Fixed Route buses do NOT Operate on the following holidays:
New Year’s Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
The Anna Maria Island Trolley operates 365 days a year, including holidays.
The MCAT Administration and Sales and Information offices are closed:
New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Presidents’ Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
LOADING
MCAT’s Bikes on Buses program allows passengers to secure their bicycles onto a rack attached on the front of all MCAT buses. Up to two bikes can be carried on the rack at one time. The bikes must be 16 inches or larger, with a single seat and two wheels. Bike racks will not accommodate mopeds, motor bikes or bicycles built for two. Portable (folding) bicycles must also be secured on the rack. If the rack is full, the passenger may carry a folding bike inside the bus, provided room is available on the bus and it can be stowed without blocking the aisle. The bicycles cannot be locked to the rack. Articles left on the bikes in transport must be securely attached. Passengers must load, secure and unload their own bike. Bus operators will be required to observe the passenger has properly secured the bike on the rack. If the bike is the last to be removed from the rack, remind the passenger to return the rack to the closed/secured position. Operators are required to keep a daily count of bikes using the designated farebox key. All lost and found bikes are brought back to the bus yard.
UNLOADING
Notify the bus operator you are going to remove your bike and exit through the front door of the bus. From the curb side, remove the bike by releasing the support arm from the front tire, then lift the bike out of the rack. Return the rack to its upright position.
BATTERY POWERED DEVICES
Passengers are permitted to place electric bicycles with sealed gel, lithium Ion, or NiCad batteries in the bike rack as long as they fit safely in the bike rack and have standard tires. Must also meet the bicycle requirements listed above. Passengers are permitted to carry on the bus electric scooters and boards with sealed gel, lithium Ion, or NiCad batteries as long as they can be folded, fit under your seat or on your lap.
ADA VISITOR PROCESS
- Visitors who are eligible for ADA paratransit service in jurisdictions where they reside and have documentation regarding their eligibility may use the MCAT ADA paratransit service during their visit to Manatee County for up to twenty-one (21) days during any three hundred sixty-five (365)-day period. Visitors who have not been certified eligible by another transit provider and who make the statement they’re unable to use fixed route transit will have presumptive eligibility. They will be required to provide documentation of their place of residence and (if the visitor's disability is not apparent), disability documentation (signed by a doctor or licensed medical professional) prior to the first day of service and may also be provided ADA paratransit service for up to twenty-one (21) days during any three hundred sixty-five (365)-day period. Visitors needing more than twenty-one (21) days of service will be required to apply for MCAT eligibility certification by following the application process described above.
- Upon receipt of the required documentation as described, Manatee County Area Transit will enter the necessary information into the database to permit visitors to book requested trips. This process can be completed as early as same day or no more than one day late. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) envisions this as a process of eligible service.
Yes! The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that transit agencies provide services which are accessible to people with disabilities. The ADA is an important civil rights law passed in 1990 that has greatly increased the transportation options for people with disabilities. The law requires improvements to transportation services, including the provision of paratransit services to complement fixed route services. The ADA does not require a transit agency “to meet all the transportation needs of individuals with disabilities;” however, it does ensure that people with disabilities who cannot utilize regular fixed routes receive services comparable to those on the fixed route/regular bus system.
ACCESS THE REAL-TIME TRIP PLANNER
These are the steps for accessing the MCAT real-time bus information:
- Download the software application on your mobile device. The Manatee MyStop software application can be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play Store.
- Identify the specific bus stop (or station) where you board your MCAT bus.
- Establish a service text alert or email notification for bus arrivals at a boarding location, and the preferred timeframe for advance notification. For instance, if it takes 10 minutes to travel to your bus stop or transit station, you may want the notification alert 15 or 20 minutes in advance of the arrival time for your bus, so that you have plenty of time to travel to your boarding location.
Other ways to view real-time information while at a MCAT bus stop:
- For those with a Quick Response (QR) code reader, the passenger can use their QR code reader, to scan the bus stop’s discrete QR code. Once the QR code is scanned it will provide the arrival time for each bus servicing that stop to your mobile device.
- Use the Manatee MyStop software application in combination with the bus stop ID number (this is provided at each bus stop). The application will then indicate the arrival time for each bus servicing that bus stop.
- During normal business hours, passengers can also call the MCAT Rider Information Line at 941-749-7116 to ascertain the arrival of buses in real-time.
TIPS FOR RIDERS
- Arrive 10 minutes prior to the schedule time
- Ensure the driver can see you at the bus stop
- Have exact case fare, bus pass or mobile ticket ready before boarding
- Let the operator know if you require additional assistance
CONSEJOS PARA PASAJEROS
- Llegue 10 minutos antes de la hora programada
- Asegurese de que el conductor pueda verlo en la parada del autobus
- Tenga lista su tarifa en efectivo exacto, pase para el bus, o bolete en su movil, antes de abordar
- Infome al operador si necesita asistencia adicional
BOARDING THE BUS
Buses make scheduled stops only at designated bus stops. As a bus approaches the stop, stand next to the bus stop sign. Ensure the driver sees you by waving to the driver, signaling your intention to board the bus.
If you are unsure about the bus’ destination, ask the driver before you board.
Have exact fare or an MCard bus pass ready when you board. Only U.S. coins and currency are accepted, and drivers do not carry change. If you do not have exact change, a change card will be issued to use on your next trip.
You may need to take more than one bus to reach your destination… For this, you may purchase a Day Pass from the operator which will allow you to travel on any bus within the MCAT system for 24 hours. Other passes are available from our Customer Service Centers.
