Code of Conduct

Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority maintains social media accounts to share news and events and engage with the public in a positive and respectful manner. GCRTA may share your comments on its website, newsletter, or other platforms, and may edit them for clarity or length. This Code of Conduct explains the rules for behavior, how to report abuse, and what happens if rules are broken when engaging on GCRTA’s digital platforms.

Behavior Expectations

When interacting on GCRTA’s social media, please:

• Be respectful and courteous.
• Don’t engage in abusive, harassing, or discriminatory behavior.
• Don’t post offensive, illegal, or defamatory content.

Content Not Allowed

GCRTA can remove posts or comments that include:

• Violence, hate speech, or profanity.
• Threats, illegal activity, or spam.
• Private information, off-topic comments, or copyrighted material.
• Political content or endorsements.

Reporting Violations

You can report issues by:

• Messaging GCRTA’s social media account.
• Using the platform’s reporting tools for abuse or harassment.

Consequences

If you break the rules, GCRTA may:

• Issue a warning or remove your post.
• Block or remove you after repeated violations.

Appeals

If you’re blocked, you can appeal in writing within 10 business days. GCRTA will respond within 10 business days.
 

Definition of Terms

Facilities - All property owned, leased, operated, and/or maintained by GCRTA, including, but not limited to, inside and outside areas of GCRTA property.

Public Area - Publicly accessible GCRTA facilities or portions of facilities.

Property - All physical space and equipment owned, leased, operated, and/or maintained by GCRTA, including, but not limited to, bus shelters, train stations, signage, buses, trains, and other vehicles used to provide GCRTA service.

Transit Services - Fixed route bus service, train service, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service, on-demand bus service, and Paratransit service.
 
