Same-day service will be available Saturday evenings and Sundays.
The city team learned this week that taxi service will no longer be an option for neighbors, after this Saturday, Sept. 28, and has developed a new service to help neighbors travel around the city.
BCGo is a new premium public transportation option from Battle Creek Transit. It will extend outside of the traditional hours and service area of Transit bus routes.
BCGo will begin service this Sunday, Sept. 29. Hours will be 6 p.m. to midnight on Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. It will not operate on weekdays at this time. Staff will monitor the new service to determine if it can remain a permanent city service.
Please contact Battle Creek Transit at 269-966-3474 with questions, or for more information, and see the Frequently Asked Questions list below for more details about this new service.
When can I use BCGo?
BCGo will operate from 6 p.m. to midnight on Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Dispatchers will stop taking trip requests at 11:30 p.m. Saturdays, and at 5:30 p.m. Sundays. At this time, the service will not operate on weekdays.
Where can BCGo take me?
BCGo will operate in the same service area as the current Tele-Transit (scheduled ride) service, in the City of Battle Creek, and portions of the City of Springfield, and Bedford, Emmett, and Pennfield townships.
How do I book a ride?
BCGo operates as an on-demand, shared-ride service. Passengers should call 269-966-3474 to request a trip. These trips will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis, and cannot be scheduled in advance. A vehicle made need extra time to reach your pickup location, and a dispatcher can provide you with an estimated arrival time.
What does “shared-ride” mean?
Shared-ride means that BCGo may pick up or drop off other passengers during your trip. To remain affordable and efficient, BCGo may need to take alternate routes or detours to your destination, to accommodate picking up or dropping off other passengers. This may extend your expected travel time. The fare will not change based on time or mileage.
What is the fare for BCGo?
A single, one-way trip is $15. This fare is per passenger, and applies to all riders, regardless of age or disability status.
How do I pay my fare?
BCGo accepts only cash fare payments. A farebox on the vehicle will accept your fare, and does not provide change. All fares must be paid in cash, with exact change. Drivers do not carry cash and cannot make change. BCGo does not accept Tele-Transit passes, reduced-fare passes, or discounted fare applications.
What kind of vehicle will pick me up?
BCGo is operated as part of Battle Creek Transit, and all passengers will ride on the wheelchair-accessible vehicles that normally operate for Tele-Transit, during the hours of bus route service. If you need help boarding or leaving the vehicle, the driver will assist you. At your request, the driver can deploy a ramp or life to assist you.
What can I bring on the vehicle?
Passengers may not eat, drink, or smoke on Transit vehicles. Drinks in sealed containers are allowed. Open containers and open alcohol are prohibited. Service animals under the control of their handler are allowed, and should be indicted at the time you request your trip. Pets can ride, as long as they are in a carrier that fits on your lap, or on the floor at your feet. Grocery bags, laundry baskets, and other items are limited to what is under your control, and can be loaded or unloaded in one trip. The driver cannot help you carry items on or off the vehicle, and all items should fit on your lap or at your feet, out of the aisle. You may not place items on empty seats. BCGo cannot accommodate bicycles at this time.
Do I have to wear a seat belt?
Yes. All vehicles have lap and shoulder belts, and all passengers must wear a seat belt while on the vehicle. BCGo vehicles do not have child safety seats.
Can I book my trip online?
No. At this time, the only way to request a trip with BCGo is to call the Battle Creek Transit dispatch office at 269-966-3474. BCGo provides only same-day requests and cannot book trips in advance.
Who do I call if I have more questions?
Call Battle Creek Transit at 269-966-3474 during regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can also visit the Transit website, www.battlecreekmi.gov/transit, where you will find information about BCGo, as well as routes, schedules, and timing information for the current bus route and Tele-Transit services.