All standard RTA buses contain features and equipment that allow disabled riders to board, ride, and get out of vehicles easily and comfortably. The red streetcars that travel the Canal Street and Riverfront lines are also accessible to disabled riders.

The green streetcars that travel the St. Charles Avenue line are not accessible to disabled riders. Modification of these historic streetcars is limited and requires consultation with and the prior approval of the State Historic Preservation Office.

Buses feature:

• The capability to “kneel,” or tilt themselves closer to the curb
• Ramps that fold out to make a bridge between the bus and the curb
• Areas where wheelchairs can be secured
• Priority seating areas

Red streetcars feature:

• Lifts that elevate riders and allow them to board
• Areas where wheelchairs can be secured
• Priority seating areas

To use the kneeling feature or the lift, please ask the bus driver or streetcar conductor for assistance.

Steps for Riding the Bus when Disabled

• Wait for the bus an official RTA bus stop. Please arrive about 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
• The bus driver will pull close to the curb. When the doors of the bus open at each stop, a recording will announce the route number and destination of the bus.
• Get on board. Ask the bus driver to “kneel” or tilt the bus. If you would like to use a ramp to help you get on board, ask the bus driver to put down the ramp for you.
• Pay your fare. As a disabled rider, you may qualify for reduced or free fares. Visit our Reduced Fares page for more details.
• If you are not in a wheelchair, take a seat in the priority seating area in the front of the bus. For more information on priority seating, read the section about it below.
• If you are in a wheelchair, the bus driver will strap your wheelchair to the walls to prevent it from moving when the bus is in motion. Seats in the front of the bus behind the driver will fold up to make room for this strap-in area. The bus driver will assist you before other passengers can get on board.
• You may wish to tell the driver your destination so you can be sure to get to where you’re going without any problems. An automated recording will announce stops and transfer points.
• As the bus is approaching your desired stop, pull on the pull cord.
• Exit the bus. The bus driver will pull close to the curb. Just as when you got on board, the bus driver will “kneel” or tilt the bus and will put down the ramp for you if necessary. If you need help getting out of the bus, please let the bus driver know.

Steps for Riding the Streetcar when Disabled

• Wait for the streetcar an official RTA streetcar stop. Please arrive about 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
• The streetcar will stop for you. When the doors of the streetcar open at each stop, the conductor will announce the destination of the streetcar.
• Get on board. There is a lift located at the middle door of the streetcar. Tell the conductor if you need to use it. If you are not in a wheelchair but need the motorized lift because of difficulty with stairs, simply walk onto the lift platform. If you are in a wheelchair, wheel your chair onto the lift platform. The lift will raise and allow you to walk or wheel on board.
• Pay your fare. As a disabled rider, you may qualify for reduced or free fares. Visit our Reduced Fares page for more details.
• If you are not in a wheelchair, take a seat in the priority seating area in the front of the streetcar. For more information on priority seating, read the section about it below.
• If you are in a wheelchair, the streetcar conductor will strap your wheelchair to the walls to prevent it from moving when the streetcar is in motion. This strap-in area is located in the middle of the streetcar near the lift. The streetcar conductor will assist you before other passengers can get on board.
• You may wish to tell the conductor your destination so you can be sure to get where you’re going without any problems. The conductor will announce major stops and transfer points.
• As the streetcar is approaching your desired stop, pull on the pull cord.
• Exit the streetcar. If you used the motorized lift when you got on board, the conductor will help you use it again. If you need help getting out of the streetcar, please let the conductor know.

Priority Seating Areas

RTA buses and red streetcars contain an area near the front of the vehicle that is marked as priority seating for senior citizens, pregnant women, and disabled riders. If you are one of these types of riders, you have priority over other passengers to sit in this area.

If all the seats in the priority seating area are taken, ask a non-disabled passenger to offer you a seat or ask the bus driver or streetcar conductor to make the request for you. Keep in mind, however, that bus drivers and streetcar conductors can only ask a non-disabled passenger to move from a seat. They cannot force anyone to give up a seat. The reason for this policy is because a passenger may actually have a disability that’s not visible, and asking anyone to prove a disability would violate their privacy.

The RTA asks that any of our passengers who are not disabled, especially those in a priority seating area, to please be courteous and offer their seat to a disabled rider who might need it.

Features on Vehicles for Specific Types of Disabled Riders

Features for riders in wheelchairs or with limited mobility:

• On buses, the capability to “kneel,” or tilt themselves closer to the curb
• On buses, ramps that fold out to make a bridge between the bus and the curb
• On red streetcars, lifts that elevate riders and allow them to board
• Areas on both buses and red streetcars where wheelchairs can be secured
• Priority seating areas

Features for the visually impaired:

• Automatic announcements of bus stops
• Permission to bring service animals on board