Prohibited Conduct

1. Loitering is prohibited in GCRTA facilities and vehicles. “Loitering” means unnecessary lingering in GCRTA facilities or vehicles or other locations where it interferes with the intended use of a GCRTA facility or vehicle. Loitering includes, but is not limited to, the following:
   1. Non-Destination Riding – “Non-destination riding” is a violation of the GCRTA Code of Conduct. All passengers must have a destination and must exit the vehicle at the end of the line. Riding with no legitimate transportation destination is prohibited. An All-Day pass allows unlimited rides but does not permit consecutive trips on the same vehicle such as looping or taking turnaround rides. Riders without a destination will be asked to exit the vehicle. Refusal may result in removal and/or citation for criminal trespass.
   2. Entering or remaining in a GCRTA facility or vehicle without a lawful transportation purpose.
   3. Knowingly entering or remaining on or in any GCRTA facility during hours that the facility is closed, as posted.
   4. Sleeping in a GCRTA facility or vehicle when not riding for a transportation destination purpose.
   5. Camping in a GCRTA facility or vehicle.
   6. Storing personal property in a GCRTA facility or vehicle.
   7. Plugging any type of electrical equipment or device into a GCRTA facility outlet.
2. Disorderly Conduct is prohibited in GCRTA facilities and vehicles. Disorderly conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:
   1. Conducting oneself in any manner which may cause or tend to cause annoyance,  alarm or inconvenience to a reasonable person or create a breach of the peace.
   2. Lying down (e.g., on the floor, platform, stairway or landing) in a GCRTA facility.
   3. Blocking the free movement of passengers, GCRTA employees or authorized officials on a GCRTA vehicle or in a GCRTA facility. This includes but is not limited to blocking the aisle or front or rear doors with large objects, such as packages, baggage, or shopping carts.
   4. Fighting, threatening harm to persons or property, and/or engaging in violent or turbulent behavior.
   5. Insulting, taunting, or challenging another person, when likely to provoke a violent response.
   6. Making unreasonable noise or an offensively coarse utterance, gesture, or display or communicating unwarranted and grossly abusive language to any person. This is not intended to prohibit ordinary conversation between people in normal, conversational tones.
   7. Other disorderly or inappropriate conduct which a transit police officer determines to be inconsistent with the intended purpose or safe use of a transit vehicle or transit facility.
3. Additional Prohibited Conduct
   1. Interrupting or impairing the service of public transportation by damaging or tampering with any property.
   2. Using an audio device without the proper use of private earphones or headphones.
   3. Smoking (including cigarettes, cigars, vaping products, or e-cigarettes) on a transit vehicle, in a transit facility, or within twenty (20) feet of any GCRTA vehicle or GCRTA facility entrance.
   4. Eating or drinking without completely sealed lids on any GCRTA vehicle or in any GCRTA facility. (Only operators have permission to do so when vehicles are not in motion.)
   5. Expectorating (spitting) upon a person, facility, or vehicle.
   6. Evading the payment of the known fares of GCRTA.
   7. Altering any GCRTA transfer, pass, ticket, or electronic fare media with the purpose of evading the payment of fares or of defrauding the system.
   8. Writing, defacing, drawing, or otherwise marking on any GCRTA facility or vehicle.
   9. Lying down or otherwise occupying more than one seat on a GCRTA vehicle or in a GCRTA facility when this prevents another passenger from using the seat.
   10. Placing one's foot on a seat on a GCRTA vehicle or in a GCRTA facility.
   11. Throwing any solid object or liquid substance at, within, or from a GCRTA vehicle.
   12. Refusing to provide accurate personal identification to Transit Police.
   13. Bringing an animal on a GCRTA vehicle that is not contained in a pet carrier. The pet carrier must fit on the rider’s lap or under the seat. This provision does not apply to service animals for passengers with disabilities.
   14. Having distracting conversations with operators or otherwise obstructing or interfering with an operator’s safe operation of a vehicle.
   15. Changing a diaper inside a GCRTA vehicle.
   16. Boarding unattended minors. Children five (5) years of age and under must be closely accompanied at all times by an older, responsible individual.
   17. Engaging in the unauthorized solicitation, canvassing, selling, or distributing of any material, or panhandling on GCRTA property.
   18. Activity that could impact safety such as roller-skating, rollerblading, riding scooters, or skateboarding on a transit vehicle or in a transit facility.
   19. Hanging out, reaching out, or putting anything outside of a vehicle window.
   20. Bringing any item of a dangerous nature onto a GCRTA vehicle or GCRTA property including: weapons (such as pistols - except as permitted by Ohio Revised Code section 9.68 - rifles, knives, or swords); flammable liquids; dangerous, toxic, or poisonous substances; vessels containing caustic materials, chemicals, acids, or alkalis; fishing rods which are not broken down or have unsecured or exposed hooks or lures; ski poles (unless secured to skis or protected with tip covers); sheet glass or any other sharp object (fencing foils must be sheathed and left at the front of the vehicle with the operator).
   21. Drinking alcoholic beverages or possessing open containers of alcoholic beverages.
   22. Lighting an incendiary device (e.g., match, lighter, torch).
   23. Indecent exposure.
   24. Use or possession of a controlled substance.
   25. Criminal activity not otherwise listed in this Code of Conduct.
   26. Knowingly failing or refusing to leave a GCRTA vehicle or property upon being notified to do so by the operator, driver, or an authorized agent of GCRTA.
   27. Knowingly entering or remaining in a GCRTA vehicle or facility after having been notified by an authorized individual not to do so.
   28. Boarding, entering, or remaining in a GCRTA vehicle or facility during a period when an individual has been banned from any GCRTA property.

Penalties

• A violation of the GCRTA Code of Conduct may result in immediate removal from GCRTA property and/or suspension or expulsion from GCRTA property, vehicles, and services.
• A violation of the GCRTA Code of Conduct that is also a violation of a local, state, or federal law may be prosecuted in a court proceeding, in addition to any enforcement by, or remedies available to the GCRTA Transit Police Department, such as suspension or expulsion.
• Any refusal to a request by a Transit Police officer or other GCRTA authorized representative to leave GCRTA property or a GCRTA vehicle, or any non-compliance with a suspension or expulsion order, will be considered criminal trespass and may result in further removal or prosecution.
• Individuals suspended or expelled from the transit system will not be entitled to any refund or unused fare media that may expire during the time of their suspension or expulsion.

Suspension/Expulsion Process

NOTE: The process outlined below applies to all GCRTA facilities, property, and transit services except for Paratransit services. The separate suspension and appeal process for Paratransit services can be found in the Paratransit Customer Handbook found at https://www.riderta.com/paratransit.

