Services

Reserve-A-MAX

MAX offers paratransit service with advance reservations for eligible passengers. Eligible passengers include:

  • ADA cardholders
  • Individuals who are 65 years of age or older
  • Individuals whose origins and/or destinations are greater than ½ mile from a bus stop

Individuals with disabilities (ADA cardholders) receive first priority.

Passengers traveling in the evening after the fixed bus routes stop operating at 7 p.m. also are eligible for reserved rides on the Night Owl Service, these trips are taken on a first-come first-serve basis.

Reservations must be made by 4 p.m. the day prior to travel. Unfortunately, MAX cannot accommodate same day reservations or ride changes.

Reservations must be made by 4 p.m. the day prior to travel. Unfortunately, MAX cannot accommodate same day reservations or ride changes.

Hours of Operation

Due to driver shortages, MAX is operating under the following hours & regulations:

  • Monday – Friday 6am – 7pm
  • Saturday 10am – 7pm Reserve-A-MAX only
  • Reserve-A-MAX Saturday service will be operating under Peak-Hour scheduling. This means that from the hours of 10am-11:59am and 2pm-4:59pm, the only trips that can be requested are work, medical or grocery. All other trips can be requested during the Off-Peak Hours (12pm-1:59pm & 5pm-11:59pm).

Weekdays

6:00 a.m. – 11:59 p.m.

Saturdays (Reserve-A-MAX & Routes 1, 2 & 6)

8:00 a.m. – 11:59 p.m.

Sundays

Closed

One Way
Fares

Adults

Ages 18-69

$5.50

Children

Ages 5-17

$2.30

Seniors, ADA, and Children Under Age 5

$2.30

How to Reserve a Ride

Reserve-A-MAX service is in high demand during the peak hours of 6-8:30 a.m. and 2-4:30 p.m. If possible, try to schedule your trips during off-peak times.

To reserve a ride, call MAX Customer Service at (616) 355-1010 before 4 p.m. the day before travel, and give the reservationist the following information:

1. Last and first name of passenger

2. Full street address of your destination

3. Date and time of your requested pickup time

4. Time of your return ride, if needed

5. Indicate whether you need door-to-door assistance and need a wheelchair lift

To avoid missing your ride, you must be ready to meet the bus within a 30-minute window of your requested pick-up time. You may call the day of your scheduled ride for the estimated time your bus will arrive. The bus will only wait 5 minutes and then will leave. If you are not ready and do not meet the bus, you will be marked as a “No Show.” MAX is unable to dispatch another bus if you are not ready to board when the vehicle arrives.

Group Travel Using
Reserve-A-MAX

Small groups of individuals wishing to reserve a ride to travel together from the same origin and destination in our service area during our regular days/hours of operation may request a “Special Run” by calling (616) 355-1010. Regular fares apply. MAX reserves the right to limit the number of passengers in the group due to capacity or time constraints, or bus availability.

Cancelling Reserve-A-MAX Reservations / No-Show Policy / Late Cancel Policy

If you no longer need a ride, please be courteous and cancel your reservation by calling MAX customer service at (616) 355-1010. Cancellations must be made at least 30 minutes before your scheduled pickup time to prevent a No-Show infraction, and at least 1 hour before your scheduled pickup time to prevent a Late Cancel infraction.

 

If a passenger fails to show for their pickup ride, a No-Show infraction is issued; in addition–for Non-ADA passengers–any return trip scheduled for that day will be automatically cancelled. You will be notified in writing of each No-Show infraction. In cases of personal emergency (an occurrence demonstrated to be beyond the client’s control) a No-Show will be waived. It is the passenger’s responsibility to contact MAX Transit to offer any explanation of a No-Show.

Non-ADA riders accumulating an excessive pattern of No Show or Late Cancel infractions within a rolling 30-day period can be suspended from using Reserve-A-MAX services for up to 30 days. In addition non-ADA riders must pay for the fares of all missed rides before they will be allowed to use Reserve-A-MAX service again.

ADA riders accumulating an excessive pattern of No Show or Late Cancel infractions within a rolling 30-day period, will be subject to suspensions.

For further details regarding the No-Show policy on Reserve-A-MAX, please call MAX at (616) 355-1010.

Special Bus Features

All MAX Transit vehicles come with special features! Our fleet is ADA compliant and are equipped with wheelchair lifts or ramps. Our buses also come equipped with bike racks so that you can take your bike with you (MAX Transit Van’s do not have bike racks). Other special bus features of our modern fleet include tinted glass, heating and cooling air conditioning, and pull cords for requesting stops. All MAX vehicles come with bus schedule literature as well as other useful resources that you can take with you.

Travel Training Classes

MAX Transit offers a free Travel Training Program for people who would like to learn to use the MAX Services. MAX’s travel trainer will work with you one-on-one to teach you how to:

1. Read the service area map & schedules

2. Plan your trip

3. Reserve a ride

4. Pay your fare

5. Reach your destination

Once you are ready to ride on your own, MAX bus operators will be more than happy to answer your questions and help you with your needs. MAX buses are mobility device accessible, with comfortable seating and air conditioning for your comfort.

To make a Travel Training reservation or if you have questions, please call MAX Transit at (616) 355-1010.

Upcoming
Classes

No classes are scheduled at this time. Check back for updates!
Please call (616) 355-1010 if you are interested in learning to use the MAX.

Bus Buddies
Program

Our Bus Buddies Program pairs up experienced passengers or a Macatawa Area Express Transit Authority employee with new passengers to help you feel more confident about using our fixed route bus system. They will ride a route with you, help you plan trips, and offer other general tips. This program is offered to the general public free of charge. To request a Bus Buddy or to volunteer as a Bus Buddy, contact us online or contact our Customer Service team at
(616) 355-1010

Annual Passenger Survey

Your opinion counts and we appreciate the time you took to voice your opinions!

Please check out the responses HERE!

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2019 PASSENGER SURVEY

On August 29, 30 and September 1, two MSU students assisted MAX marketing by handing out the customer satisfaction and trip purpose surveys, and encouraged passengers to fill them out on both the fixed routes and Reserve-A-MAX paratransit service.  The students were able to collect surveys from more than 200 transit riders.

We are so thankful to all the passengers and the students that took time out of your schedule to assist us and review the service we have been providing.

We proud of the responses we received and we’ve attached them below to share with the public.

Fixed Route Survey

Reserve-A-MAX Paratransit Survey