Transportation Accommodations and Information
Transportation assistance is available through SDS to students with temporary or permanent mobility impairments. The accommodations available include free bus passes, the approval of accessible ("handicapped") parking permits, which are then purchased by the student from Commuter and Parking Services, or the use of CULift, the Cornell paratransit service that provides scheduled on-campus rides for classes and extra-curricular activities. For policies and procedures regarding transportation services, please visit Procedures for Transportation Accommodations.
Bus Passes
CULift
Accessible Parking
Other Transportation Resources
Bus Passes
For most students with mobility disabilities, bus passes provide enough flexibility for getting around campus. Sds will provide short-term or long- passes at no charge to the student. These passes allow students to take TCAT buses anywhere on campus, as well as throughout the Ithaca area, seven days a week.
Accessible Parking
Students who live off campus and have cars may find accessible parking an appropriate option. Students must register with SDS and provide disability documentation to SDS.
CULift
The CULift is an on-campus transportation service available to students with mobility disabilities, whether permanent or temporary. Student Disability Services works in conjunction with Red Runner Courier Service to offer the CULift service free of charge to students who need rides from their on or near campus housing to campus buildings and peripheral parking lots. CULift rides may supplement the use of the TCAT bus system.
The CULift operates from 7:45 AM to 9:30 PM, Monday through Friday when classes are in session (7:35 AM to 4 PM in summer). Students using the CULift service must be familiar with and adhere to the guidelines of the program. Due to the large volume of use, all additions to a student's ride schedule must be made by 10 AM the day before the requested ride. The CULift guidelines can be found at: http://sds.cornell.edu/Forms/CuLift_Guidelines.pdf
Understanding that broken legs, sprained ankles and other similar injuries are unplanned, and students often need rides immediately, SDS will make every effort to provide same-day and/or next-day initial rides for new students registering with CULift.
In order to determine the appropriate transportation services and to address any other access issues, students must meet with the Transportation Coordinator. SDS will arrange a CULift ride to the Computer & Communications Center building for students registering for transportation accommodations.
Once approved for CULift, students are expected to use the on-line ride scheduling system for requesting rides: http://sds.cornell.edu/culift This site requires Kerberos authentication and can only be used by approved students.
Other Transportation Resources
Gadabout
Students who live off campus and/or need to travel to off-campus locations (e.g., doctor or physical therapy) and are prevented from using fixed-route buses because of a disabling condition, Gadabout, TCAT's ADA Paratransit service, may be an option. Gadabout is a curb-to-curb, demand-responsive public transportation service. Approval and scheduling of rides is coordinated through TCAT. Call the ADA Paratransit coordinator at TCAT (607-277-9388, extension 450). Fees charged depend upon points of travel. For more information, see: http://www.tcatbus.com/adaparatransit.php
TCAT
TCAT is the Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit system. Information and schedules can be found at: http://www.tcatbus.com
Taxi Services
All taxi companies in Ithaca can be reached by calling Ithaca Dispatch at 607-277-7777 or toll free at 1-888-321-1149.
Gannett has arrangements with Ithaca taxi companies to allow students to charge to their bursar bills the fare for a ride to Gannett or other health care facility (e.g., a doctor's office, the Convenient Care Center or Cayuga Medical Center). Just tell the driver you are going for health care services and show your student ID.
City of Ithaca Accessible Parking Permit Information
The City Clerk's Office, located at 108 Green Street, issues New York State Parking Permits for People with Disabilities to City of Ithaca residents under the regulations of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. These permits are not valid on the Cornell Campus without an additional Cornell accessible parking permit.
To obtain a New York State permit you must complete Part I of the permit application and have your Medical Doctor, Doctor of Osteopathy, or Doctor of Podiatry Medicine either complete Part II, the medical certification, or provide you with a note detailing the nature of your disability, and whether it is a temporary or permanent disability. If your disability is temporary the doctor should also state how long you will need the permit. The application can be found at: http://www.nysdmv.com/forms/mv6641-mv6643.pdf