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What to Expect on Your Trip

Tips for a successful ride.

LIFT Service

Curb-To-Curb service

Operator provides assistance only between the curb adjacent to the LIFT vehicle and the vehicle itself, up to 10 feet. No door-knocking, no entry onto private property.
Customers who are unable to access the vehicle independently, can request Door-To-Door service when they reserve their ride, and it will be granted unless the operator cannot maintain effective control of the vehicle in service to the customer.

Door-To-Door service will include the Operator providing assistance between the outermost exterior door of a building and the LIFT vehicle while maintaining visual sight of the vehicle, up to 100 feet. Includes escorting, steadying support, and helping navigate obstacles along a safe, ADA-compliant path.

What is a “Safe, ADA-Compliant” Path of travel?

Maximum Escort Distance = 100 feet (or ½ a block)
Maximum Steps to climb ≤ 5 steps (exterior) – no interior stairs
Not losing sight of the vehicle
Maximum incline ≤ 1:12 slope (8.3% grade)

Customer Responsibilities

TriMet’s goal is to provide safe, accessible and reliable service to all riders. To ensure a pleasant trip for all LIFT customers, traveling companion(s), personal care attendant(s) and service animals are required to follow these rules:

  • Be ready at the outermost door at pickup time.
  • Valid and correct fare is required for each trip when you board the vehicle.
  • Keep your pet in a closed carrier (except service animals), on your lap or under your seat. Animals are not allowed to sit on vehicle seats and must be under the control of the handler at all times.
  • Make sure your wheelchair or scooter is in good working order.
  • Provide an accessible pathway to the entrance of your residence.
  • For your safety, it is recommended that passengers using three- or four-wheeled scooters transfer to a fixed seat when possible. Scooter-type mobility devices are top-heavy, with a high center of gravity that may become unstable during transport, as they are not designed to carry a rider while being transported on a vehicle, and are likely to tip.
  • All customers must use seat belts per the LIFT seat belt policy.
  • Carrying and securing child safety seats for any children traveling with the rider, required by law to utilize a safety seat.
  • You can bring a limited number of packages that you are responsible for carrying and stowing on your lap or under your seat. Operators are not permitted to assist with any personal items, packages, or parcels. Items may not block aisles or emergency exits, or leak, contain hazardous, unsafe or weapon items.
  • Customers may bring a personal 2- or 4-wheeled collapsible cart.
    Customers will be responsible for pushing/pulling their carts and are required to include the cart in their reservation information.
  • Follow all TriMet policies regarding LIFT service.
  • Follow the instructions of the vehicle operator. Failure to follow reasonable directions from the operator may result in service suspension.
  • Customers who violate the rules of conduct are subject to penalties, up to and including suspension of service.

Note: Customers who engage in physical abuse or cause physical injury to another customer or operator may be subject to immediate and permanent suspension and criminal prosecution.

Operator Responsibilities

Please remember that our operators are transit operators, not Personal Care Attendants (PCAs). If you need more assistance than our operators are trained to provide, bring a PCA with you at no charge to assist with your needs. LIFT operators, including contracted service providers, may assist with the following:

