The RIDE

We continue to monitor the impact of COVID along with our ridership needs and are adjusting service accordingly.

In addition to reintroducing ridesharing on May 24:

• Overall capacity will still be limited in RIDE vehicles. The first seat behind the driver in a van and the front and middle seats in a sedan will continue to be unoccupied.
• All riders and drivers are required to wear face coverings while on MBTA vehicles, including people who are fully vaccinated.
• The RIDE Eligibility Center (TREC)is closed for in-person appointments until further notice. All interaction with TREC, including ADA Visitor Requests, will be conducted during business hours over the phone.
• Booking windows have been adjusted. Starting March 28, RIDE customers will need to book trips 1 – 3 days in advance.
• The RIDE will work to eliminate transfer trips to reduce customer interaction with multiple drivers.
• All MBTA vehicles are disinfected on a daily basis.

Learn more about these changes

Please note: All riders and employees are required by federal and state law to wear face coverings while riding the T unless a medical condition prevents them from doing so during travel. Not doing so is a violation of federal and state law and failure to comply may result in denial of boarding, removal, penalties under federal law, and/or a fine issued by the Transit Police.

The RIDE customers can book trips to travel to and from their vaccination or testing appointments.

We recommend customers book two trips on The RIDE—one for your drop off at the site, and one for your return trip.

Booking the day before: Schedule a trip online or call 844-427-7433.

Booking with flexibility: The RIDE pilot* with Uber and Lyft enables customers to book trips within minutes of needing them. New and existing pilot customers will receive 2 additional monthly trips from April through July to ensure they can get to their vaccine appointments.

*The RIDE pilot is available to all eligible RIDE customers. It includes options to:

• Request a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV)
• Order trips with or without a smartphone
• Sign up and be approved within 2 business days (including switching providers)

For in-person vaccination and testing sites:

• To be dropped off, schedule your trip based on your appointment time. Leave some extra time in case of delays.
• For your return trip, please allow extra time as the site may require you remain there for observation.

For drive-through vaccination and testing sites:

Please note that The RIDE vehicles will not stay at the site during your vaccination or test.

• Confirm with the site in advance that you can be vaccinated or tested without a vehicle.
• Since customers cannot stay in the vehicle, follow the same booking tips as you would for an in-person site.

All Massachusetts vaccine sites offer:

• Accessible entrances
• Waiting areas with seating available before and after  vaccine appointments
• Staff available for mobility assistance and direction
• Accessible pick-up and drop-off areas
• Wheelchairs provided on-site

State vaccination sites accessible by The RIDE:

• Doubletree Hotel (Danvers): Staff designated to assist customers with mobility issues, wheelchairs provided upon request, accessible ramp at front entrance, visual language line on-site.
• Reggie Lewis Center (Boston): Staff designated to assist customers with mobility issues, wheelchairs provided upon request, fully accessible entrance and exit, visual language line on-site, in-person interpreters that speak Spanish, Haitian-Creole, and Mandarin Chinese.
• Hynes Convention Center (Boston): Staff designated to assist customers with mobility issues, wheelchairs provided upon request, fully accessible main entrance, visual language line on-site, in-person interpreters that speak Spanish, Haitian-Creole, and Mandarin Chinese.

In-home Vaccination Programs

In-home vaccination programs offered by the state may be available to people unable to leave their home.

Learn more about in-home vaccination programs

Riders can also check with their local board of health or council on aging, as some municipalities are operating local homebound vaccination programs as well.

Mass Health Transportation

All MassHealth members are eligible for transportation to and from vaccine sites. Members who normally have access to transportation can ask their doctor to submit a vaccine transportation request on their behalf.

Call the MassHealth Customer Service Center at 800-841-2900.

RideMatch

RideMatch assists users in finding public and private transportation options in their community.

Learn more about RideMatch

The RIDE serves these cities and towns:

Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Beverly, Boston, Braintree, Brookline, Burlington, Cambridge, Canton, Chelsea, Cohasset, Concord, Danvers, Dedham, Everett, Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Lexington, Lincoln, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Marblehead, Medfield, Medford, Melrose, Middleton, Milton, Nahant, Needham, Newton, Norwood, Peabody, Quincy, Randolph, Reading, Revere, Salem, Saugus, Sharon, Sharon, Somerville, Stoneham, Swampscott, Topsfield, Wakefield, Walpole, Waltham, Watertown, Wenham, Weston, Westwood, Weymouth, Wilmington, Winchester, Winthrop, and Woburn.

Portions of Abington, Avon, Billerica, Brockton, Stoughton, and Wellesley are also served.

Log into your RIDE account to add funds with a major credit or debit card. Keep the confirmation number of your transaction for your records.

It can take up to 2 business days for funds to be available in your account.

Call 888-844-0355 and select option 2 (voice and relay).

Hours (including holidays) are:

• Monday – Friday: 7 AM – 8 PM
• Saturday – Sunday: 9 AM – 5 PM

Keep the confirmation number of your transaction for your records.

Funds are available in your account immediately.

The CharlieCard Store is located in Downtown Crossing Station:

7 Chauncy Street
Boston, MA 02111

For the accessible entrance:
 
32 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02111
Through the 101 Arch Street building.
 
Funds are immediately available in your account.

View CharlieCard Store hours

Mail a check or money order to:

MBTA - The RIDE
P.O. Box 845097
Boston, MA 02284-5097

Payment should be made out to "MBTA - The RIDE Fares." Please note your RIDE ID number on the memo line.

It may take up to 5 business days for funds to be available in your account.

Available 24 hours a day.

Available daily between 8:30 AM and 5 PM.

Call The RIDE Access Transit Center (TRAC):

• Voice: 844-427-7433
• TTY: 857-206-6569