When a Transit Police officer is called to handle a report of inappropriate conduct on a GCRTA vehicle or on GCRTA property, the Transit Police officer will assess the situation and, where appropriate, remove the individual and issue a notice of suspension/expulsion if the suspension is longer than twenty-four (24) hours. The notice of suspension/expulsion will indicate the reason(s) for the suspension/expulsion, the applicable length of time, and the facilities/services to which the suspension/expulsion applies. The notice of suspension will also advise the individual of their right to appeal the suspension/expulsion.

The Transit Police officer will determine the applicable level of the suspension/expulsion procedure:

• Examples of Level I violations - subject to consequences typically involving a suspension period of between twenty-four (24) hours and seven (7) consecutive days.
  • Non-destination riding.
  • Engaging in unreasonably loud, offensive, or grossly abusive communication, or otherwise disorderly conduct.
  • Engaging in the unauthorized canvassing, selling, soliciting, or distributing of any material.
  • Hanging out, reaching out, throwing, or putting anything outside of a bus window.
• Examples of Level II violations – subject to a typical suspension period of up to thirty (30) consecutive days.
  • Violation of an active suspension.
  • Blocking the free movement of passengers, GCRTA employees, or authorized officials on a GCRTA vehicle or in a GCRTA facility.
  • Drinking an alcoholic beverage or possessing an open container of an alcoholic beverage.
  • Possession of a controlled substance.
• Examples of Level III violations – subject to a suspension period of at least thirty (30) consecutive days and ranging up to and including expulsion.
  • Assault or threat of assault.
  • Stealing or willfully damaging, defacing, or destroying GCRTA property.
  • Lighting an incendiary device.
  • Interrupting or impairing the service of public transportation by damaging or tampering with any GCRTA property.
• In case of an emergency, i.e., any situation in which an individual’s actions present an imminent danger to the life or safety of themselves or others or to GCRTA property, a Transit Police officer may impose an immediate suspension pending review of the situation. In addition to suspension or expulsion, any such conduct in any GCRTA vehicle or facility, including transfer points or bus shelters, will be cause for police intervention, arrest, and/or prosecution.
• Repeated violations of the Code of Conduct by the same individual will result in increased suspension periods up to and including expulsion.

The Transit Police officer will obtain a photo of the suspended/expelled individual so it can be posted for all Transit Police officers, operators, and other authorized GCRTA staff, along with relevant details of the suspension/expulsion.

While suspended, the violator is not permitted to enter any GCRTA vehicle or to be on any GCRTA property. If an individual subject to a suspension or expulsion order enters and/or remains on GCRTA property, the individual may be subject to arrest/citation by Transit Police for trespassing and/or any other related criminal offense(s).

The Transit Police officer may restrict a juvenile to only being allowed to use GCRTA services when accompanied by a responsible adult. In such a case, the juvenile’s parent or guardian must be notified of the restrictions via certified mail.

Any time a violator is removed from or suspended from a GCRTA vehicle or GCRTA property, any fare they may have paid is forfeited and is non-refundable under any circumstances.

GCRTA is committed to providing services that are equitable and accessible to all. Accordingly, GCRTA will administer its Suspension and Expulsion Procedure in a manner that is consistent with all local, state, and federal nondiscrimination laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Suspensions and expulsions involving individuals with disabilities or behavioral health conditions will be reviewed to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

Appeal Process

• Immediate 24-hour suspensions are not subject to appeal.
• Individuals may appeal their suspension/expulsion of greater than 24 hours within ten (10) calendar days of issuance by submitting a signed form/letter to GCRTA’s Deputy General Manager of Operations in writing to:
  Attn: Operations – Suspension Appeals
  1240 West 6th Street
  Cleveland, OH 44113
  or via email at:
  SuspensionAppeals@gcrta.org
• If an appeal is not received within this timeframe, the right to appeal is considered waived and the matter will be permanently closed.
• Once a timely appeal is received, the Deputy General Manager of Operations or designee will reconsider the decision to suspend/expel.
• GCRTA will issue a written determination with the reason that the decision was upheld, modified, or rescinded within fourteen (14) business days of receipt of the appeal.
• The suspension remains in effect pending any appeal, and decision made after the appeal is final.