How it works
Made for you
How to use it
Opt-in Form
How to ride
FAQ
Options is a rider's choice program that introduces same-day transportation options for eligible Dial-A-Ride customers. The program uses third-party services to offer a flexible addition to your transportation toolkit.
Participating in the program is optional and will not take the place of normal services. There will be no change of service for subscription trips, DAR Online, or other trips scheduled in advance.
Program Benefits:
- Request rides using your own account.
- Same-day service options with shorter wait times.
- More flexibility, choice and control for your transportation.
- Perfect for last minute trips or unexpected changes.
Requirements:
- Current Dial-A-Ride customer.
- Opt-in form and agreement with StarMetro.
- Readiness to provide feedback about the program.
How the program works
After opting in, approved Dial-A-Ride customers can request discounted rides anywhere in Leon County using familiar "rideshare" apps, which offer:
- Same-day service options
- Shorter wait times
- Fast and flexible rides
- Direct curb-to-curb service
No smartphone? No worries! Options participants can also request a same-day trip by calling customer service, giving everyone an easy way to handle last minute travel needs.
Throughout the pilot, participants will be asked to provide feedback about the program and services received. Customers can provide feedback at any time by emailing Options@Talgov.com or calling customer service at 850-891-5199.
Options Compared to Dial-A-Ride
| |
|
|
| Availability |
Mon-Sat 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.* |
Mon – Fri 4 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Saturdays 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. |
| Same-Day |
Yes |
No |
| Vendor Choice |
Yes |
No |
| Subscriptions |
Individual Trips Only |
Available |
| Accessible Vehicles |
Limited |
Available |
| Driver Assistance |
Curb-to-Curb |
Door-to-Door |
| Customer Fare |
Starts at $2.50 |
$2.50 |
| Tips |
Allowed but not included |
Not Allowed |
*Options uses Call Center hours so that customer service and same-day services are equally available to all participants.
Options was made for you!
Options is perfect for current Dial-A-Ride customers who:
- Have been in good standing with StarMetro for the last 3-6 months.
- Do not require driver assistance (curbside pickup/drop off only).
- Are comfortable using smartphone apps and making digital payments.
Customers with unconditional eligibility or temporary eligibility are both welcome to participate. When you opt in, staff will review your trip history and eligibility status to determine if you are a good fit for this program.
Options participants are not identified as paratransit customers to third-party employees and drivers. They generally expect riders to identify, board and exit the vehicle without assistance.
Therefore, third-party services may not be suitable for customers that need driver assistance or other accommodations when riding alone.
Options participants without digital access can call StarMetro at 850-891-5199 to request a same-day trip on Yellow Cab or discuss scheduling options.
Does Options sound like a good fit for your needs?
Request to participate!
Opt-In Forms can take up to 21 days to process. If you require the Opt-In Form in a different format, please email Options@Talgov.com or call 850-891-5199.
Requirements:
- Current Dial-A-Ride customer.
- Opt-in form and agreement with StarMetro.
- Readiness to provide feedback about the program.
Responsibilities:
- The No-Show Policy and Code of Conduct apply to all Dial-A-Ride programs.
- Customers who violate program terms or establish a pattern of late cancellations and no-shows may be removed from the Options Pilot Program.
- While Dial-A-Ride does not charge cancellation or no-show fees, third-party companies may have fees associated with misuse of their services.
How to use Options
Mix and match services
Appointments are often scheduled weeks or months in advance, but shopping trips, impromptu errands, and last-minute work shifts all require flexibility. Options gives Dial-A-Ride customers the tools to tackle every day's challenges.
Consider which option is the best fit for each trip!
How to ride and pay
Participating customers are able to request same-day rides after their Opt-In Form is approved.
Three easy ways to ride
- Customers can download the third-party app of their choice using a smartphone, then create or log into an account to request rides.
- Customers without smartphones can create an account with a third-party service and request rides online, but may not be able to track rides or get notifications.
- Customers without digital access can call StarMetro at 850-891-5199 to request a same-day trip on Yellow Cab or discuss scheduling options.
After completing an Opt-In Form and receiving confirmation from StarMetro, customers will be able to request rides through Lyft and Uber using either their website or mobile app.
A valid email address, phone number, payment method and password are required to create an account. The information used to make the account must be the same information provided on the Opt-In Form for program vouchers to be applied.
Participating customers are expected to read all terms and conditions carefully. Customers must accept the terms and conditions when making an account with any third-party service and will be responsible for abiding by those terms.
After completing an Opt-In Form and receiving confirmation from StarMetro, customers will be able to use their Lyft or Uber account to request discounted rides. Instructions on how to get started is available on their respective websites.
Program vouchers should activate automatically, but the discount will only be available during program hours. If you receive confirmation from StarMetro that you are participating in Options but are not able to request discounted rides, please email options@talgov.com or call 850-891-5199.
Customers may see similar vouchers applied to their account, labelled with code letters A, B, or C. This is for internal tracking purposes and will not impact individual customers in any way.
Call StarMetro at 850-891-5199 to request a same-day trip on Yellow Cab or discuss scheduling options. Customer Service is not able to request rides with Lyft or Uber on a customer's behalf.
How much is the fare?
The fare on Yellow Cab and Dial-A-Ride is always $2.50 regardless of whether the customer is using Options or scheduling in advance.
The following only applies when customers request rides on a third-party app or website as an Options participant.
- Customers are responsible for a $2.50 copay.
