Reservations
If you want to ride the GO!Bus, once you are eligible, you have to make a reservation. Here's how.
Call GO!Bus at
(616) 456-6141
When to call
Call at least one day in advance (by 4:30 p.m.) and no more than 14 days in advance.
Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 6:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Saturday – Sunday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Note: The office is open until 5:00 p.m. for inquiries and checking on trips.
Holiday Hours:
- 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. for next day ADA service only.
- You will be prompted through a phone message to leave trip request information. Your trip will be scheduled for the day after the holiday. Should there be any questions about the message left, you may receive a call from a customer service representative for more information.
Standing reservations
Persons traveling regularly on the same day(s) of the week to and from the same locations at the same times may be able to make a standing-order reservation depending on availability.
Stand orders must remain in effect with no changes for at least 90 days.
Once made, a standing order reservation remains in effect until changed or cancelled by the passenger or by The Rapid.
Excessive cancels and/or no-shows may result in loss of a standing order.
Have your information ready when you call
Here is the information we'll need about you or the passenger on whose behalf you are calling:
- Passenger's name
- The date you need service
- Requested pick-up time or appointment time
- Requested return time if necessary
- Pick-up address
- Destination address and name
- Whether passenger uses a wheelchair
- Any special-assistance needs
- Whether a companion, PCA, or service animal will be traveling with the passenger
Trip Times:
- The ADA allows The Rapid to negotiate a scheduled pick-up time within one hour before or after the requested time. When you request a certain time, the call-taker will let you know what is available within that two-hour time frame in order for you to have your trip. All attempts are made to give callers their preferred time. When a time is scheduled, the passenger has to be ready and waiting for the vehicle 10 minutes before the scheduled time through 15 miuntes after that time. The vehicle will arrive to pick the passneger up within that 25 minute window.
Weekday medical trips
For weekday medical trips only, reservations will be accepted without a set return time. Let the call-taker know you will need a ride home from your medical appointment as the time you schedule your trip. This type of trip is known as a will-call.
These passengers must call the GO!Bus office only when ready to leave the location and a vehicle will be dispatched to pick them up.
The vehicle should arrive within 45 minutes.
To cancel or reschedule
TO CANCEL A RIDE:
Passengers who must cancel should call the GO!Bus office (616-456-6141) no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled time. Drivers are NOT authorized to accept cancellations in reservations.
TO RESCHEDULE OR MAKE CHANGES IN RIDE RESERVATIONS:
Passengers who must reschedule or make changes in their ride reservation must call the GO!Bus office (616-456-6141) at least the day before the trip is scheduled. Same day changes are not accepted. Drivers are NOT authorized to accept changes in reservations.
No-show policy
A "no-show" occurs when a passenger:
- is not present to board the GO!Bus within 5 minutes after it arrives, or...
- cancels a reservation less than 30 minutes prior to scheduled pick-up
Scheduled return trips for no-shows will be canceled automatically unless you call the GO!Bus office more than 60 minutes prior to the scheduled pick-up time for the return trip.
Any person with a pattern of repeated no-shows may have their service suspended.
AN IMPORTANT TIP: To avoid being a no-show, be ready to travel 10 minutes before your scheduled pick-up time. (In some cases the GO!Bus may arrive early.)