“Get a FAX” isn’t necessarily a business term in a certain California town, for it applies to the bus public transportation there which is known as the Fresno Area Express. The Fresno Area Express in California is called “The FAX” for short in referring to this public transportation method by bus. Here’s more on the FAX, or Fresno Area Express, which serves thousands of folks in California for their bus public transportation needs, using more than 100 buses that are equipped with wheelchair lifts.
The Routes
People using public transportation in Fresno, California need to be at the designated bus stops, and should, if possible, stand and wave at the drivers so they’ll know that you want to get on a particular bus. To get off, you should pull on the cord at least a block in advance, and depart from the rear unless you need to get your bicycle from the bike rack from the front bumper of the bus. The bus service of the Fresno Area Express runs all year round, though on holidays, there is reduced public transportation available, especially on holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The general hours run from 5:30 in the morning until 10 at night during weekdays and on weekends, this public transportation system operates from 6:30 in the morning until 7 in the evening.
The bus routes of the FAX serve the Fresno, California area (which includes the city of Clovis) via 26 routes currently. The bus routes aren’t numbered in pure chronological order, for the Fresno routes currently begin at Route 4, running through Route 58E and are affiliated with five routes serving Clovis that range in route numbers from 10-70 (which are more specifically known as the Stageline bus routes). For more information on specific routes serving these communities, go here:
This website link is helpful for bus riders, because it tells people which route needs to be taken for specific places of business and interest:
Like virtually all bus lines that serve communities, you’re expected to have exact change, but in the case of Fresno’s public transportation system known as the FAX, you can’t use dollar bills for paying your one-way fare.
General Fare: $1.00 (though Route 4 is free since it’s the Downtown Trolley)
Tokens: 85 cents (got at the FAX office on 2016 Tulare St. and at the Manchester Transit Center which is at the intersection of Blackstone and Dayton)
Seniors who are 62-64, Disabled Folks, on Medicare: 35 cents (though Seniors in this age get free rides on Sundays)
Seniors 65 and older as well as 1-4 Kids who haven’t reached their sixth birthday per family member that pays: Free
Book of 5 Tickets: $4.25
Book of 10 Tickets: $8.50
(Both of these gotten at the same place in Fresno, California as the above tokens)
FAX Unlimited Monthly Riding Passes
Metro Pass (good for all the Fresno and the Clovis, California Stageline routes): $40
Convenience: $35.00
Convenience Pass bought on the 15th of the month and after: $17.50
For Seniors who are 62-64: $10.00
For Seniors who are 65 and older: Free
Special Riders who are Disabled: $10.00
Fresno Area Express passes can be purchased all over town, including Fresno State University and at the various Money Mart locales. Transfers are free, but only apply for an hour on routes that intersect. Those who want discounted rates need to have proper identification!
FAX Intangibles
This California city does have sensitivity to those who want to use bus public transportation while using their bicycles, too, because the buses have bike racks for storage, but make sure you take off any attachments of the bike that are prone to come loose like water bottles. Bus riders in general need to make sure that they exercise proper decorum while using the FAX of Fresno, California such as not smoking, eating, nor drinking, and only bringing animals like dogs or cats in carriers (save for service animals for disabled folks).
The Fresno Area Express Handy Ride Paratransit Service
Those who can’t use the regular bus routes (including non-locals who are ADA-certified) may qualify for the paratransit service in Fresno, California, which has been tuned to the needs of the disenfranchised since the mid 1970’s. The Handy Ride operates the same hours as the FAX, and accepts reservations every day of the week, too, from 8 in the morning until 5 o’clock in the late afternoon by calling 559-443-5650 or for those needing TTY 559-443-5662, which is also used to get a hold of dispatch and to cancel rides! Ride cancellations can be done from half past five in the morning until 10 in the evening on weekdays and from half past six in the morning until 7 at night on Saturdays and Sundays, and should be done at least 2 hours before the pick-up time to save being deemed a “No Show”, for repeated “No Showing” means losing privileges, especially if it’s done thrice over a quarter of a year’s time.
Those who go to the same places and back over and over on this FAX service can use a subscription service, saving time in making reservations, but those who cancel more than half their bookings during the month are subject to suspension of services. For medical purposes, “Will Call” rides are available within 1.5 hours of a request.
Unlike many other paratransit services, the FAX Handy Ride bus drivers use a 35 minute window rather than a half hour window (where15 minutes before/after a scheduled pick up is considered “on time”), but they are similar in that they will only wait 5 minutes for the passenger before it’s considered a “No Show”.
Locals need to fill out an application then be given a functional-ability assessment to determine if they can use Fresno Area Express Handy Ride, and re-certification is required to be done at least three weeks before the expiration of current certification.
Just like the regular routes, exact change is required and shared rides with other people should be expected, but the fee is very reasonable for the curb-to-curb service, which is only 75 cents for the disabled rider and his/her companion, though Personal Care Attendants and kid lots (those under six years of age) of 1-4 ride gratis. The service area isn’t as big as the fixed-route system, and the Handy Ride Guide link below describes the paratransit boundaries in more detail.
But those using the FAX Handy Ride public transportation option need to make sure they call by 9 in the evening to schedule a Will-Call pick-up on weekdays and 6 p.m. on weekends, for last pick-ups are at 10 p.m. (weekdays) and 7 p.m. (weekends), respectively.
Fresno Area Express Handy Ride monthly passes are subject to ADA eligibility requirements, and cost $25.00 each. They can be bought at several locations including the Manchester Transit Center at 3950 N. Blackstone Ave. as well as Fresno State University. These public transportation passes can also be bought via post, too.
For complete information on this valuable service, you can download the booklet on Handy Ride here:
Contact the Fresno Area Express (FAX): 3590 N. Blackstone Ave., Fresno, California 93706 (which is the Manchester Transit Center). Phone: 559-621-RIDE (includes help for Lost and Found). The Handy Ride information number for paratransit riders is 559-621-5802 and 559-228-6280 for TTY users. Website in the “Resources” box.
Routes and fares for this public transportation system in Fresno, California are subject to change.
