Written by Trisha Peterson
As we journey through life, maintaining our independence and staying connected with our community becomes increasingly important. Getting around to appointments, social gatherings, errands, and simply enjoying the sights and sounds of our beautiful Northern Minnesota can be a source of great fulfillment. Recognizing the need for convenient, safe, and accessible transportation options, a new service has arrived to enhance our mobility: goMARTI Micro Transit.
Perhaps you’ve heard a bit about it, or maybe this is the first time you’re encountering the term “micro transit.” Don’t let the name intimidate you.What exactly is micro transit?
Think of micro transit as a modern, flexible way to get from point A to point B, right here in our Northland communities. This isn’t your traditional fixed-route bus; instead, it’s an on-demand service designed to fit your individual travel needs. Imagine a shared ride service, similar to a taxi or ride-sharing app, but more affordable and designed to serve a wider community. Instead of hailing a car on a street corner, you request a ride through an app or a phone call, and the service then dispatches a vehicle to pick you up and take you to your destination within the service area.
Excitingly, our fleet includes six autonomous vehicles, representing the latest in transportation technology, 1 fully electric vehicle and 2 hybrid vehicles (1 with a Turny Seat for added accessibility), all prioritizing your safety and comfort.
Discovering goMARTI Micro Transit
Using goMARTI opens up a world of possibilities for staying active and engaged in our community. Imagine easily getting to:
- Doctor’s appointments.
- Social gatherings to connect with friends.
- Grocery shopping and errands without the stress of driving and parking.
- Local attractions, parks, or cultural events.
goMARTI is more than just a way to get around; it’s a tool for maintaining your independence, fostering social connections, and enjoying all that our community has to offer. Welcome aboard, and let us help you unlock your continued independence!
goMARTI Travel Training: Answering Your Top Questions
Welcome to our Travel Training update! We know that trying a new transit option can bring up a lot of questions, and we are here to ensure you have a smooth and confident experience. To help you get around, we are answering the most common questions we hear from our riders about goMARTI, our free, on-demand micro transit service operating in Northern Minnesota.
How do I book a ride? You have two simple options to book a free ride:
- The Smartphone App: Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Once you create an account, just enter your pickup location and destination, and confirm your booking with a few taps.
- The Phone Call: If you don’t have a smartphone or prefer speaking to a real person, simply call our dispatch hotline at (218) goMARTI. A friendly operator will help you coordinate your ride.
Can I book a ride for someone else? Yes! This service is an excellent resource for parents needing to book rides for youth heading to activities, sports, and jobs, as well as for caretakers organizing travel for seniors. You can arrange the trip by inputting the rider’s specific pickup location, destination, and desired travel time into the app or by providing those details over the phone to a dispatcher.
How long do I have to wait for rides? Because goMARTI is an on-demand service, exact wait times will vary depending on when you book. However, you won’t be left guessing. The app will provide you with an estimated pickup time before you confirm your ride, and you can track the vehicle’s progress on a real-time map. If you call in, the dispatcher will provide your estimated pickup time over the phone.
Does it come to my house? When you book your ride, you can enter your exact address or a specific pickup location. You can request a pickup or drop-off at over 150 locations across our 20-square-mile service area in northern Minnesota.
Do I have to book in advance? No advanced booking is required. goMARTI is an on-demand service, meaning it does not operate on a traditional fixed bus schedule. You simply request a ride through the app or over the phone right when you need to travel.
Can I ride with other people? Yes! Micro transit is designed as a shared ride service, similar to a taxi or ride-sharing app. Because it serves the wider community, you will likely share your journey with other passengers.
How old do you have to be to ride? Our service is a fantastic way for youth and high school students, ages 13 and older, to gain independence and travel to part-time jobs, local events, or after-school activities.
Booking Your Ride: Two Convenient Ways
We’ll break down how easy it is to book a ride, ensuring a smooth and confident experience.
1. The Smartphone App
For those comfortable using smartphones, our dedicated app provides a visual and intuitive way to book your trips, designed with clear instructions to make navigation simple.
Booking a ride involves just a few taps:
- Enter your pickup location: The app will often use your phone’s GPS to pinpoint your current location, or you can manually enter an address.
- Enter your destination: Type in the address of where you want to go.
- Select your ride: The app will show you the estimated pickup time.
- Confirm your booking: Review the details and confirm your ride.
- Track your vehicle: Once your ride is confirmed, you can often see the vehicle’s progress on a map in real-time.
2. The Phone Call
We understand that not everyone owns a smartphone or prefers using apps, which is why we’ve also made it easy to book a ride by simply calling (218) goMARTI. When you call, a friendly and helpful operator will assist you. Be prepared to provide the following information:
- Your name and phone number.
- Your current address or pickup location (be as specific as possible).
- Your destination address.
- The desired time of your pickup.
The dispatcher will then coordinate your ride, provide an estimated pickup time, and may give you an identifying feature of the vehicle.
Rider Rules
- Age Restriction
- Age 18+ no restriction.
- Age 13-18 able to ride on their own (not able to bring children ages birth-12 unless they are the child’s legal guardian, for example a 16yr old mother should be able to ride goMARTI with their child)
- Age Birth-12 must be accompanied by an adult or legal guardian
- Food and Drink
- No eating or drinking in vehicles. These are verbs and refer to the act of eating and drinking.
- Riders are able to bring food and drink in closed containers including from fast food.
- Closed containers examples:
- Big gulp with lid
- Starbucks with lid
- Bag of McDonalds, Burger King, etc
- Box of Pizza
- These items are ok to have with you, but you may not physically eat or drink items while in the vehicles.
- The items must be in your possession and not placed on the floor or seats.
- Closed containers examples:
- Groceries
- Riders with more groceries than they are able to carry should book as a plus 1
- A general best practice is to allow the rider to ride, even if they have a lot of groceries. We can NOT leave people stranded with their groceries who are depending on goMARTI to get them to their final destination.
- In extreme cases, such as the food shelf, the wheelchair bay could be considered for grocery overflow – this is a one-off circumstance and the rider should be made aware for future trips
- In this situation, site staff should be aware of how many other wheelchair vehicles they have on shift. Also, site staff can consider marking the wheelchair van that has groceries in the wheelchair bay, unavailable, until the space is available again.
- Car Seat
- We follow the MN Department of Public Safety rules and regulations
- Please use this link as a reference Child Passenger Safety Laws
- Vehicle operators have the right to refuse a ride if the law is not followed
- Please use this link as a reference Child Passenger Safety Laws
- We follow the MN Department of Public Safety rules and regulations
Autonomous Vehicles: What to Expect
You might be curious, perhaps even a little apprehensive, about riding in a vehicle without a driver. Note that the state of MN currently requires a licensed driver to be in the driver seat. This driver is able to help with tie downs, seatbelts and added safety measures for our passengers. Rest assured, these vehicles are equipped with advanced technology—a network of sensors, cameras, and sophisticated software—to ensure a safe and comfortable journey. Here’s what you can expect on your first ride in an autonomous vehicle:
- A smooth and quiet ride: The vehicles are designed for comfort and a gentle driving experience.
- Safety is paramount: The technology is designed to adhere to strict safety protocols and regulations, constantly monitoring its surroundings.
- Easy boarding and exiting: The vehicles are designed with accessibility in mind.
Friendly assistance if needed: While the vehicle operates autonomously, our support team is always available in person and remotely to assist with any questions or concerns you may have during your ride.
