How to Ride

Step-by-step Instructions With Pictures for How to Ride Fixed-route COTA Lines

How to ride photo

Whether this is your first ride with COTA or you’re looking for better ways to plan public transportation trips, this guide will help you navigate Central Ohio like a pro. Plus, if you ever have any questions, you can always ask your Operator. Team COTA’s Operators are highly trained experts who can help you get from A to B.

Let’s get moving!

Determine Your Destination Photo

1. Determine Your Destination

First, decide your starting location, destination and time frame. There are many tools that you can use to automatically plan routes for you, and the only information you need for all of them is where you’re starting, where you’d like to go and when you’d like to arrive.

  • Starting location
  • Destination
  • Ideal arrival time

HOLIDAY HOURS

Planning a trip around a holiday? Please note that on the following holidays, COTA operates according to Sunday Schedules:

  • New Year’s Day
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Juneteenth
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Veterans Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Day

Determine Your Destination Photo

2. Choose Your Trip Planner

COTA customers typically use one of these two trip planning solutions.We recommend learning to use the Transit app because it offers benefits like built-in digital fare payment, Apple Pay, Google Pay and real-time vehicle tracking. That means you can plan, track and pay for your COTA ride all in one place.

  • Transit app | Download the Transit app and follow the prompts to set up your no-cost COTA account. The Transit app has a lot of additional features and benefits, which you can learn about here .
  • COTA Trip Planner | Use the “Trip Planner” button on the homepage of COTA.com or go to ride.COTA.com to use COTA’s built-in trip planner.

Schedule brochures

Schedule brochures and maps are also available to simplify your journey. Learn more here.

3. Which Trip Planner Did You Choose?

Transit App
COTA Trip Planner

Slide 1

3. Input Your Destination

The Transit app is a great choice! Download the Transit app and follow the prompts to set up your no-cost COTA account. Then, use the bright green “Where to?” bar to type in your destination. Let’s pretend that we’re going from COSI to the Columbus Metropolitan Library Main Branch for this example.

Step 1 of 13

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4. Customize Your Ride Details

Tap the pink arrow next to your destination to customize the details of your tip. The top address is where you’re starting and the bottom is where you’re going. Next, use the “Leave now” button to customize your time frame. You can choose to leave immediately by selecting “Leave now,” you can select a specific departure time by selecting “Leave at” or you can select a specific arrival time by choosing “Arrive by.”

For this example, let’s pretend we want to leave around 10 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

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5. Pick Your Route

The Transit app will automatically generate potential routes you can take based on your time frame, origin and destination. The top choice typically involves the least amount of walking. Drag your finger horizontally across the screen to see the different departure times that are available.

For this example, let’s choose Line 10 at the top. Simply tap your preferred route to get moving. Once you select your route, the Transit app will open a map to show you the full route, including your origin and destination transit stops. It will also automatically tell you what time you need to leave your current location to arrive on time.

Step 3 of 13

6. Purchase Your Fare

Tap the “Buy” button at the bottom of the Transit app screen. A pop-up will open within the app, displaying your current available funds and options to add more to your account. With the latest version of the Transit app, you can use Google Pay and Apple Pay.
You can learn more about fares here.

With the Transit app, we automatically cap your fares for the day and the month, which gets you the best price every time you ride. No paper pass needed. Once you have your fare loaded to your Transit app account, you’re ready to get moving.

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7. Proceed to Your Transit Stop

Follow the directions in the Transit app and proceed to your transit stop. We recommend arriving five minutes before your vehicle is scheduled to reach the stop.

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8. Check the Vehicle Headsigns

Keep in mind that multiple COTA lines typically share transit stops. In this example, we chose Line 10 for our route. As vehicles approach your transit stop, check the LED headers, or headsigns, at the top of arriving vehicles and look for the number that corresponds to your route. In this example, let’s look for Line 10.

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9. Tap “RIDE NOW”

Once your vehicle arrives and you’ve confirmed the line number, tap “RIDE NOW” in the Transit app. This will generate your COTA fare. The QR code that appears is your COTA fare.

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10. Board at the Front and Pay Your Fare

When your vehicle arrives, board using the door at the front. To pay your fare, scan your QR code on the validator located directly to the right once you step inside.

A green checkmark will appear, indicating that your fare was paid successfully.

The Operator does not automatically stop at every transit stop, so be sure to request that they stop at your final destination. If you’re unsure about your stop, you can always ask an Operator for directions or assistance.

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11. Find a Comfortable Seat

Proceed through the vehicle and find a comfortable seat to enjoy the ride!

Quick Tip

There are a few seats near the front of the vehicle that are designated for people who have disabilities.

Step 9 of 13

12. Track Your Trip

Once you’re seated, take a look at the Transit app to track your ride. When you use the “GO” feature, the Transit app will automatically remind you when to get off the vehicle.

Quick Tip

Listen to the on-board announcements or read the LED display at the front of the vehicle to keep track of upcoming transit stops. You can also connect to COTA’s complimentary Wi-Fi during your journey.

Step 10 of 13

13. Request to Stop

When your final transit stop is next, pull the yellow cord to request that the Operator stop.

