Safety & Security

UPDATE, October 2019: Effective Nov. 1, 2019, RideKC will require riders to get off of KCATA buses at the end of a route. This change in policy is being made to improve safety for riders and bus operators, and improve operations of bus routes. 

If you see something that doesn’t look right at a RideKC bus stop, transit center or inside a RideKC vehicle, send a text message to RideKC at 816.685.8541.

Follow these rules and guidelines for a safe, pleasant ride.

1. Pay the proper fare.
2. No smoking, eating, or drinking on the bus.
3. Do not bring weapons onto the bus.
4. Only service animals and small pets in cages or carriers are allowed to ride.
5. Do not solicit money or distribute literature on the bus.
6. Do not be disruptive.

It’s the Right Thing to Do

Exercise common courtesy so that everyone has a pleasant experience.

1. Be at the designated bus stop five (5) minutes prior to the scheduled arrival time.
2. Have your fare ready; cash, transfer, or 31-day pass. Bus operators do not make change. If you have a reduced fare card, be ready to show it to the operator when you board.
3. If purchasing an all-day pass, notify bus operator before inserting money.
4. Let passengers off the bus before you get on.
5. Shirt/top and shoes are required to ride the bus. Hoods or masks must be removed when you board the bus.
6. Respect fellow passengers and the bus operator. Follow the Golden Rule.
7. Use appropriate language and content in your conversations. No cursing; use your inside voice.
8. Use earphones to listen to personal entertainment devices.
9. The front seats are designated for the elderly or persons with disabilities. Please accommodate them even if it means you must stand for your trip.
10. If a passenger boards while carrying a child on a full bus, kindly offer them your seat.
11. Do not lie down or take more room than you need.
12. Limit personal items to those you can personally carry.
13. Keep your feet off the seat.

Be Safe

Follow these important safety rules so that everyone arrives safely at their destination.

1. Remember, it is unsafe to board after the bus leaves a stop.
2. Maintain a firm hold on all personal items you place on the floor, and keep aisles and doorways clear of personal items.
3. If possible, collapse your stroller, remove it from the aisle, and carry your child onto the bus in your arms. If the bus is full, you must fold your stroller or wait for the next bus. An open stroller in the aisle is a hazard for everyone on board (even your child).
4. Keep your children safe by either securely holding them or keeping them seated during the ride.
5. After boarding, move behind the yellow line to ensure the operator can see his right outside mirror and through the bus doors.
6. Have a seat. If you must stand, hold on to the stanchion bars or straps.
7. Move out of the aisle if possible to make way for boarding and alighting passengers.
8. Ring the bell in a timely manner before your intended stop, allowing the bus operator ample time to stop smoothly and safely.
9. Exit at the rear door when possible.
10. After alighting, move a safe distance from the bus.
11. NEVER cross (step) in front of the bus, unless it is stopped at a red light.

The Johnson County Code of Conduct differs slightly.

Be Alert, Informed, Involved and Prepared

Your safety and security is a top priority. We have taken steps to ensure the safety and security of our transit system, such as:

• Installing cameras on buses.
• Conducting emergency evacuation exercises.
• Making extra patrols and monitoring the remote video camera system.

In addition, RideKC is involved in the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) TransitWatch program that encourages our customers to be active participants in security matters. While we are working to keep you safe, we ask that you do the same. You are a vital part of our Safety and Security Team, and we rely on you to be our “eyes and ears.” By practicing a few safety measures, such as waiting in well-lit areas, being aware of your surroundings and notifying operators in the event of an emergency, you will be able to help prevent crime. As customers, we want you to remember to be alert, informed, involved and prepared.

In case of an emergency do the following:

• Notify a KCATA employee, security or call 911.
• Remain calm.
• Inform others around you and calmly evacuate the area.
• Don’t take risks that could harm you or others.

If you have to report an incident, be prepared to give a description of the people involved, location and time the event took place.

Safe Place

It may be on the move, but when you see a KCATA bus with a safe place decal, it’s also a safe place for youths 18 years old and younger who are in danger. Safe Place is a national program for youth and/or families in crisis situations. The program assists young people needing emergency help, hotline counseling and transportation to shelter.

 

The situation may be difficult, but getting help from a Safe Place is easy. Youths who are in intimidating or dangerous situations need only to board a KCATA bus to request help. The operator will contact KCATA dispatcher who will arrange transportation so that the youth can be picked up by Safe Place staff. KCATA joins more than 7,000 businesses across the country providing youths access to services when they’re experiencing difficult circumstances.

Buses may travel on the shoulder of I-35 when traffic is slower than 35 miles per hour, thus bypassing congested areas. Buses can’t travel more than 10 miles faster than the traffic on the highway and won’t exceed 35 mph. If traffic is moving at 20 miles an hour, buses on the shoulder will be traveling at 30 mph. Guidelines for BOS were planned and coordinated with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and the Kansas Highway Patrol.

To get you to your destination faster, buses are able to use the shoulder of I-35 in areas between linking Johnson County, Kansas, and downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Bus on Shoulder (BOS) is available for RideKC buses during the morning and evening rush hours from 95th Street to the Kansas/Missouri state line near Cambridge Circle.

In 2012, Bus on Shoulder was implemented in Johnson County. In 2018, it was expanded to Wyandotte County.