Passenger Safety

Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) is proud to provide reliable, efficient service for our 300,000 daily passengers. Our 2,080 bus and train operators are responsible for taking our customers where they need to go and making sure they arrive safely. We invite you to take a moment to read and familiarize yourself with the information below regarding passenger conduct and safety.
    • Watch your step, especially at night or in wet weather.
    • Take a seat, if possible; always use handrails and handholds.
    • Be ready to exit when you arrive at your stop or station.
    • Keep all parts of your body inside the bus, rail, mover or STS vehicle.
    • To signal the bus operator to stop, just pull the cord, or push the stop button or tape, one block before your stop. Wait for the bus to come to a complete stop. Exit through the rear door whenever possible. Do not walk directly in front of the bus after exiting.

    If you see something suspicious, please call the Miami-Dade Police Department's non-emergency number 305-4-POLICE, or 911 for emergencies.  You can also call the Transit Watch Hotline at 305-375-2700.

    Outside a Transit Vehicle

    • Do not run after a Metrobus, Metrorail, or Metromover vehicle that has just left a bus stop, Metrorail station, or Metromover station in an attempt to stop it.
    • Use the appropriate walkways to get to your bus stop and/or your desired spot on the rail or mover platform.
    • Don't play near Metrobus stops or on the Metrorail or Metromover platform. Pushing and shoving can cause accidents.
    • Wait for the vehicle to stop before approaching.
    • Hold on to your child when a Metrobus, Metrorail, Metromover or STS vehicle approaches.
    • Step away from the vehicle after exiting. Do not walk in front of the bus after exiting.
    • Wait on the sidewalk away from the curb; not in or near the street.
    • If you drop something when exiting, leave it on the ground until the Metrobus, Metrorail, Metromover or STS vehicle has left the stop or station.
  • It is unlawful to board an animal on Transit when

    • The animal/pet is not in a properly enclosed container such as a cage, kennel, or other pet carrier like a bag or a backpack while inside the bus or train.
    • The pet and/or container interferes with the operation of the bus or train.
    • The pet/animal container is not kept out of the aisles and stairwells or steps while aboard Metrobus, Metrorail or Metromover.
    • The size of the container impedes a passenger's safe egress from the vehicle or bus; this excludes service animals (i.e. guide dogs, signal dogs, or other animals individually trained to perform tasks for customers with a disability).
    • The animal does damage or causes a nuisance or inconvenience while using the linear park underneath the Metrorail guideway.
    Bringing Service Animals on Transit
    • Service animals are allowed as long as they do not pose a threat to the safety of others or cause disruption in transit service. 
    • On Metrobus, children should be taken out of baby strollers and carriages. These items must be folded and placed away from the aisles/doors so that they do not become a safety hazard to other passengers. 
    • On Metrorail and Metromover, children can be left inside their baby strollers and carriages, as long as the item does not block the aisle, doors or interfere with the safety of other passengers. 
    • When riding Metrorail, baby strollers and carriages can be placed in the areas designated for bicycles, luggage and other large items. These designated areas are found in every Metrorail car. 
    • Help maintain safety by offering a seat to another passenger who is standing while holding a young child or baby
    • For the safety and comfort of everyone, playing music on any device without earphones, smoking (including electronic cigarettes), eating, drinking and animals (except service animals or those properly restrained) are not permitted on Metrobus, Metrorail, Metromover and STS.
    • Wait for exiting passengers to leave, then board the vehicle.
    • Shoes and shirt must be worn by the passenger at all times.
    • Upon boarding Metrobus, Metrorail, Metromover or STS, please find a seat and relax. Keep your arms, legs and personal items out of the aisles. If you must stand, please move as far to the back of the bus or train as possible. It is not permitted for a passenger to stand or sit in the door stairwells.
    • A passenger is allowed to take up one seat only to allow for other passengers to have an available seat.
    • No Skateboarding at or in Metrorail/Metromover stations, especially in the platform area.
    • Seats in the front of the bus, directly behind the operator and next to the door, are designated for senior citizens and people with disabilities and should be vacated, if requested.
    • Customers with visual impairments might not be able to identify their bus stop or rail station, and will have to ask for their stop to be announced. The passenger may request for the stop announcement to be made at the time that he/she boards the bus or train.
  • Under County Ordinance #30B, the following acts are considered unlawful on any transit vehicle or any part of the transit system.  Individuals violating these ordinances and statutes are subject to arrest.

