BerkshireRides,
is a non-profit corporation that works to provide
transportation to and from work, employment training, and
job-related appointments for residents of Adams,
BerkshireRides began in 2002 as a federal demonstration project and we are funded in part with Federal Transportation Administration dollars. We supplement this grant funding by collecting fare from our riders.
We provide
employment transportation when and where the BRTA bus system
is not in service.
We offer rides 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Residents of the communities of Adams,
Businesses throughout
To book a ride with BerkshireRides you need to stop by or
call our office at least a day in advance.
Rides must be booked and paid at least a day in
advance and rides for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday must be
booked by Friday.
We take reservations Monday – Friday, 9am to 4pm.
We’re located at
If you can use the B-Bus to get to and from work or school,
we can help you read the bus schedule and help you with the
cost of tickets until you receive your first paycheck.
The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority “B-Bus” provides
bus service in the north county communities of Adams,
The
BRTA offers para and non-para transit for riders from member
communities that cannot use the bus due to disability.
Call the BRTA, 1-800-292-2782 for eligibility
criteria.
Additional questions and information about the regional bus system should be directed to the BRTA, 1-800-292-2782 or visit the website at http://www.berkshirerta.com/
Rides must be booked with a dispatcher during regular office
hours. We are
staffed Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm.
Rides must be booked and paid for at least a day in
advance, and rides for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday must be
booked by Friday.
Rides on holidays will need to be booked early also.
It is better to book a ride as early as possible, even if
you might need to cancel or change that ride.
We cannot add ‘same day’ rides to our schedule.
BerkshireRides must pay for all of the scheduled rides, even
if our riders choose not to use the ride they booked.
It is very important that you cancel any ride you
will not need.
Cancellations should be made as early as possible,
definitely at least an hour before your scheduled pick up
time. We take
cancellations at any time, 24 hours a day, 7-days a week.
Call 664-0300 during regular business hours or
1-888-733-0205 after hours, weekends and holidays.
BerkshireRides mission is to get you to work on time.
Because we run a van pool service, and you will be
sharing your ride with many other riders, we will assign
your pick-up time early enough to allow the van to complete
its route and get all passengers to work on time.
Our drivers have what we call a ‘15-minute window’.
This means that the van can arrive either 15 minutes
earlier or 15 minutes later than your scheduled pick-up
time. You must
be ready to leave any time during that window; the vans
cannot wait for riders who are not ready.
For example, if we schedule you for a 6am ride, the
van could arrive anywhere between 5:45am and 6:15am.
During the winter, especially during snowstorms, our vans
may be running a little late.
Please be patient as
passenger
safety is our overriding concern.
If you request it, we will be happy to call your
employer.
BerkshireRides is pleased to arrange and help pay for your employment transportation. However, when BerkshireRides is not notified of your need to cancel a trip we still have to pay our transportation providers for that trip if you are not taken off of our van schedule.
Cancellations can be made to BerkshireRides at anytime, day or night. Call your cancellation to 664-0300 during regular office hours or 1-888-733-0205 after hours, holidays, and weekends.
Cancellation: Occurs when a customer cancels a trip at least one (1) hour prior to his/her scheduled pick up time.
Late Cancellation: Occurs when a customer cancels a trip less than (1) hour before his/her scheduled pick up time.
No Show: Occurs when a customer does not cancel a trip and when the transportation provider arrives for a scheduled pick up and you do not get on the vehicle for transportation.
Below is the outline for late cancellation and no-show events:
First late cancellation or no show:
Your next scheduled trip will be suspended and someone from the BerkshireRides office will contact you. Remember, we cannot put you back on our schedule until we have talked with you about the reason for the no show. If you have not left a current contact telephone number with the BerkshireRides office staff, you must call us or stop by the office before we can schedule your next ride.
Second late cancellation or no-show:
· You
must call BerkshireRides during office hours at 664-0300 to
schedule your next ride.
· You
may be assessed a fee that will be based on the full cost of
your ride to BerkshireRides.
This fee could be up to $20.00 (depending on trip
origin-destination), which must be paid before you can
continue your rides.
Third late cancellation or no-show:
· You
must call BerkshireRides during office hours at 664-0300 to
schedule your next ride.
· You
may be assessed a fee that will be based on the full cost of
your ride to BerkshireRides.
This fee could be up to $20.00 (depending on trip
origin-destination), which must be paid before you can
continue your rides.
Fourth late cancellation or no-show:
· Your
rides will be suspended for three work days.