- After that, StarMetro covers up to $16.08 of the trip cost.
- Any remaining fare must be covered by the customer.
Periods of high demand or requesting unusually long rides may result in a higher fare. The Options Program does not cover premium or luxury vehicles.
Customers will always know the fare before a ride is offered to drivers. Confirming a ride serves as agreement of payment. No additional discounts are applied after confirming a ride and StarMetro is not able to refund any third-party payments.
| Ride Length |
StarMetro Covers |
Customer Fare |
| Short ride ($12.59) |
$10.09 |
$2.50 |
| Long ride ($20.91) |
$16.08 |
$2.50 + $2.33 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Options participants can travel anywhere in Leon County. Rides that begin or end outside of the county limits will not be eligible.
Most of the time, a driver will be available for pickup within 15 minutes. However, during peak times or seasonal activity, the wait for an available driver may be longer. Please plan accordingly.
Quick delivery
Jose has just had dinner and is relaxing at home listening to the radio when he gets a call from his son-in-law. Jose's daughter went into labor that afternoon with his first grandchild!
Jose is legally blind and cannot drive, so he opens his Lyft app and uses the accessible interface to request a ride to the hospital's address.
The app tells him the ride would normally cost about $21, but since he's an Options participant, his ride is discounted to $4.92. The fare is a higher than usual since it's rush hour and the hospital is across town.
Jose decides it's worth it and confirms his ride request.
He goes outside to wait and hears a vehicle arrive about 10 minutes later. To be safe, he makes sure the driver's name matches the assigned driver in the Lyft app before he gets into the car.
Allen drives to the hospital and goes the extra mile by locating the maternity ward where Jose's son-in-law is waiting for him. Jose thanks Allen and gives him a great review and a small tip through the Lyft app before joining the rest of the family. It's time to welcome his grandson into the world!
- Lyft: $2.50 + $2.42 + $2.00
- Total cost for transportation: $6.92
Customers with a variety of accessibility needs are welcome to participate in Options. Options provides an exciting opportunity for our customers to show the private market that there is demand for wheelchair-accessible services.
All customers can continue to use Dial-A-Ride to book trips in advance on vehicles that meet ADA requirements. When unable to schedule in advance, please call customer service to request a same-day trip on a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
Learn more about ADA Requirements.
Options uses Call Center hours so that customer service and same-day services are equally available to all participants. Transportation outside of these hours can still be scheduled in advance.
View Call Center hours.
Errands before dinner
Due to her medical condition, Cindy gets tired easily and lives too far from a bus stop to use the fixed route on a regular basis, but she likes to use the bus when in town since it's only $0.60 fare. Being an Options participant gives her the confidence to use the fixed route and be spontaneous, since she always has a quick way to get home.
She's ordered a new prescription this morning and would like to pick it up this afternoon before joining her friend Linda for dinner. They choose a restaurant that shares a bus route with Cindy's pharmacy.
After she gets the phone call that her prescription is ready, she uses her Uber app to request a ride, setting the pharmacy as her destination. She gets her medicine quickly, and then waits for the bus at a nearby bus stop, knowing it arrives every 30 minutes.
The bus drops Cindy off near the restaurant for her dinner with Linda. After their dinner, Cindy is getting tired, so she places a ride request with Uber to take her straight home.
- Uber: $2.50 + $2.50
- Bus: $0.60
- Total cost for transportation: $5.60
Lyft and Uber are not able to accept in-person payments.
Customers are required to select a method of payment when creating a Lyft or Uber account. The fare will be automatically charged to the chosen method of payment, such as a credit card, bank account, prepaid debit card, or online payment type such as PayPal.
Yellow Cab, Big Bend Transit and Dial-A-Ride drivers will continue to accept cash fares and Dial-A-Ride tokens.
No. There will be no change of service to subscription trips or DAR Online, but participants are welcome to continue using these tools for advance scheduling.
Scary symptoms, easy switch
Alfred wakes up with unusual pain and needs to see a doctor to get it checked out. He normally takes Dial-A-Ride with a subscription trip that takes him to and from work every weekday.
He calls StarMetro customer service to cancel his trips for that day. He doesn't have an account with Lyft or Uber. However, he is participating in Options, so he's able to ask for a taxi to Urgent Care instead.
The nearest Urgent Care is not far away. The representative reserves a taxi on Alfred's behalf and tells him the driver will be there in approximately 10 minutes. He can give the Yellow Cab driver a token or $2.50 in cash like he usually does on his subscription trip.
She lets him know he can call back later to get a trip home if he needs one, but he reassures her that his son wants to meet him there and will be able to take him home.
In just a few minutes, Alfred is on his way to Urgent Care.
- Yellow Cab: $2.50
- Ride home with son: $0.00
- Total cost for transportation: $2.50
Please report any accidents or incidents to StarMetro as soon as possible for recording purposes.
If you have a question, concern or request related to a ride requested through an app, please use the app's help center for resolution. Lyft or Uber customer service is also available on their respective websites.
StarMetro cannot access individual accounts, facilitate communication, or assist with customer service issues related to third-party services. Third-party employees and drivers do not represent the City of Tallahassee.
Throughout the pilot, participants will be asked to provide feedback about the program and services received. Customers can provide feedback at any time by emailing Options@Talgov.com or calling customer service at 850-891-5199.
Customers will still have access to Dial-A-Ride services throughout the program and can opt out at any time. Please take a short exit survey to end your participation or call 850-891-5199.