Scheduling Rides With Pirate Access

Before you can begin scheduling Pirate Access Rides, you’ll need to complete an application.

Once you are approved to ride Pirate Access, ECU Transit will reach out to you to set up your initial rides and answer any remaining questions about the service. After initial enrollment, rides can be scheduled by calling 252-ECU-RIDE (328-7433) during business hours and asking to speak with a Pirate Access Scheduler.

Every effort is made to meet the needs of all individuals utilizing the Pirate Access Service. Scheduling is provided on a first-come, first-served basis and the schedule may fill up quickly. Priority is established by the date on which the trip(s) are scheduled.

When requesting your ride, we suggest you provide an appointment time or the time you need to arrive at your destination to ensure you arrive on time. Every effort will be made to accommodate your requested pick-up time, however, demand at certain times of the day may require that you adjust your desired travel time by up to one hour before or one hour after the desired pick-up or drop-off time.

To ensure the best rider experience, trips should be scheduled no later than 5:00 PM on the day before the ride is needed. While same-day requests may be accommodated, when possible, ECU Transit cannot guarantee specific pickup or arrival times for rides scheduled the day of service due to availability and shared-ride scheduling.

Riders are encouraged to download our ECU Ride app, which can help you track your scheduled rides, get timely notifications of vehicle arrival times, or cancel your rides if necessary. Alternatively, riders can call 252-328-7433 to speak with an ECU Transit Staff Member.

Subscription Rides

Subscriptions rides are regularly scheduled trips that occur at the same time each week. For example, you could schedule an 8:15 AM ride from the Main Campus Student Center to the Bate Classroom Building every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the entire semester.

If you choose to do subscription-based scheduling, please be sure to cancel your rides if you do not need them. Subscription rides typically will only be booked through reading day each semester. For exam week, if you already know your exam schedule, you can setup those rides at the time of enrollment.

Schedule Changes and Cancellations

In the event that you need to make a change to your scheduled trip, you should contact Pirate Access at 252-ECU-RIDE (328-7433) as soon as possible. Schedule changes/cancellation of any ride must be phoned in at least 1 hour prior to the scheduled ride by calling Pirate Access at 252-ECU-RIDE (328-7433). Dispatchers will attempt to accommodate any schedule changes by offering the vehicle’s next available time.

Any cancellations phoned in less than an hour of scheduled time could result in the ride being charged as a “no show”, unless extenuating circumstances occur.

Pickup Windows

Once your ride is booked, you will be given a 30-minute pick-up window. The start of this window is the earliest time you should be ready to board. Your van may arrive at any point during this window. To help keep service running on schedule for all riders, be ready to board as soon as the van arrives.

As a courtesy, drivers will wait up to 5 minutes after arriving at your pick-up location. During this time, we may attempt to contact you to confirm your trip. If you have not boarded within 5 minutes, the van must continue to serve other riders, and your trip will be recorded as a no-show.

If you use the ECU Ride app, you can receive real-time arrival notifications and view your upcoming scheduled trips directly on your smartphone.

If you are having trouble getting to your pick-up location or believe you may be running late, please call us at 252-328-7433 as soon as possible. While we cannot guarantee the van can wait beyond the scheduled time, contacting us allows our team to provide guidance and determine the best steps to take to accommodate you and all other Pirate Access Riders.