nearest the point where you will get on the bus. Follow that column down to the time you want to leave. Use the same method to find the times the bus is scheduled to arrive at the stop where you will get off the bus.

4. ENJOY THE RIDE

We ask all our customers to follow some simple guidelines for safety and courtesy found in the Passenger Guidelines.

5. PASSENGER GUIDELINES

Please observe the following rules and riding tips to make your trip more enjoyable: 

*To depart the bus pull the cord near the windows to alert the operator a block or so before your stop. Operators stop at designated bus stops.

*Please do not smoke, drink or eat.

*Save the front seats for passengers with special needs, such as senior citizens or individuals with disabilities.

*Please turn off your radio/Compact Disk (CD) player. Headphones are fine!

*Yelling or using profanity will not be tolerated and may result in removal from the bus.

*Please be courteous when using a cellular phone by keeping conversations to a minimum volume level to avoid disturbing the operator and other passengers.

*Please do not have a distracting conversation with the bus operator.

*Please use care when carrying items such as umbrellas or large packages.

*Use caution when exiting the bus as other motorists may not see you-allow the bus to leave the stop before crossing the street.

*Check your seat area for your belongings before exiting.

The following are not allowed on Greenway Public Transportation vehicles:

*Smoking, eating or drinking

*Firearms or weapons (This policy shall exclude on duty law enforcement officers, or personnel hired for the purpose of security)

*Transportation of unsafe materials, such as, gasoline in a container, dangerous or flammable substances or high explosives

*Preaching

*Political campaigning

*Solicitation or merchandising of goods

*Filming, taping or recording not authorized by Western Piedmont Regional Transit Authority (WPRTA)

*Playing of any recorded or live material

*Using vulgar or profane language

*Fighting or heated verbal arguments

*Placing personal items on the aisle

*Gambling

Bike-On-The-Bus

The bike rack at the front of the bus holds two bikes. ALWAYS tell the driver that you are using the bike rack before removing a bike. DO NOT lock the bike to the rack. Bike rack use is on a space available basis and at your own risk. Bikes may not be placed inside the bus at any time. For more information please our page Bikes on Buses.

Child Stroller

Passengers may board low-floor buses with a child in a stroller. The passenger may hold the stroller and be seated in the area reserved for wheelchairs, or may remove the child from the stroller and fold the stroller. At no time can a stroller block the isle. Passengers using wheelchairs have priority use of the space reserved for wheelchairs.

Exiting the Bus

Please exit these buses through the rear door especially when there are other passengers at the bus stop who want to board the bus through the front door.

Use caution when exiting the bus as other motorists may not see you-allow the bus to leave the stop before crossing the street. Please check the vehicle for personal items before you leave and please do not leave any trash.

Service may be suspended or terminated if a passenger compromises the safety of other passengers or the driver or does not pay a fare.

6. ACCESSIBILITY

All buses are accessible to senior citizens or persons with disabilities.

All WPRTA buses have lifts or ramps for wheelchair and scooter users and others who use a walker or cane or simply have trouble climbing steps. You will need to get on and off the bus at an accessible bus stop. The bus stop sign will be marked with one of three stickers: handicap symbol or the international access symbol - which means anyone can use the lift or ramp there.

Individuals who are unable to use regular bus service due to a disability may be eligible for the ADA complementary paratransit service. Please call 828-464-9444 for more information. Link to ADA Complementary Paratransit (CLICK HERE!)

ADA Reasonable Modification/Accommodation

WPRTA provides ADA Reasonable Modification/Accommodation as required by The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (section 504), amended as of July 13, 2015 to require Public entities providing designated public transportation (e.g., fixed route, demand-responsive, and ADA complementary paratransit) service to make reasonable modifications /accommodations to policies, practices and procedures to avoid discrimination and ensure that their programs are accessible to individuals with disabilities unless providing such accommodations are an undue financial and administrative burden or constitute a fundamental alteration of the program or activity.

The NPRM recognized three types of modifications that would not create an obligation for a transportation provider to agree with a request: (1) Those that would fundamentally alter the provider’s program, (2) those that would create a direct threat, as defined in 49CFR 37.3, as a significant risk to the health or safety of others, and (3) those that are not necessary to enable an individual to receive the provider’s services.

Passengers can request a reasonable modification/accommodation through the following:

Through the eligibility process when requesting service, the request should be as specific as possible and include information on why the requested modification is needed in order to allow the individual to use the transportation provider’s services.

*Upon scheduling an appointment with the WPRTA Call Center

*Upon request to a vehicle operator with approval from the Dispatch Office when an advanced request for modification/accommodation is not feasible.

Whenever feasible, requests for modifications should be made in advance. This is particularly appropriate where a permanent or long term condition or barrier is the basis for the request (e.g., difficulty in access to a paratransit vehicle from the passenger’s residence; the need to eat a snack on board the vehicle to maintain a diabetic’s blood sugar levels; lack of an accessible path of travel to a bus stop, resulting in a request to have the bus stop a short distance from the bus stop location).

Service Hours

WPRTA’s fixed route service (excluding holidays) are Monday through Saturday.

Currently there is no Sunday service.

Service is provided Monday through Friday throughout the year, except for the following observed holidays.

*New Year's Day

*Good Friday

*Martin Luther King Day

*Memorial Day

*Independence Day

*Labor Day

*Thanksgiving Day and the day after

*Christmas Eve, Christmas and the day after Christmas

Compliments and Complaints

WPRTA values passenger and agency comments, compliments, complaints and suggestions.

Comments may be mailed to WPRTA at PO Box 459 Conover, NC 28613, by calling 828-464-9444 or by e-mailing your comments to customerservice@wprta.org.

Thank you for choosing Greenway Public Transportation!

Rewards of Using Public Transit

*You will save money!

*You will have less stress.

*Your commute will be more productive.

*More control over your work schedule.

*You will drive less, so your vehicle maintenance costs will be reduced.

*You will do your part to reduce traffic congestion.

*You will improve air quality now and for future generations.