During the Sumner Tunnel closure July 5 –August 5, trips on the The RIDE that begin and end within a 3/4 mile of select routeswill be free for RIDE users.
View the full list of eligible routes and stops
About The RIDE
The RIDE paratransit service provides door-to-door, shared-ride public transportation to people who can’t use the subway, bus, or trolley all or some of the time due to temporary or permanent disability.
The RIDE is available year-round in 58 cities and towns in the greater Boston area, with similar operating hours to the MBTA—generally from 5 AM to 1 AM daily. Customers schedule their trips on The RIDE one to five days in advance and are given a pick-up window for their ride’s arrival. Travel times are comparable to the same trip taken on fixed-route transit (bus, subway, or trolley) plus an additional 20 minutes. Like other public transit services, The RIDE is a shared service, so you’ll travel with other customers going in the same general direction.
Paratransit, like other public transportation services, may not meet all the needs of people with disabilities, and it does not function as medical or human service transportation.For information about alternative transportation options, please contact the Mobility Center.
Download a map of The RIDE service area
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
- Somerville
- Stoneham
- Swampscott
- Topsfield
- Wakefield
- Walpole
- Waltham
- Watertown
- Wenham
- Weston
- Westwood
- Weymouth
- Wilmington
- Winchester
- Winthrop
- Woburn
The RIDE also serves portions of Abington, Avon, Billerica, Brockton, Stoughton, and Wellesley.
Text The RIDE
RIDE customers can text 781-980-RIDE (7433) to check the arrival time for their trip, see a list of upcoming trips, check their account balance, or cancel a trip without having to call The RIDE Access Center (TRAC).
If you text from a number associated with your RIDE account, you’ll automatically get information. If you text from a different number, you will be prompted to log in by responding with your RIDE ID and birth date (MM/DD/YYYY).
Text this phrase to 781-980-RIDE (7433): | To get: | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Text this phrase to781-980-RIDE (7433): | ETA | To get: | Estimated time of arrival for your pick-up |
| Text this phrase to781-980-RIDE (7433): | Trips | To get: | A list of upcoming scheduled trips |
| Text this phrase to781-980-RIDE (7433): | Balance | To get: | How much money is in your RIDE account |
| Text this phrase to781-980-RIDE (7433): | Cancel | To get: | Prompts to cancel trips |
Receive Text Messages About Your Trip
You can also now receive your night before and day-of trip notifications by text message. Text “Subscribe” to 781-980-RIDE (7433) from a phone number in your RIDE account to sign up. If you’d like to update your contact information, please call 617- 865-1643 or use this form.
The Mobility Center
Not sure where to start? Call the Mobility Center* to learn more about accessible transit options, including The RIDE.
*As of May 11, 2023, masks are encouraged but not requiredfor staff and visitors at the Mobility Center.
Visit the Mobility Center
Getting Started with The RIDE
People who have a disability (temporary or permanent) that prevents them from using fixed-route public transit are eligible for The RIDE.
How to Update Your Contact Information
Need Help?
If you are experiencing a health or safety emergency, please call 911.
For help scheduling a trip, or if your driver does not arrive during your pick-up window, call The RIDE Access Center (TRAC) at 844-427-7433. Phones are staffed during The RIDE's hours of operation. Reservationists are available to schedule trips 8:30 AM – 5 PM daily.
Contact MBTA Customer Support at 617-222-3200 if you have suggestions, compliments, or complaints. Phones are staffed Monday - Friday: 6:30 AM - 8 PM and Saturday - Sunday: 8 AM - 4 PM.
The RIDE Flex
The RIDE customers can book on-demand service through MBTA partners Uber and Lyft.
Learn more about The RIDE Flex
