KAT Services for Riders with Disabilities

KAT offers a variety of services for persons with disabilities in the Knoxville community.  All of our regular, fixed route bus service is lift-equipped, and we also offer door-to-door service with our LIFT vehicles for certified riders.  The information below explains our various programs and services.

Click one of the following for more information...

Regular, Fixed Route Service Agency Bus Training Services for persons who are visually impaired Rider Training Fares for the disabled Photo I.D.

KAT LIFT SERVICE KAT offers paratransit LIFT service to those persons who are unable to use regular, fixed-routes due to disability. You MUST be certified by KAT in order to use this service. For more information about the LIFT service or to download an application, visit the LIFT page of our website.

Regular, Fixed Route Service

All KAT buses are equipped with a hydraulic lift for wheelchair passengers.  Bus operators are trained in operating the hydraulic lift, which is located at the back door of most buses.
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Instructions for using regular route buses:

1.    To find out about routes and schedules, call one of our Transit Agents at 637-3000 or pick up route schedules at major grocery stores or other public buildings (City County Building, libraries, etc.).

2.    Be at your bus stop 3-5 minutes early.  Stand where you can be clearly seen by the bus operator. Wave at the operator as the bus is approaching so they will know you are waiting to be picked up.

3.    When your bus arrives, if needed, the operator will immediately begin operation of the lift or ramp.  Just follow the bus operator's instructions and soon you will be safely secured in your seat.

4.    To exit the bus, push the rubber strip (or pull the cord) located next to your seat.  This will ring a bell indicating to the operator that you wish to exit at the next stop.  The operator will remove your wheelchair's safety straps, and operate the lift to let you exit the bus.
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Agency Bus Training

In addition to KAT's in-house training program. KAT offers free ride photo I.D. cards for agency personnel for use in client training.  These cards enable agency personnel to ride free if they are using the bus to train clients.  The ID card is free and information on the photo ID program is contained below.
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Services for persons who are visually impaired

KAT offers bus hailers for persons with visual impairments.  These hailers show the route number in bold, large-print letters.  Hailers are held up at the bus stop by the person catching the bus, to indicate to the bus operator which bus they are looking for.  Complete sets or partial sets of bus hailers are available from KAT.  Please contact KAT's Customer Service dept. at 215-7800 for further information. 
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Rider Training

KAT offers a training program for first-time riders, in cooperation with area agencies.  KAT will hold pre-scheduled training programs that last approximately one hour for small groups of individuals accompanied by an agency staff member.  The training session includes reading schedules and timetables, calling the customer information line, reading a bus stop sign, catching the bus, paying the fare, and exiting the bus.  For information on this service, contact the KAT Customer Service dept. at 215-7800.
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Fares for the disabled

Fare for riders with disabilities as well as students under age 18 are discounted to half of the regular fare.  The discounted cost to ride a regular route bus is 75 cents with a 25 cent transfer.  However, you MUST present a KAT ID card, or a Medicare card and valid photo ID in order to ride at the discounted rate.
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Photo I.D.

Bus operators will request to see a KAT I.D. (or Medicare card and a valid photo ID) for passengers who are paying half-fare to ride the bus.   Photo I.D. cards are made at KAT's administrative offices, located at 900 Volunteer Landing Lane, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The cost of the pass is $2.00.  For a person with disabilities to obtain a pass, KAT requires proof of disability.  The following are accepted as proof of disability:

• SSI Award Letter/ statement/ copy of recent check
• VA Hospitalization card (disabled veterans only)
• Official document from physician & the phsician's signature on KAT photo I.D. application
• Official document from court
• Official document from an authorized agency & signature from agency representative on KAT photo I.D. application
• KAT Lift card and one other form of identification

KAT also offers photo I.D.s for temporary disabilities.  These also require an official letter or signature on an application from a physician, authorized agency, or an official court document.

*KAT LIFT cards cannot be substituted for KAT Photo I.D. cards to ride for half fare on regular route buses.  However, a LIFT card accompanied by another type of identification can be used as proof of disability in obtaining a KAT photo I.D. card.

You can download an application form for the Half-Fare program here; applications must be returned in person so that a photo can be taken for the ID card. Bring completed applications to KAT's administrative offices at 900 Volunteer Landing Lane between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
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Please email any suggestions or comments concerning KAT to us.
Page updated 03.25.10