RideAssist Non-Emergency Medical Transportation

Colgate RideAssist is a non-emergency medical transportation service for authorized students and employees requiring assistance due to a qualifying temporary or chronic medical condition. 

Prior approval is required and transportation is limited to the authorized individual only.* The service is restricted to getting authorized users to and from essential functions in the immediate vicinity of the Colgate campus:

  • Academic activities
  • Medical appointments
  • Rehabilitation sessions
  • Athletic commitments

RideAssist is not intended to be an authorized user’s primary means of transportation and does not transport students to and from social or recreational activities. Due to demands on the service, transports are also generally not available to:

  • Medical appointments outside the Town of Hamilton
  • Pharmacies 
  • Student employment
  • Dentist or orthodontic appointments (allowable for a dental emergency)
  • Psychiatric services 
  • Chiropractic appointments

For all other transportation needs, please utilize other available transportation services, such as the free Colgate Shuttle service around campus and into Hamilton. 

*In limited circumstances, authorizing campus providers may approve a transportation companion due to mobility considerations based on the nature of the temporary or chronic medical condition, and to assist the qualifying rider. We regret that roommates, housemates, classmates, family, friends, and non-affiliates of the University cannot be transported. Violations may result in the loss of the approved service.

Using RideAssist

Step 1: Obtain Authorization

Please do not contact Campus Safety for Ride Assist approval. While Campus Safety supports the program by providing drivers, their staff are not able to authorize participation in the program. Authorization and arrangements to utilize Ride Assist must come from one of the following campus providers:

Students

Student Disability Services (OSDS) – for students who are working directly with the OSDS or who have provided the OSDS with supportive documentation related to their needs for individualized travel. Please email our office at osds@colgate.edu for assistance.   

Student Health Services (SHS) – for students with a medical condition under the care of SHS or who have provided SHS with written documentation from a private physician. Call 315-228-7750 to schedule an appointment to speak with a provider.

Athletic Trainer – for injured varsity student athletes. Discuss your need for these services with your athletic trainer.

For program authorization, students must complete and sign a Ride Assist Authorization Form and Service Agreement. The time frame for processing authorization is determined according to need.  

Employees

Human Resources – All employee (faculty and staff) accommodations must be initiated with this office.   
 

Step 2: Request Ride

Once approved, contact Campus Safety (Dispatch) at 315-228-7333 to request Ride Assist transportation. Rides must be requested on an individual basis at the time of need and cannot be scheduled in advance. 

  • Riders should call 15 minutes before the needed pick-up time (20 minutes for a wheelchair-accessible van) to account for possible delays due to weather, traffic, ride demand, peak class periods, and competing calls for service, including campus emergency conditions (which take priority).
  • If a wheelchair-accessible van is needed, riders must notify the dispatcher at the time of the request.

Every attempt will be made to meet all Ride Assist requests at the time of the call.  

Step 3: Receive Service

Immediately after placing a Ride Assist call, the rider should wait in a visible location at the agreed upon pick-up point. Failure to be at that location at the time of the call may result in delayed transport or the need to call back and reschedule.

Renewing Services

All service extensions must be approved by the office that initiated the service (Student Disability Services, Student Health Services, Athletic Trainers, or Human Resources). Renewal is not automatic; authorization is assessed on an ongoing basis, based on need, and as determined by the office granting authorization.  
 

Vehicles and Accessibility

Campus Safety uses wheelchair-accessible vans, mini-vans, 12-passenger vans, and (as needed) patrol vehicles for Ride Assist transportation services.