Novato dial-a-ride is designed to fill gaps in Novato's local transit service and provide additional service. You can use the dial-a-ride service to make a complete trip within Novato or connect to fixed route transit service for travel outside of Novato.
Novato dial-a-ride provides passengers curb-to-curb pick-up and drop-off service. To use the service you must schedule your trip by calling 415-892-7899. All trips must start and end within the Service Area. The bus will make stops at any safe location within the eligible service area. Everyone is welcome to use this service.
Posted 8/24/2009 on City of Novato News http://www.cityofnovato.org/index.aspx?recordid=341&page=637
Contact: Amy Van Doren, Director of Operations •
• (415) 226-0859.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Marin Transit announces a new service for Novato residents, the Novato Dial-A- Ride, which will begin operation on Saturday, August 1. Novato Dial-a-Ride provides passengers curb-to-curb pick-up and drop-off service. All trips must start and end within Novato and adjacent unincorporated areas, including Blackpoint. The service will make stops at any safe location within the eligible service area. To use the service, you must schedule your trip by calling 415-892- 7899.
The Novato Dial-a-Ride will operate seven days a week as follows:
• Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. On weekdays, reservations may be made up to seven days in advance or same day. Advance reservations are recommended. • Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with same day only reservations starting at 8:00 a.m.
Fares will be $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for youth, seniors, and disabled. Local passes are accepted. We are not able to accept stored value cards or TransLink at this time. Transfers from Marin Transit and Golden Gate Transit service are accepted. Dial-a-ride passengers can make free transfers to Marin Transit and Golden Gate Transit fixed route services.
The Novato Dial-a-Ride vehicle will be identical to Marin Transit’s local shuttles.
Call 415-892-7899 to schedule your trip.
For more information about the service, please call or email Derek Toups, Marin Transit General Manager, at (415) 226-0865 or
Tim Omarzu/marinscope Dolores Hahn is helped off the Novato Dial-A-Ride Monday at Novato’s Vintage Oaks shopping mall by bus driver Abe Prado.
By Tim Omarzu Marinscope Newspapers
Published: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 1:02 PM PDT
Adults can now travel anywhere in Novato for $2 on Novato Dial-A-Ride.
If you’re under 18, over 65 or disabled the fare is $1. And riding is free for kids under 6 (accompanied by an adult).
Novato Dial-A-Ride is a new shuttle bus that provides Novatans of all ages curb-to-curb pick-up and drop-off from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends.
Launched on Aug. 1, it replaces EZ Rider, a bus that primarily targeted senior riders.
“We are working hard to market the Novato Dial-A-Ride as being available to all residents within the Novato service area and to be clear that it is not just for seniors.,” said Tanya Albert, aide to Marin County Supervisor Judy Arnold who represents Novato. Arnold held a press conference on Sept. 30 to promote the service, which has seen a 30 percent increase in use since the Aug. 1 changeover, Albert said. She said that Arnold and staff from Marin Transit, the county agency that operates the shuttle bus, spent the past two years meeting with community members to find out what type of bus service they wanted and the result is the Dial-A-Ride.
Three $1 fares were on the bus at about 3:30 p.m. Monday: Daniel McDonald, 11, who took the bus home from Hill Middle School because the cash-strapped Novato Unified School District cancelled bus service this year; Billie Wilkinson, 81, who rode home from the Margaret Todd Senior Center; and Dolores Hahn, 83, who took the bus to go shopping at Vintage Oaks shopping mall.
“The driver’s very helpful, too,” said Hahn, referring to Abe Prado who helped her walk down her front steps and to the bus. “You don’t get that with regular bus service.”