  • Origin to Destination service. TriMet LIFT’s standard service level is Curb-to-Curb. This means the operator provides assistance only between the curb/sidewalk adjacent to the LIFT vehicle and the vehicle itself, up to 10 feet. Operators will not knock on doors or enter onto private property. Customers need to meet the vehicle at the curb when it arrives.
  • For customers who are not physically able to get to the curb independently, TriMet LIFT will provide Door-to-Door service, which includes assistance between the outermost exterior door of a building and the LIFT vehicle while maintaining visual sight of the vehicle, up to 100 feet, unless providing such access would be unsafe or a fundamental alteration of the service. This service level includes the following: escorting, steadying support, and helping customers navigate obstacles along a safe, ADA-compliant path.
  • Announcing their arrival. For customers receiving Door-to-Door service, the operator will knock on the customer door when they arrive; for customers receiving curb-to-curb service, the operator will announce their arrival within 10 feet of the vehicle. Customers should sign up to receive text or phone notifications to ensure you are aware of the vehicle arrival.
  • Wait five minutes after arrival, inside the trip pick-up “window” before declaring the rider a “No Show”.
  • Escorting up or down no more than five stairs. LIFT operators are able to assist customers with limited physical support, up or down five or fewer stairs, as long as they can still maintain effective control of the vehicle.
  • Operators must maintain effective control of their vehicle which includes having continuous situational awareness, providing immediate access to the vehicle; maintaining line-of-sight with vehicle at all times; the ability to intervene in the event of a safety concern; and avoiding locations where control is compromised.
  • Provide limited Physical Support
    Light, brief physical contact provided by Operators to customers to aid with balance, climbing steps, or walking between the vehicle and the outermost exterior door of their pick-up or destination location while passenger maintains independent control.
    Acceptable examples:
    • Offering an elbow
    • Offering a light hand on forearm/upper arm
    • Offering a guiding touch for step/curb/threshold
    • Open hand behind passenger (no pushing)
  • Helping customers get in and out of the vehicle. If you are unable to use the bus steps, you may stand on the power lift platform to enter and exit the vehicle.
  • Collecting legally required fare. Customers must use exact change when paying cash.
  • Fastening seat belts. All LIFT vehicles have seat belts installed and it is LIFT’s policy for all customers to wear seat belts while riding in a LIFT vehicle. Customers who refuse to wear a seat belt on board the LIFT vehicle will not be transported. This policy does not apply to customers carrying a valid Oregon seat belt exemption card. The seat belt exemption must be on file with LIFT (contact LIFT Customer Service) and must also be carried by the customer.
  • Boarding with a mobility device.
    • All vehicle operators are trained to safely operate the vehicle lift mechanism and will secure you and your device after boarding.
    • The operator will make all attempts to secure wheelchairs, scooters or Segways using a four-point securement system.
  • By request, LIFT operators will assist customers with manual mobility devices by:
    • Moving you and your manual device up or down an ADA-compliant ramp, single step or curb when it is possible to do so safely, and
    • Guiding you to/from the vehicle and on/off the lift platform of the vehicle.
    • Be respectful and courteous to all riders, their companions or caregivers and service animals.
  • Operators may assist with collapsible approved carts, but may not carry loose packages.

What you can bring on your trip

The operator may help you load and unload your bags and packages if they can do so safely in one trip to your door.

What You Can Bring on the Vehicle

You can bring a limited number of packages — the equivalent of two paper grocery bags (13" wide x 7" deep x 17" tall) or four plastic grocery bags, with a total weight of no more than 25 pounds. You must be able to maintain control of your packages while riding. Packages that you can’t carry-on your lap will be secured by the driver.

Carry-on packages are limited whether or not the operator assists you.

What You Cannot Bring on the Vehicle

Don’t bring packages that you cannot keep control of during your ride. This includes packages that are larger than the equivalent of two paper grocery bags or four plastic grocery bags weighing more than 25 pounds in total. Examples of packages we do not transport: More than two pieces of luggage per rider, flammables, and uncovered glass or sharp objects.

If there is an item you would like to bring with you but are unsure if it’s allowed, call LIFT customer service at 503-962-8000 option number two.

Example of allowed collapsible cart

Collapsible Carts

Customers may bring a personal two- or four-wheeled collapsible cart. The contents must be contained within the cart and items are not to extend beyond the basket of the cart or items tied to the outside of the cart. Customers will be responsible for pushing/pulling their carts and are required to include the cart in their reservation information. Operators will only secure the cart.

 

Learn Your Providers

LIFT also provides some trips through our partner providers. You are required to pay your LIFT fare ($2.80) even when your ride is delivered by a partner provider. If you indicate you will be paying with your Hop card it will be automatically charged within 24 hours after your trip was performed. If you would like to change your fare to Hop for a cab trip, call dispatch at 503-962-8000 option number three.

Broadway Cab

There are two types of Broadway Cab vehicles that a customer may encounter: a standard sedan for ambulatory customers and a ramp-equipped minivan for customers using mobility devices. All Broadway Cab vehicles have their name prominently displayed. Cab drivers are trained to announce their presence and provide the same assistance just as a LIFT operator would.

Big Star, USURV, Uber

 

Inclement Weather

LIFT reserves the right to suspend, modify or cancel service during times of bad weather conditions that may jeopardize the safety of our customers, our employees, or our vehicles. On bad weather days, if LIFT service is canceled the Customer Notification System will call you and inform you of any changes to your rides. If you are planning to travel at times when bad weather is predicted, bring any medication you may need. If you use oxygen, bring an adequate (extra) supply. If you are affected by diabetes or hypoglycemia, you may wish to bring a small snack with you in case the ride is longer than expected due to the weather.