Quick Tip

The Operator does not automatically stop at every transit stop, so be sure to request that they stop at your final destination. If you’re unsure about your stop, you can always ask an Operator for directions or assistance.

Step 11 of 13

14. Deboard From the Rear Door

Once you arrive at your final transit stop, deboard from the rear of the bus if you are able. Those who require a ramp or assistance are welcome to exit from the front. Be sure to exit the vehicle with caution.

Quick Tip

If the rear door does not automatically open at your stop, apply light pressure and push to open the rear door.

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15. Proceed to Your Final Destination

Follow the directions in the Transit app to proceed to your final destination. Great job!

Quick Tip

If you’re transferring to a new line, use your Transit app QR code to board your next vehicle.

Step 13 of 13

Slide 1

3. Input Your Destination

Tap the “Trip Planner” button on COTA’s homepage or go to ride.COTA.com and enter your starting location, destination and time frame.

COTA’s Trip Planner will automatically generate a suggested route for your trip. At this point, you can copy a link to your trip or print the details for quick reference during your journey.

Step 1 of 10

Slide 2

4. Prepare Your Fare

The easiest way to pay your fare is via the Transit app . You can also purchase a paper pass from COTA’s Customer Experience Center (33 N. High St.) or participating retailers .

COTA’s fixed-route vehicles also currently accept cash fare.

Quick Tip

If you choose to pay in cash, have your payment ready and always bring exact change. COTA Operators cannot make change on the vehicle.

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Slide 3

5. Proceed to Your Transit Stop

Follow the directions provided by COTA’s Trip Planner to proceed to your transit stop. We recommend arriving five minutes before your vehicle is scheduled to reach the stop.

Step 3 of 10

Slide 4

6. Check the Vehicle Headsigns

Keep in mind that multiple COTA lines typically share transit stops. In this example, we chose Line 10 for our route. As vehicles approach your transit stop, check the LED headers, or headsigns, at the top of arriving vehicles and look for the number that corresponds to your route. In this example, let’s look for Line 10.

Quick Tip

​​You might need to wait for the header to rotate a few times before displaying its destination or path.

Step 4 of 10

Slide 5

7. Board at the Front and Pay Your Fare

When your vehicle arrives, board using the door at the front. To pay your fare, scan your paper pass on the farebox located directly in front of you as you step on the vehicle. This is also where you can input cash fare.

The Operator does not automatically stop at every transit stop, so be sure to request that they stop at your final destination. If you’re unsure about your stop, you can always ask an Operator for directions or assistance.

Step 5 of 10

Slide 6

8. Find a Comfortable Seat

Proceed through the vehicle and find a comfortable seat to enjoy the ride!

Quick Tip

There are a few seats near the front of the vehicle that are designated for people who have disabilities.

Step 6 of 10

Slide 7

9. Track Your Trip

Once you’re seated, reference your route details provided by COTA’s Trip Planner and ensure you know your final transit stop.

The Operator does not automatically stop at every transit stop, so be sure to request that they stop at your final destination. If you’re unsure about your stop, you can always ask an Operator for directions or assistance.

Quick Tip

Listen to the on-board announcements or read the LED display at the front of the vehicle to keep track of upcoming transit stops. You can also connect to COTA’s complimentary Wi-Fi during your journey.

Step 7 of 10

Slide 8

10. Request to Stop

When your final transit stop is next, pull the yellow cord to request that the Operator stop.

Quick Tip

The Operator does not automatically stop at every transit stop, so be sure to request that they stop at your final destination.

Step 8 of 10

Slide 9

11. Deboard From the Rear Door

Once you arrive at your final transit stop, deboard from the rear of the bus if you are able. Those who require a ramp or assistance are welcome to exit from the front. Be sure to exit the vehicle with caution.

Quick Tip

If the rear door does not automatically open at your stop, apply light pressure and push to open the rear door.

Step 9 of 10

Slide 10

12. Proceed to Your Final Destination

Follow the directions generated by COTA’s Trip Planner to proceed to your final destination. Great job!

Step 10 of 10

Get the Latest Information on Your Ride

Looking for the most up-to-date information to plan your next move? There are three ways to get these details.

Transit app

The Transit app tracks our vehicles in real time with the help of the GO feature.

Transit stop signs

Your transit stop sign has a unique ID listed at the top. You can text this stop # to 95292 to receive information about upcoming vehicles to that stop.

Customer Care

Our Customer Care Team is ready to help you get to your destination. Call them at 614-228-1776 for assistance during their hours of operation.

Park and ride

Park and Ride


Sit back and enjoy the ride

Park and Ride Brochure
Free parking is available at COTA Park & Rides conveniently located throughout Central Ohio. For more information about Park & Rides or to report a safety hazard or other issue, please contact Customer Service.

Bike and ride

BIKE AND RIDE

Combine cycling with bus travel for greater flexibility and range. All COTA buses are equipped with easy-to-use front-mounted bike racks that accommodate two bicycles at no additional cost. Learn how to safely load and unload your bike, check size requirements and find answers to frequently asked questions about bringing your bike along for the ride.

Visit our Bike and Ride page for more details.