Services

Reserve-A-MAX

MAX offers paratransit service with advance reservations for eligible passengers. Only ADA cardholders, people 70 years or older, and those whose origins and/or destinations that are farther than ½ mile from a bus stop are eligible to reserve rides. Individuals with disabilities 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 the COVID-19 Pandemic, MAX is opperating under the following hours & regulations:

  • Monday – Friday 6am – 7pm
  • Saturday 10am – 7pm
  • Limited scheduling allowing grocery, Medical & employment trips Mon – Fri
  • Saturday limited scheduling allowing dialysis & employment trips

Weekdays

6:00 a.m. – 11:59 p.m.

Saturdays

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 during your 30-minute pick-up window.

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

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 from being issued, and at least 1 hour or more 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.

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. Non-ADA passengers also must pay for the fares of all missed rides before they will be allowed to use Reserve-A-MAX service again. 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 buses come with special bus features! Our buses are 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 on the bus as you go from place to place. Other special bus features of our modern fleet include tinted glass, heating and cooling air conditioning, and pull cords for requesting stops. All MAX buses 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 ride the fixed-route buses. MAX’s travel trainer will work with you one-on-one to teach you how to:

1. Read a bus schedule

2. Plan your route

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 wheelchair and walker accessible, with comfortable seeing 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