Columbia County Rider Vehicles adhere to the strictest safety guidelines.  Vehicles are equipped with first aid kits, fire extinguisher, spill kits,  seat belts (in most cases)and emergency exits.  If you have any questions about vehicle safety equipment and its use, ask your driver.  Using the Columbia County Rider service is simple and easy.  We do request that you follow some fairly simple rules.  We ask that you please be at the designated place of pickup five (5) minutes before you are scheduled to be picked up.  We also ask that you have the correct fare or ticket/pass ready to present to the Columbia County Rider driver before you board the bus, as our drivers do not carry change.  Listed below are some other guidelines that you can read to ensure that your trip is safe, and efficient.

Bus Safety and Rider Conduct:

  • Smoking is STRICTLY prohibited on ALL Columbia County Rider vehicles.
  • Please remain three (3) feet away from the curb as the Columbia County River bus approaches your stop.
  • When exiting the bus, please wait for the bus to pull away from the curb before crossing the street.
  • While eating and drinking is allowed on Columbia County Rider vehicles, you should use cups with lids to decrease spills.
  • Please remove all of your garbage when you exit the bus.
  • If provided, please wear your seatbelt.
  • Electronic devices may be used only with earphones.
  • Please refrain from unnecessary conversation with the driver as this is a potential safety hazard.
  • Riders are to remained seated throughout the duration of their ride.

 Lost and Found:

  • If you find an item on a Columbia County Rider vehicle please give that item to the driver. 
  • If you have left an item on a Columbia County Rider vehicle please call 1-888-462-6526.  Please note that after thirty (30) days, uncollected items are donated to community service agencies.

Accessibility:

  • All Columbia County Rider vehicles are equipped with either a ramp or a lift to allow wheelchair access.  Passengers with other mobility limitations or are unable to navigate the steps may request to use the ramp or lift.  The front seats of vehicle are designated for seniors and passengers with disabilities.  The driver may ask passengers to move in order to allow senior or disabled riders to use the designated seats and/or wheelchair devices.

Animals:

  • Service animals are ALWAYS welcome on Columbia County Rider vehicles.
  • Non-service animals may travel on Columbia County Rider vehicles if they are in a suitable pet carrier and if the animal poses no health or safety risk to other riders or the driver.

Loading your bike

  • Remove water bottles and other loose items from your bike.
  • Inform the bus driver that you will be loading your bike. You can load your bike from the curb or in front of the bus. DO NOT STEP INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO LOAD YOUR BIKE.
  • Use one hand to pull down the bike rack. Please do not lean your bike against the bus.
  • Lift your bike onto the bike rack, fitting the wheels into their proper wheel slots.
  • Raise the support arm over the front wheel of your bike. Your bike is now secured into the bike rack.

Unloading your bike

  • As you approach your stop inform the bus driver that you will be unloading your bike.
  • Unload your bike from the front of the bus or the curb, not from the street.
  • Raise the support arm off the front tire of your bike. The support arm automatically folds down in a secure position.
  • Lift your bike out of the bike rack.
  • If there are no other bikes in the bike rack, please fold the bike rack against the front of the bus.
  • Step away from the bus with your bike.

Unaccompanied Minor Transport Policy


Children five and under must ride with an adult.  Children who are six through eleven years old are welcomed to ride alone, however a parent, guardian or responsible adult entrusted with the care of a child by the parent (i.e. school official, child care provider, etc.) must place the child on board the vehicle and the originating responsible adult or designated receiving adult must be present with photo ID to assume responsibility for the child when they exit the vehicle.  We require that the adult making the ride reservation or placing the child in our care provide Columbia County Rider Transportation System the required information as indicated on the "Unaccompanied Child Transport Form".  If the designated adult is not present at the arrival destination, the driver will:

    1. Attempt to contact the designated adult.
    2. Attempt to contact the originating responsible adult.

If the driver is unable to reach either responsible person, the driver will then transport the child to the district office (during business hours) or the original pick-up location, whichever is closer and safest, at which point Child Protection Services will be contacted.  Children placed in our care will not be left unattended.

Children twelve and over may ride by themselves and are responsible for themselves prior to getting on and after getting off the bus.