Rules to Ride
Rule to Ride are posted inside all buses and at various bus stops
are to advise you and are enforceable by law.
Code of Conduct
The following rules are basic rules intended to create a safer experience while using the ABQ RIDE system for riders and ABQ RIDE staff.
Before You Board
- Stay back from the curb before boarding the bus;
- Keep 20’ from the bus/bus stop if you choose to smoke or vape;
- Drug usage and consumption of alcoholic beverages is not permitted on transit facilities or properties;
- No loitering or camping on transit facilities and properties;
- Enter through the front door (Except for ART buses. Passengers will enter through the two rear doors).
While You Ride
- Be respectful to the bus driver and toward fellow passengers;
- Obey requests from ABQ RIDE staff or security officers;
- Stay behind the yellow line or warning strips on ART Platforms;
- No excessive riding (passengers must alight at the end of the route.);
- Must be authorized to be in or on any ABQ RIDE vehicle, facility, or property;
- No Littering;
- Violence, cursing, yelling, spitting, physical abuse, harassment, bullying, or other abusive behavior will not be tolerated;
- Operating any device used to listen to music or other sound (other than a mobile phone when being used for communications) without earphones or at such a loudness level that the sound still causes a disturbance;
- No bull horns or similar device may be used to willfully disrupt the provision of transit services or public safety;
- No smoking or vaping. This includes e-cigarettes;
- No drug usage on the bus;
- No weapons or flammable liquids on the bus;
- No car batteries are allowed on the bus;
- No pets allowed on the bus. Service animals are allowed;
- No writing, marking, scribbling, defacing, or causing destruction on or to any ABQ RIDE vehicle or property in any manner;
- Front seats are designated for passengers with disabilities or the elderly;
- Taking up more than one seat is prohibited. Saving or “holding” seats is also prohibited;
- Children must be seated at all times for their safety;
- Strollers must be folded before entering the bus and must remain folded until you have exited the bus;
- Shopping carts, furniture dollies, wagons, and multiple large bags or garbage bags are prohibited. Only fold-up carts less than 43 inches in height are allowed. Examples of carts allowed on buses;
- Do not block the bus aisle with bags or any other items;
- Blankets, sheets, pillows must be in an enclosed bag. Bags will be provided upon request;
- Shirt, bottoms and shoes must be worn at all times while on the bus. Indecent exposure is prohibited;
- No eating in transit vehicles;
- Drinks with closed, sealable containers such as water bottles are permitted. Nonsealable containers such as disposable coffee cups are not allowed.
- Alcoholic drinks are never allowed on the bus at any time except unopened cans or bottles in enclosed bags;
- Only single seat, two-wheeled bikes of standard size that conform to the bike rack specifications are allowed on Transit vehicles.
Exiting the Bus
- Bicyclists: before exiting, please inform the driver you will be taking your bicycle off the front rack. Please put the bike rack up if your bicycle was the last one on the rack;
- Exit through the rear door (Except for ART buses. Passengers will exit through the two rear doors).
Animal Policy
Only service animals are allowed on ABQ RIDE vehicles. Service animals are individually trained to perform special tasks for a person with a disability, such as guiding a person who is blind or has low vision, alerting a person with impaired hearing, or pulling a wheelchair.
Contact the Customer Service Center 505-243-RIDE (7433) (V/TTY) for information regarding your service animal.
Excessive Riding Policy
Excessive riding is not allowed on ABQ RIDE and ART. It occurs when a passenger(s) rides more than one full round-trip on a single route. Our drivers may ask the passenger(s) to leave the bus. Public transportation is meant for those traveling to a specific destination. Our drivers are available to offer assistance to those who may need help reaching their destination. Passengers are strongly encouraged to download Transit the App for route planning assistance.
Weapons Policy
It is illegal in New Mexico to board or attempt to board a bus in possession of a firearm or other deadly weapon.
Wheelchair Policy
ABQ RIDE would like to remind passengers that its wheelchair policy requires that all wheelchairs must be properly secured on our buses and vans. This policy is in place to protect the safety of all our passengers. If a passenger refuses to allow a driver to properly secure their wheelchair, that passenger will not be allowed to ride on the bus. Please be advised, this policy will be strictly enforced.
ABQ RIDE is committed to providing uncompromised service to our passengers with disabilities. On March 15, 2008, ABQ RIDE became 100 percent compliant with the Americans with Disability Act and all of our buses are wheelchair accessible. A recent American with Disabilities Act evaluation of the ABQ RIDE bus fleet ranked ABQ RIDE among the best in the country for accessibility and navigability for passengers with disabilities.
Non-Motorized and Motorized Bike Policy
Customers may transport non‐motorized and motorized bicycles and stand‐up scooters on ABQ Ride revenue vehicles at any time without a permit, pursuant to the vehicle-specific requirements set forth in this policy and so long as:
- Space is available;
- The bicycle or stand‐up scooter does not block doors, aisles, or emergency exits on ART Buses;
- The bicycle or stand‐up scooter complies with the following requirements:
- The full size of bicycles and stand‐up scooters may not exceed 80 inches in length or 40 inches in heightt
- Motorized bicycles and stand‐up scooters must be electric with a sealed battery compartment and without damage
- The motorized bicycles and stand‐up scooters are not powered by gasoline or lead‐acid batteries. Gas-powered scooters and bicycles are prohibited on all buses even if they also run off a battery
- The bicycles and stand‐up scooters are not excessively muddy, dirty, or greasy
- The bicycles and stand‐up scooters are not rented or a component of a dockless system
ABQ Ride is not responsible for lost or stolen bicycles and scooters or for damage to bicycles and scooters due to improper loading.
Customers with disabilities who use a stand‐up scooter as a mobility device that would not otherwise be permitted under this policy may request a reasonable modification from the requirements of this policy by contacting ABQ Ride Customer Service (505-724-3100).
ART Buses
- Customers must load bicycles and stand‐up scooters utilizing the rear doors of ART buses;
- Customers must load bicycles and stand‐up scooters in the designated bike zone area securing the bicycle with the provided strap;
- Customers with bicycles or stand‐up scooters must allow other customers to exit or board the vehicle before loading the bicycle or stand‐up scooter;
- Bicycles and stand‐up scooters inside the vehicle must not interfere with the vehicle operation or the free movement of customers; they must be positioned so that they do not block the aisle or create a safety hazard;
- Customers with bicycles may be seated after securing the bicycle;
- Customers may not charge bicycles or stand‐up scooters while on board.
Bicycles
Bicycles may be transported and stored on the bicycle racks on the front of the bus on a first come, first served basis subject to the following requirements:
- The bicycle racks have a weight limit of 55 pounds per bicycle;
- Bicycle racks can hold adult and child bicycles and can accommodate tires up to 2.3 inches in width.
The bus operator will determine if bicycles can be loaded inside buses or vans based on passenger load and bicycle rack utilization. Bicycles inside the bus must be readily movable, and customers must comply with requests to move them or to de‐board the bus if the bus becomes full.
Stand-Up Scooters
Stand‐up scooters are permitted inside buses subject to the following requirements:
- Operators will not permit customers to fold up the securement area seats to make room for stand‐up scooters, except for scooters used as mobility devices; these areas are reserved for customers using mobility aids that require securement;
- Stand‐up scooters on the bus must not interfere with the vehicle operation or the free movement of customers; they must be positioned so that they do not block the aisle or create a safety hazard;
- Stand‐up scooters inside the bus must be readily movable, and customers must comply with requests to move them or to de‐board the bus if the bus becomes full.