· You
must call BerkshireRides during office hours at 664-0300 to
schedule your next ride.
Fifth late cancellation or no-show:
· You
will be suspended from service.
This suspension will remain in effect until an
appeals board hearing has made a final determination.
· BerkshireRides
customers are required to pay a user fee.
· The
fare determined by our designated service area or towns you
will travel through.
· Fare
must be paid to the office staff, and rides can only be
scheduled after fare is paid.
Service Suspensions and Appeals
BerkshireRides mission is to provide safe, reliable and
friendly transportation services to people residing in the
towns of Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida, North Adams,
Savoy and Williamstown.
It is our intention to treat our passengers with
respect and dignity in all circumstances.
We expect our passengers to treat our service
providers and our schedulers in the same manner.
When inappropriate behavior occurs, it may be
considered a violation of passenger privilege and result in
service cancellation or suspension.
The following is a partial list, certainly not
all-inclusive, of incidents that would violate the passenger
privilege.
· No
Show:
Occurs when a customer fails to cancel their ride and the
transportation provider arrives for the scheduled pick up.
· Late
Cancellation:
Occurs when a customer cancels a trip less than one (1) hour
before his/her scheduled pick up time.
· Verbal
Abuse:
Occurs when offensive or insulting language is used or
directed to another passenger, driver or BerkshireRides
staff.
· Dangerous
Behavior and Physical Abuse:
Any threat or action that could cause direct or indirect
physical harm to the driver, vehicle, other passengers, or
to themselves.
The consequences for violation of the actions listed above
will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
BerkshireRides may find it necessary to take such
action as:
· Written
warning issued
· Payment
of a fee, based on the cost of your trip (up to $20.00)
Temporary or permanent suspension from our ride service
Step 1: Call or arrange a meeting with Lisa Loomis, BerkshireRides Office Manager (664-0300) to try and resolve the issue. If you are not satisfied with the outcome…
Step 2: Fill out an appeals card. These cards can be obtained from the driver, BerkshireRides office (6 West Main, North Adams), the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (NBCC) office (85 Main St., North Adams, Suite 624), or the Mass. Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) office (85 Main St., Suite 426).
The card is already postage paid so after you check the appropriate category simply drop it in any US Postal mailbox.
The appeals card must be filled out and mailed within five (5) days after Step 1 has taken place.
The panel will review the appeal and gather information from the customer, BerkshireRides personnel and BerkshireRides agents.
When road and weather
conditions throughout the area are dangerous, your pick up
and drop off may be delayed – or possibly cancelled.
BerkshireRides transportation providers will make
every effort to pick you up on time, that is, within 15
minutes before or after your scheduled pick up time.
The
safety of the passengers and drivers is our greatest
concern.
Unfortunately, BerkshireRides cannot guarantee you a ride
when the road and weather conditions are severe.
Delays are likely to occur and we ask for your
patience and understanding.
In cases of questionable weather, you may want to
confirm your ride with BerkshireRides by calling us at
664-0300 during regular office hours.
If we must close our service during a storm, an
announcement will be made on WNAW 1230AM radio.
You
may need to allow extra time, beyond the regular 15-minute
waiting period, for your transportation to arrive.
If you find another means of transportation,
or decide not to travel that day, be
sure to cancel your ride with BerkshireRides.
We are available to take cancellations 24 hours a day, 7
days a week by calling 664-0300 during office hours or
1-888-733-0205 evenings, weekends, and holidays.
If you call our office and are told transportation is on the
way, you are then responsible for waiting for the ride
unless you are calling to cancel at least 1 hour before your
scheduled pickup.
If you are not at your pick up location when the
provider arrives, and you have not cancelled at least 1 hour
earlier, you will be considered a No Show and BerkshireRides
No Show/Cancellation Procedures will apply.
BerkshireRides
is lead by a local, volunteer 7 member Board of Directors.
Board members represent cities and towns, as well as
businesses and agencies in the service area.
The Board sets policy and oversees BerkshireRides
operations and effectiveness.
Board Members can be reached by calling the
BerkshireRides office at 664-0300.
BerkshireRides
Community Advisory Committee
BerkshireRides
also has a 15-member Community
Advisory Committee made up of riders and rider
advocates. It
is the Community Advisory Committee’s responsibility to
discuss concerns and advocate for riders.
After discussion, the committee brings issues to the
Board of Directors for consideration.
Committee members can be reached by calling the
BerkshireRides office at 664-0300.