    Bringing Dangerous Substances Aboard
    • Carrying, transporting or igniting any explosive, fireworks, acid or flammable liquid.
    Creating a Nuisance
    • Impeding or hindering bus or train operators in the performance of their duties.
    • Playing any radio television, cassette player, recorder or other sound-producing device or musical instrument without the use of earphones. These devices and instruments may be played along the linear park underneath the Metrorail guideway only if they are not annoying or a nuisance.
    • Creating a nuisance and using any insulting or obscene language.
    Fare Evasion
    • Failing to pay the fare (FL Statute 812.015(1)(j))
    • Misuse of transfers, passes, tickets or other fare media with the intent to evade fares.
    • Misuse of special fare media (i.e. K-12 EASY Card, Golden Passport, Patriot Passport, Discount Fare, STS EASY Card). 
    • Refusing to pay the established fare, evading payment of fare, or entering through rear doors or emergency exits of any transit vehicle, guideway or facility.
    • Making, possessing, using, offering for sale, bartering/exchanging, passing, or delivering any forged, counterfeit or falsely altered pass, permit, fare card, transfer identification card, certificate or other authorization purporting to be issued by or on behalf of MDT.
    • Altering, abusing, or giving to another person any transfer or other fare medium, unless specifically authorized by the terms stated on the transfer or the other fare medium.
    Improperly Disposing of Trash and Other Items
    • Willfully committing any unsanitary act inside the bus, a Metrorail or Metromover vehicle or any area of a Metrorail or Metromover station. Such acts include disposing of materials, garbage, papers, refuse or other forms of trash, except when they're disposed of in any of the receptacles conveniently located on Metrorail platforms for this purpose.
    • Using a comfort station or restroom, toilet or lavatory facility in an unsanitary manner.
    • Blowing or spreading any bodily discharge on any part of the transit system.
    • Placing any foreign object in the plumbing fixture.
    Vandalizing
    • Littering, vandalizing or defacing transit property.
    • Prohibited activities include, but are not limited to the unauthorized marking of any part of a bus, Metrorail or Metromover vehicle with spray paint and other marking substances, graffiti, the cutting or mutilating of seats on Metrorail trains or buses, and the injuring or destruction of any tree, plant or other vegetation located within the transit system.
    Violating Homeland Security Rules
    • Placing any obstruction or barrier on Metrorail or Metromover guideways, doors or tracks.
    • Making a false report of conduct on, the operation of, or a threat concerning any part of the transit system
    • Illegally operating transit equipment that is not intended for public use, or when it is not necessary in an emergency situation.
    • Taking still, sound or motion picture recordings for commercial, training or educational purposes (exception of news coverage), without prior written authorization by Miami-Dade Transit.
    • Posting any advertisements, literature, signs, handouts, drawings or pictures without written authorization by MDT.
    • Abandoning any vehicle or personal property on any part of the transit system.
    • Entering the train attendant cab of any Metrorail vehicle without authorization.
    • Crossing the yellow safety line while the bus is in motion, or while standing on the Metrorail or Metromover station platform.
    • Passing from one Metrorail car to another through the end door of the car, except in an emergency situation.
    • Trespassing on the transit system or entering any restricted area.
    • Operating any moped or other motorized vehicles within the linear park underneath Metrorail stations and guideways.
    General Violations
    • Eating, drinking or carrying an open container of food or beverage.
    • Smoking (including electronic cigarettes) or spitting inside the bus, a Metrorail or Metromover vehicle or any area of a Metrorail or Metromover station.
    • Gambling, soliciting or carrying on illicit business.
    • Assaulting a transit employee (FL Statute 784.07).