Pretty much all bus service must be available to people with disabilities. The exact rules may depend on what kind of bus it is.

City buses are ones that people in towns and cities use to get from one area to another area. These are called “fixed route” buses because they drive the same route at set times every day.

Paratransit buses are local travel services for people with disabilities that are in the place of using fixed route buses in the same town or city. They are often available by appointment. Instead of having fixed routes, they often take people from their homes directly to wherever they need to go.

Road buses are ones that travel long distances, with a baggage area below and seats above. These are sometimes called “over the road” or “motorcoach” buses. Shuttles that take people to places like shopping, resorts, or hotels may also be road buses.

Anyone who asks can use the lift or ramp on a bus, even if they do not have a visible disability.

The only times a bus driver does not have to let a person with disabilities use the lift or ramp is if the lift or ramp cannot be used at that stop for reasons that the bus owners cannot control, or if using the lift or ramp will damage it.

Bus drivers do not have to help with seat transfers or carrying bags. But they do have to help people with disabilities get on and off the bus, including pushing a manual wheelchair up a steep ramp if needed.

Bus drivers must help people pay a fare if needed. This could be helping put a transit card on the machine, putting money in a slot, or swiping a card through a reader.

All buses must have “priority seats” for people with disabilities and older people. If all the seats on the bus are taken, the bus driver must ask somebody to move out of the priority seats if they do not also have a disability.

Bus drivers are only required to ask non-disabled people to move. They cannot force a person out of the seat if that person refuses to move.

Cities and towns that operate city buses must provide paratransit services that are at least as good as the service provided to non-disabled people. See the above question “What kind of buses have to be accessible?” for more on paratransit.

Large road bus companies should only use accessible buses. Smaller companies may have some buses that are not accessible. These companies still have to give an accessible vehicle when asked. They can take up to 48 hours (two days) to send the accessible bus, so it is important to call ahead.

Road bus drivers must give people with disabilities help getting on and off the bus. They also have to help stow mobility aids. They do NOT have to help transferring to a seat or carrying bags.