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| GENERAL INFORMATION
The Ohio State University adapted transportation system is available
to all faculty, staff, and students with a permanent or temporary
disability. The system is operated by the Transportation Department
in conjunction with the Office for Disability Services. The Transportation
Department coordinates the assigning and training of van drivers,
vehicle maintenance, daily schedules, approves off campus trips,
operates the Handivan Dispatch telephone line, certifies, and establishes
system policies. The Office for Disability Services certifies eligible
riders, establishes priorities and reviews rider concerns.
The Handivan system consists of four vehicles equipped with wheelchair
lifts, raised roofs, tie-downs, seat belts, and a two-way radio.
The vehicles are capable of transporting two to three wheelchairs
and two to three seated passengers at one time. The Handivans are
used for door-to-door service, both on and off campus. Handivan
provides scheduled service and can accept call-in rides. We operate
seven days a week as follows:
Monday - Friday 6:45AM - Midnight
Saturday
9:00AM - 8:00PM
Sunday
9:00AM - 8:00PM
(There is no Handivan Service on official University Holidays.)
Monday through Thursday, the first pickup is at 6:55 a.m. and the
last pickup is at 11:55 p.m. Calls received for same day service
must be received before 10:00 p.m.
Request to be added to the eligibility list and to schedule adapted
transportation service can be accomplished as follows; Permanent
and temporary riders must call The Office For Disability
Services (ODS) at 292-3307. Medical documentation will be required.
After a rider has been placed on the eligibility list they may call
the Handivan Dispatch Line directly at 292-6202 to schedule permanent
or temporary pick-ups, make schedule changes, or cancel pick-ups.
Quarterly Handivan Rider Meetings are scheduled for all riders.
These meetings provide the Transportation Department with feedback
and suggestions for improving service. Notice of scheduled meetings
are posted in the Vans, posted in the ODS office, and announced
two weeks prior to the meeting as riders call to schedule rides.
Contact us! If you need to call us with any questions,
concerns, or comments – please phone us at (614) 292-6202; e-mail
us at tpinfo@osu.edu
; or write to us C/O Transportation & Parking Services,
2578 Kenny Road, Columbus, OH 43210.
TRIP PRIORITIES
The drivers are responsible for making pick-ups in the most
efficient manner possible. When determining the order to make pick-ups,
the driver will follow the guidelines listed below, whenever
possible:
1. Permanent riders have priority over temporary riders.
2. Pick-ups going to class have priority over all non-class pick-ups.
3. Scheduled pick-ups have priority over call-in pickups.
4. On campus trips have priority over off-campus trips.
5. Student class pick-ups have priority over faculty and staff pick-ups.
SCHEDULING POLICIES
Rides are scheduled on the Handivan as follows:
* Regular standing rides – provided for OSU students, faculty and
staff each quarter based upon class or work schedules. An example
would be a regular Monday, Wednesday and Friday ride at 8:25am from
home to class.
* Call-in rides – scheduled as needed, usually the same day as requested.
An example would be calling Monday morning for a ride Monday evening.
Regular Standing Rides - Quarterly schedules for van service
must be submitted to the Transportation Department no later than
one week before the first day of classes each quarter. Schedules
received on or after the first day of classes will be accommodated
if possible. All pickups are scheduled at 20/25 minutes past the
hour or five minutes before the hour. For example, if a rider has
a 9:00 a.m. class, they should schedule a pickup at 8:25 a.m.; or
an 8:20 pickup should be scheduled for a back-to-back class that
starts at 8:30. Riders should call in their finals week schedule
during the last week of classes to the Handivan Dispatch line at
292-6202. All scheduled rides will be cancelled after the Friday.
Call-in Rides - Call in rides are defined as irregular rides
that are generally phoned in the same day, or day before, service
is requested. Call-in rides that are authorized by the Transportation
Department's Handivan Dispatcher will be accommodated whenever possible.
