GreeneCats vans are clean and about as comfortable...

GreeneCats vans are clean and about as comfortable as the average city bus. Wheelchair ramps and straps to secure wheelchairs are available, but don't count on being able to fit more than two chairs at once in the same van (but there is almost never more than one person in a wheelchair riding at one time).

Unfortunately, the routes run every two hours and don't have good coverage, meaning that if you want to go anywhere, you are likely to spend at least two hours on the bus--more than that if you transfer between buses.

Weekend service used to be nonexistent, but it now exists, although it is still limited. Over the past ten years, GreeneCATS has slowly expanded its service area and routes, and seems to be continuing to do so.

Expect to pay less than $5 per trip per person, less if you are disabled or buy a monthly pass. Drivers are typically friendly and reasonably capable of assisting people with disabilities, since many of the people who ride GreeneCATS are disabled. Be aware that the buses are quite noisy, so if you have a hearing impairment or auditory processing disorder, you will probably be unable to pick up what they are saying and may have to communicate in writing.

You will need to bring exact change, since drivers don't carry change for even a dollar and all money goes straight into the fare box. I recommend getting a roll of quarters for the purpose.

Buses start running very early in the morning, but stop running at 6 p.m. If you are taking a route with a transfer--say, Dayton to Xenia--that can mean that you need to leave your point of origin around 3 p.m. in order to be able to catch the last bus home. Similarly, you may need to board a bus at 5 a.m. to arrive somewhere by 8. You will not be able to make a full 8-hour work shift fit into this schedule unless you are riding a single bus line for a short distance; otherwise, your maximum time window for staying somewhere is around six hours, if you are willing to get up very early.

The sensory environment is moderately problematic. The vans themselves are very noisy because the padding on the wheelchair lifts has worn out and the vans' engines are noisy. The occasional passenger does have poor hygiene; smoking is prohibited, but it is common for people to smoke right outside the bus during transfers. If you eat or drink, don't be obvious about it--the bus driver will see you and tell you to stop. If you are autistic or have sensory processing disorder, be aware that you may be stuck on a noisy van with unwanted smells and possibly unwanted social contact; bring whatever you need to stay sane. Since it is common for people riding GreeneCATS to have developmental disabilities, you probably won't be considered very remarkable even if you have to stim or wrap yourself in a blanket.

Don't expect the buses to stop at every stop. You will need to be at the side of the road, waving at the bus vigorously in order for the driver to see you. I have on two occasions had a bus drive past me even though I was waiting at a designated stop.

On-demand service exists, but it is not particularly reliable. If you want an on-demand ride, you have to call a week in advance; their promotional materials say it can be 24 hours in advance, but the maximum you can be scheduled is a week in advance and they are usually booked solid soon after their phones open that first day. Moreover, you won't be notified whether you are on the schedule until the night before your ride, possibly leaving you without a ride altogether and only a few hours to try to arrange for another one.

If GreeneCATS is the only way you can get around, it's better than nothing. The fares are affordable, ranging from fifty cents to three dollars. GreeneCATS has a monopoly on public transportation cheaper than a taxi, and they are funded by taxpayer money with a government that is often stingy with funding for disabled and poor citizens. They seem to be doing their best with what they have, but the lack of funding means that their buses are inconvenient and require a lot of waiting. Bring a book.