Rules and Policies of the Bus

State law (RCW 9.91.025) and Rural Transit policy determines appropriate transit behavior. Violators may be banned from service, fined, or arrested. Riders may not:

• Ride continuously – i.e., all riders must exit the bus within one full round trip.
• Smoke, including but not limited to tobacco, marijuana, electronic, cigarettes, vaping, rolling or chewing tobacco.
• Consume an alcoholic beverage, carry an open alcoholic beverage, or be intoxicated.
• Discard litter, other than in designated receptacles. Dump or discard any materials at a transit stop, including hazardous materials or automotive fluids. Carry any dangerous materials on the vehicle.
• Carry a firearm in a way that causes alarm. This does not prevent a passenger from carrying a firearm or ammunition in a way that is not otherwise prohibited by law.
• Board without wearing a shirt, pants/shorts, and shoes.
• Harass drivers, other employees, or riders.
• Disturb others by engaging in loud, raucous, unruly, harmful, threatening, or harassing behavior, including the use of profanity.
• Play music/other audio that can be heard by others (headphones are allowed).
• Sleep, lie down, or occupy more than one seat.
• Deface or damage property.
• Refuse to move from seats designated to accommodate passengers with disabilities, using mobility devices and seniors.
• Obstruct or impede the flow of transit vehicles or passenger traffic.
• Engage in gambling or games of chance for the winning of money or anything of value.

Riders must maintain a reasonable level of personal hygiene.

Riders must not violate federal, state, or municipal laws.

Riders must follow bus operator directions.

Stroller Policy

• Collapsible strollers are allowed on the bus if the stroller is collapsed, and the child is removed.
• The stroller must be always controlled by an adult.
• The stroller cannot block aisles, doors, steps, or emergency exits.

Animal Policy

• Riders may not bring animals on the bus, except in suitable containers unless the animal is a service animal.
• Rural Transit allows service animals on all buses. Washington State Law states that a service animal “is an animal that is trained for the purpose of assisting or accommodating a sensory, mental, or physical disability of a person with a disability.” (RCW 49.60.40(24)). These working animals: may be any breed of dog; are permitted to go wherever their handler is permitted to go; are allowed even if others have fears of/allergies to dogs; must be always under the handler’s control (harness/ leash); must be housebroken; and may not pose a legitimate, direct threat to health and safety of others. 
• Pets are not service animals. Service Animals in Training and Comfort/Emotional Support animals are not service animals. 
• Drivers may ask two questions when a disability is not obvious. Individuals traveling with an animal must be able to answer these questions.

1. Is the animal a pet?
2. What is the animal trained to do for you?