The assigned ride time is based on van availability (for example,
a passenger may request a ride at 9am, but we may not be able to
pick them up until 10am due to other regularly scheduled rides).
Ride requests given directly to the driver instead of calling the
office may be accommodated as long as it is within the same drivers
shift, and as long as it meets the minimum time between rides as
stated above. If the rider wants a permanent ride scheduled or a
ride that is not on the current driver's shift, the rider must
call Transportation to schedule.
Riders requesting same day rides should call the Handivan Dispatch
Line at 292-6202. Ride requests will be accepted on a first-call,
first-serve basis as van availability allows. There must be at least
one hour between on-campus trips and two hours between off-campus
trips. This ensures that other riders have an opportunity to use
the vans in between individual pick-ups. If there is a need for
a personal attendant, riders must register the attendant with the
Transportation Department.
CANCELLATIONS
Cancellation of any ride must be phoned in at least one hour
prior to the scheduled ride. This gives us an opportunity to provide
service to another passenger. Any cancellations phoned in after
that hour could result in the ride being charged as a "no show",
unless extenuating circumstances prevail. A passenger may have the
driver cancel a ride as long as the passenger is still in the van
while the call is being made to confirm the cancellation.
HANDIVAN POLICIES & PROCEDURES
Rider Responsibilities
1. The rider is expected to be at the designated pick-up point
at the scheduled time. Every effort is made to ensure riders are
picked up as close to the designated time as possible, however,
delays do occur. The "pick-up window" begins from the assigned pick-up
time until 15 minutes past that scheduled time. Riders are expected
to be available at any time within the pick-up window.
2. If the van does not arrive during the pick-up window, the rider
should call Transportation's Handivan Dispatch Line at 292-6202.
At that time, the rider will be provided with a revised van arrival
time.
3. If the rider will not be able to be at the designated point at
the beginning of the pick-up window, the rider must notify Transportation
prior to the scheduled pick-up time, or the rider will be listed
as a "no-show."
Driver Responsibilities
1. The driver is required to wait five minutes during the pick-up
window. If a rider is not there, they will be listed as a "no-show."
2. If the driver is late for a scheduled pick-up, they will give
Transportation a revised pick-up time to be given to the riders
when they call.
3. If a rider requests to utilize seat belts and wheelchair tie-downs,
the driver will use them. Riders are encouraged to use seat belts
and tie-downs at all times.
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No-Show Policy
1. When a rider is not at the pickup point before a handivan
departs during the pick-up window, or fails to cancel within the
hour prior to the ride, they are designated as a no-show.
This occurs once a five-minute waiting period has elapsed.
2. The first time a no-show is designated, the Transportation Operations
Manager will contact the passenger and explain the policy. If it
occurs again within a quarter, the passenger will be suspended from
rides on the Handivan for one day. If a passenger is listed as a
no-show three times in a quarter, all scheduled rides will be suspended
until the end of that quarter, or for at minimum a 4 week period
into the next quarter if the occurrence at the end of a quarter.
ADAPTED TRANSPORTATION RIDING PROCEDURES
- Drivers are in full control of all rider transportation activities
while the rider is in route, including loading and unloading procedures,
and are responsible for assuring that regulations are followed
to assure maximum safety and efficiency.
- Drivers are to remain positioned on the ground to guide wheelchairs
onto and off of the lift.
- Wheelchair brakes are to be engaged before the lift is operated.
- Drivers shall use one hand to hold on to the wheelchair whenever
the lift is operating.
- Drivers will assist all riders to a safe position in the van
behind the driver's seat. Wheelchair brakes are to be engaged
and everyone stationary before the vehicle is placed in motion
by the driver. All riders are encouraged to use seat belts and
wheelchair tie downs.
- Drivers are to immediately notify their supervisors regarding
unsafe loading/unloading conditions involving van equipment, rider
equipment, or rider preference.