NOTE: Do not fold, roll, tear, alter, mutilate or get the pass wet. If the pass is destroyed or rendered inoperable by the rider, the pass becomes void and a new paid fare will be required to continue traveling. MCAT drivers are not authorized to allow a customer to ride if the pass cannot be read by the fare box.
If you are visually impaired, or need help identifying your stop please inform the driver as you enter the bus, so the driver may announce your stop and ensure your exit at the proper time. It is helpful to sit toward the front of the bus if you need assistance.
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Local police will be contacted under the following circumstances:
- Engaging in suspected illegal activities
- Willfully destroying or damaging MCAT or other property
- Engaging in fighting or threatening violence in buses, bus stops or MCAT facilities
Passengers who do not follow these rules may be asked to leave the bus or bus stop area. Refusal to leave the bus or bus stop area may result in an arrest for trespassing pursuant to Florida Statute 810.08.
All MCAT vehicles and facilities are monitored 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
- Always wear a helmet.
- Ride in the same direction of traffic on the street.
- Be visible, especially at night. Always use a white front light and a red rear light and reflector.
- Obey traffic signs, signals, and markings.
Eligibility for American's With Disabilities Act (ADA) service on the MCAT Handy Bus is based on the following:
1. An individual's functional ability to use the MCAT fixed route bus system. Applicants must prove that because of a physical or mental/cognitive impairment, they are unable to independently use the MCAT fixed route bus system. These impairments can be permanent, temporary or conditional under certain circumstances.
2. A visitor to Manatee County who can provide documentation of their ADA eligibility in another jurisdiction can also be eligible to use the ADA Handy Bus.
3. ADA Paratransit Handy Bus trips are only available during the same days, hours, and service area locations as the MCAT fixed route bus system. Origin and destination of trips must be within the ADA Complementary Paratransit Service Corridor. The ADA Complementary Paratransit Service Corridor extends three-quarters (3/4) of a mile on either side of an active MCAT fixed bus route.
Please call MCAT at (941) 747-8621, ext. 3567 for an ADA paratransit service application. This application may also be downloaded here: Manatee County ADA Application
The Travel Trainer will meet you at your home, conduct a travel needs assessment, and craft a personalized plan. The Travel Trainer will accompany you on the bus, and throughout your entire travel training experience. Training is self-paced, so take all the time you need, and ask all the questions you need answered.
- Focus on the road.
- Avoid distractions while driving.
- Always watch for pedestrians.
- Slow down! Speed is the cause of 27% of crashes.
- Pass bicyclists safely, allowing a minimum of three (3) feet between your vehicle and the bicyclist.
- Always use sidewalks and crosswalks.
- Be visible. Wear bright, reflective colors on your clothes, shoes, belts, and wristbands.
- If no sidewalks are present, walk on the shoulder a safe distance from the travel lane, facing oncoming vehicles.
The ADA Paratransit service is a required “safety net” for people who, due to their disability, are unable to ride fixed route buses. The ADA Paratransit service is a complementary service to fixed route transportation services. This means ADA paratransit services operate in the same area, and during the same days and hours as the fixed route service. It is an on-demand service that must be reserved at least before 5:00PM the day before a trip. The service picks up riders at their home (or origin) and takes them to their destination. The vehicle may make several stops on the way to a rider’s destination to pick up or drop off other passengers; and just like the regular bus system, it is a “shared-ride” service. The origin and destination of each trip must be within a 3/4 mile corridor dimension of fixed route service
Manatee County adopts the United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT’s) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)’s Safe System Approach. The objectives of the Safe System Approach are – Safer People, Safer Road, Safer Vehicles, Safer Speeds, Post-Crash Care.
A Safe System Approach incorporates the following principles:
- Death and Serious Injuries are Unacceptable
- Humans Make Mistakes
- Humans Are Vulnerable
- Responsibility is Shared
- Safety is Proactive
- Redundancy is Crucial
The Transit Development Plan, or TDP, is a 10-year needs-based evaluation required by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to qualify for state Public Transit Block Grant Program (PTBG) funding. Development of the plan requires technical analyses as well as a broad public outreach process. It represents MCAT’s vision for public transportation growth and advancement in the future. The development of the TDP includes a review of planning and policy documents and documentation of study area conditions, demographic characteristics and current transit services as well as the creation of a financial plan and incorporation of public input.
The purpose of the Transit Development Plan is to provide a transit agency, like MCAT, with a plan for service operations and capital facilities in the next ten-year period.
- Gain understanding of Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) Service Area, Route Maps, Route Schedules, and the new Transit Technology.
- How to plan bus trips and ride the necessary bus routes.
- How to pay fares and purchase bus passes, including the “cashless” Mobile Ticketing fare option.
- Prepare for the “what ifs” and other concerns.
- Develop the skills necessary to independently ride the bus with confidence.
Manatee County Area Transit is currently reviewing options to extend bus service to underserved areas, including Lakewood Ranch and Parrish. While these destinations are recommended service improvements included in the 10-year transit plan, from 2024 through 2033, there is no set time for when these routes will become available.
- Independence: Passengers enjoy the freedom of traveling safely on wheelchair accessible MCAT buses and trolleys throughout the Manatee County service area for all travel needs.
- Accessibility: The MCAT bus stop include concrete boarding pads and accessibility features, with passenger seating at bus stops. All buses and trolleys include bike racks for intermodal travel.
- New, State-of-the-Art Technology:
- Automated onboard bus stop announcements, including identification of area destinations on every bus and trolley.
- The new QUANTUM automated wheelchair securement system ensures complete safety during transport, and expedites passenger boarding and alighting.
- Predictive Real-Time Bus (arrival) Information, including passenger text alerts, is now available, along with the cashless Mobile Ticketing Fare option.