Denial of Service Policy

It is the intent of Minnesota River Valley Transit (MRVT) to provide prompt and courteous service to all our passengers. In furtherance of that intent, MRVT has expectations of passenger behavior while boarding, riding and alighting from MRVT buses.

Rider's Guide

The Rider’s Guide is printed in the MRVT brochure (PDF), and on the website in the following this paragraph:

  • Riders must be respectful.
  • Please call at least a half hour before ride is needed to ensure bus drivers arrive in a timely manner.
  • Drivers will only pick up and drop off at designated locations as scheduled with dispatch. 
  • Buses may arrive 10 minutes before or after scheduled pick up times.
  • There is a 3-minute window to wait for a passenger to board. 
  • Be ready and make yourself visible as bus approaches.
  • Have your fare ready before boarding.
  • Exact fare is required. Drivers will not make change.
  • Please be seated and buckle in promptly.
  • Remain seated at all times, wait until bus has made a complete stop to unbuckle.
  • No eating, drinking, or handling of food in open containers. 
  • Wear shirts and shoes. Roller Blades and skateboards must be carried on and off the bus.
  • Check for personal belongings before leaving the bus. 
  • No firearms, weapons, or fireworks of any type are allowed.
  • No smoking, littering, or alcohol consumption allowed. 
  • Passengers must be courteous and respectful of buses, drivers and other passengers. Using language that can be interpreted as offensive, inappropriate or threatening to the driver and/or passengers is prohibited.

Service Expectations

  • MRVT is a curb-to-curb service. 
  • Drivers and transit staff will be courteous and respectful.
  • Drivers are trained in securing wheelchairs and operating the lift.
  • Buses will be clean and provide a safe environment.
  • Drivers may refuse service to anyone who is disruptive or is a threat to themselves or others.
  • Drivers have the right to refuse transit service to any person they deem to be a threat to the safety or health of the driver or other passengers.
  • All drivers will adhere to Minnesota state driving rules and regulations.
  • Buses do get busy, there may be circumstances that prevent them from being on time. They will arrive when you see them.
  • MRVT will not be able to provide rides to passengers if their EZ-Pay account has no funds or has a negative balance. You may pay in cash on the bus.
  • EZ-Pay accounts will NOT be allowed to go into a negative balance.

Noncompliance

At times individuals may choose not to follow the Rider’s Guide. In the event that occurs, Bus Drivers are instructed to ask passengers to comply with the rules in the Rider’s Guide. Passengers who choose not to comply with the Driver’s instructions may be asked to get off the bus. 

Upon learning of a passenger’s willful failure to follow the Rider’s Guide, the Transit Compliance Manager and/or the Transit Operations Manager may take one of the following actions based on the severity of the passenger’s actions. The Manager may choose to start the process based on the severity of the violation of the Rider’s Guide.

  • Written Warning
  • Written Warning including a probation period with possible ride denial
  • Ride denial for periods of time from 1 week up to permanent denial of service

Criminal Behavior

In the event that the violation of the Rider’s Guide involved criminal behavior, the above steps would occur in addition to any actions taken by law enforcement.

Appeals

Submissions

If a passenger chooses to appeal the actions taken by the Manager, that appeal should be directed to the Saint Peter City Administrator within 10 calendar days of the denial of service or the right to appeal is waived. The appeal must be in writing and must be submitted to the City Administrator at the following address:
City Administrator
227 S. Front Street
Saint Peter, MN  56082

Appeals can also be emailed to the City Administrator.

Reviews

The City Administrator shall, within 5 days of receipt of Notice of Appeal, set a hearing date at a time that will not be less greater than 10 days after receipt of the Appeal Notice. The hearing shall be conducted in a manner that provides the appellant opportunity to provide evidence related to the denial of service and the City Administrator shall provide a final determination within three days of the hearing. The finding shall be one of three options:

  • Affirm the denial of Service
  • Modify the length of denial of Service
  • Overturn the denial of Service

Any finding shall be provided in writing and shall be reported to the Minnesota River Valley Transit Board at its next regular meeting.