Things you Should Know

Who Can Ride?
Services are available to the general public.

Fares
rT service is FARE-FREE! 

Bad Weather & Winter Trips
Call Customer Service at 1-253-472-7846 to check for delays due to snow and other bad weather. Vehicles may be delayed or rerouted to keep everyone safe. Check with all transit agencies you’ll use for your trip, as each provider makes their own decisions about bad weather.

When traveling on our system during the winter months, please dress warmly and be prepared for delays. Wear bright reflective clothing to keep yourself safe.

Route Deviation
To accommodate riders, rT will deviate its route by up to three-quarters (3/4) of a mile. Please contact Customer Service at 1.253.472.7846 to make arrangements.

Accessible Services
All vehicles are accessible for persons using wheelchairs and other mobility devices. 

Bike & Ride
Bike racks are available on all vehicles. Bikes are not allowed inside the vehicle.

How to Read the Schedule & Timetable

 Look at the maps and determine where you want to go. The numbers across the top of the timetable show the name, address and order of stops along the route. Look at the column under each of the stops printed on the schedule. Each stop has a time list underneath to show when the bus arrives at that stop. Times are listed with the earliest time the bus stops at the top of the schedule and the latest time at the bottom.

Call customer Service at 1-253-472-7846 for assistance. Services are available to the general public.

RT Schedule example

Example

 You want to go from Rainier to the State Office Buildings in Tumwater by 7:00 am.

  • Find the Route Map that includes the locations you are traveling between.
  • Find your starting point on the map. In this case, Rainier is timepoint 1 on Route 2.
  • Find your destination on the map, then locate the corresponding timepoint name at the top of the timetable. In this case, the State Office Buildings in Tumwater is timepoint 4.
  • Look on the schedule for your destination and preferred arrival time. A bus arrives at timepoint 4 in Tumwater at 6:59 am. To arrive on time, you must catch the bus in Rainier at 6:00 am.

Additional note: The morning routes (5) are in plain type and the afternoon routes (6) are in bold.

Rules of the Ride

State law (RCW 9.91.025) and rT policy determines appropriate transit behavior. Violators may be banned from service, fined, or arrested.

Services are available to the general public.

 Riders may not:

  • Smoke, including tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and marijuana
  • 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)
  • Refuse to pay the appropriate fare
  • Board without wearing a shirt or shoes
  • Harass drivers or other passengers
  • 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 use more than 1 seat
  • Deface or damage property
  • Refuse to move from seats designated for persons using wheelchairs
  • Obstruct or impede the flow of transit vehicles or passenger traffic
  • Engage in gambling or game of chance for the winning of money or anything of value
KnowTheRules

Animals
rT 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 under the handler’s control at all times (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.  Contact Around the Sound to voluntarily register your comfort/emotional support animal or to arrange access to a vehicle for training. 

Drivers may ask two questions when a disability is not obvious.  Individuals traveling with an animal must be able to answer these questions. 

  • Is the animal a pet?
  • What is the animal trained to do for you?

Strollers
Collapsible strollers are allowed on the vehicle, and must be controlled by an adult at all times.

Bike & Ride
We provide bike racks on all vehicles. Bikes are not allowed inside the vehicle.

Tips for Riding rT

Services are available to the general public.

  • Wait at the bus stop or designated area.
  • Be ready to board when the bus arrives.
  • Let other passengers get off the bus before you board.
  • Allow people using wheelchairs or other mobility devices to board first.
  • You can tell the driver if you are a first time passenger or want to get off at a particular stop. Drivers can usually answer your questions.
  • Select a seat and sit down. Allow elderly or disabled riders to sit in the front seats.
  • Signal the driver about 1 block before your stop.
  • Wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before leaving your seat.
  • Be careful when exiting the bus. Once you get off, wait until the bus pulls away before crossing the street. Never cross in front of the bus – approaching motorists may not see you.

Contact Us

  1. thumbnail image showing cell phone and customer service number 1-253-472-7846

    We want your experience to be a good one. Call one of our Customer Service agents with questions or concerns.

    Thank you for riding ruralTRANSIT!

Download a Guide

  1. Thumbnail image of March 2022 Rider Guide. Click to view the Guide.

    Click the image above to view the Rider Guide, or use this link to download a printer-friendly version.

    Descargue una versión en español de la Guía del pasajero.

    Zero-Fare Service
    Services are available to the general public.