All riders are encouraged to cooperate with and follow procedures
for their own safety and the safety of the drivers. Riders not cooperating
with these procedures may be denied service.
TEMPORARY DISABILITIES
All faculty, staff, and students with a temporary injury or
medical condition restricting mobility are eligible for adapted
transportation services. A temporary disability could include a
sprained ankle, broken leg, torn ligaments, or a medical, or post-surgical
condition, which limits walking. To be eligible for temporary adapted
transportation services, the person must call The Transportation
Handivan Dispatch line at 292-6202. Medical documentation will be
required.
All campus buses have a priority seating area for disabled persons
indicated by a sign located in front of each bus. This sign reads,
"Priority Seating for Temporarily or Permanently Disabled Faculty,
Staff, and Students." The bus driver will provide assistance.
OFF CAMPUS TRIPS
An off-campus trip is defined as any trip where the pick-up
point or the drop-off point is beyond the boundaries of the University
(See University Boundaries).
Shopping trips are scheduled every Wednesday and Friday evenings.
Extra vans are provided to take passengers to and from any store
within our service area. Shopping trips will be scheduled on a first-call,
first-serve basis, depending on availability of the Handivans.
COTA'S PROJECT MAINSTREAM
The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) provides adapted transportation
service through Project Mainstream for persons with disabilities
who are unable to use regular bus service. With the OSU/COTA pass
program, students may use their Student ID to access these services
at no charge.
Services consist of adapted vehicles, which provided curb-to-curb
service for persons with disabilities on a subscription and/or reservation
basis. To qualify for Project Mainstreams service, a person must
have a permanent disability which limits their ability to use a
regular COTA transit bus. Application for Project Mainstream are
available through COTA (275-5828) or the Transportation Office (292-6202).
A physician is required to complete part of the application. If
necessary, this can be arranged through the Director's Office, Wilce
Health Center at 292-8606. Actual ridership will be determined on
the basis of qualification for services and COTA's Project Mainstreams
ability to provide the service.
To provide the best range of services, all permanently disabled
riders using regular off-campus service are encouraged to register
with COTA'S Project Mainstream.
UNIVERSITY BOUNDARIES
The University reserves the right to change both University
and off-campus boundaries with a one-year notice given to the Office
for Disability Services. All riders registered and eligible for
the system will receive written notice should the University initiate
a change in the boundaries.
ON-CAMPUS BOUNDARIES
On the North: A straight line connecting Ackerman Road and
Zollinger Road. Ackerman, from Kenny Road to Olentangy River Road.
Argyll Street, from Olentangy River Road to the Olentangy River.
Lane Avenue from Olentangy River to North High Street.
On the South: Kinnear Road, from North Star Avenue to Olentangy
River Road. King Avenue, from Olentangy River Road to Evans Hall.
West Eighth Avenue, from south west corner of Dodd Hall to Neil
Avenue. West Tenth Avenue, from Neil Avenue to North High Street.
On the East: Olentangy River Road, from Ackerman Road to
Argyll Street. Olentangy River, from Argyll Street to Lane Avenue.
North High Street, from Lane Avenue to West Tenth Avenue. Neil Avenue,
from West Tenth Avenue to West Eighth Avenue. Parking lot between
south west corner of Dodd Hall and Evans Hall.
On the West: North Star Avenue, from Kinnear Road to Zollinger
Road. Olentangy River Road, from Kinnear Road to King Avenue.
OFF-CAMPUS BOUNDARIES:
On the North: North Broadway, from the Conrail tracks east
of North Fourth Street to Kenny and Fishinger Road, from Kenny Road
to Northwest Boulevard.
On the South: Goodale Boulevard, from Northwest Boulevard
to the Contrail tracks east of North Fourth Street.
On the West: Kenny Road, from Northwest Broadway to Fishinger
and Northwest Boulevard, from Fishinger Road to Goodale Boulevard.
On the East: The Contrail tracks between North Broadway and
Goodale Avenue
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