McHenry County, IL
Home MenuMCRide Dial-A-Ride
What is MCRide?
MCRide Dial-a- Ride is a great way to get around McHenry County. Whether you need transportation for work, school, shopping, medical appointments or just to visit a friend, MCRide provides an affordable and flexible way to travel!
As a dial-a-ride program, MCRide service is a coordinated countywide paratransit service, and vehicles do not travel in a fixed route each day. Riders schedule their trips in advance and the vehicle provides curb-to-curb service from the rider's desired pick-up and drop-off destinations. MCRide is a shared-ride service, so vehicles may make stops for other passengers.
For more detailed program information, check out the MCRide Brochure (.pdf) and Rider’s Guide (.pdf).
Para Información de MCRide: Folleto de MCRide
How Do I Reserve a Trip?
Call 1-800-451-4599 (or use 711 for the Illinois Relay Service) to schedule a ride. Select "McHenry County" from the automated prompt and a live person will help you to schedule a ride. Spanish speaking call takers are available.
Reservation hours are Monday-Friday from 5:30 am to 6:00 pm and Saturday-Sunday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. On the weekends, because of low staff levels, call takers only make same-day reservations. Trips for Saturday, Sunday or Monday can be reserved on the preceding Friday. The Call Center is also open (to take trip reservations) on Holidays from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Seniors and individuals with a disability can reserve their trips up to seven (7) days in advance. The general public (all riders) can reserve their trips 2 days in advance (starting January 1, 2020). If you are using MCRide for both legs of a trip (going and coming), remember to make both trip reservations at the same time!
When Can I Ride?
MCRide operates according to the schedule shown below. Observed Holidays include: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
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5:00 AM - 11:00 PM |
| Holidays | No Service |
MCRide User Testimonials
“It couldn’t have been a better experience – both on the phone and on the bus. The several persons I spoke with on the phone were all most helpful & accommodating…This is a wonderful program all the way around: superior service end superior value!”
--Tom from Huntley, IL
How Much is a Trip?
| Base Fare | First 5 Miles | Each Additional Mile |
| General Public | $4.00 | $0.25 |
| Senior (60+) | $2.00 | $0.25 |
| Individual with a Disability | $2.00 | $0.25 |
*MCRide also accepts MCRide Fare Card vouchers. Government or non-profit agencies may submit an order form to purchase vouchers here
Where Can I Ride?
Additionally, everyone can travel to and from the following point destinations. (A point destination is specific location that would normally be considered outside of the general public service area. However, as a designated point destination, all riders can travel to and from these locations.)
- Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
- Barrington Metra Station
- Randall Oaks Park/Zoo/Golf Course
- The Arboretum
- Advocate Sherman Hospital
- Spring Hill Mall
- Chain O'Lakes State Park
If you have questions about where you are eligible to travel, please contact the McHenry County Division of Transportation at (815) 334-4981 or mcride@mchenrycountyil.gov.
What Else Should I Know?
- Individuals 60 years and older are eligible for the senior fare. A valid date of birth must be provided to the Call Center in order for a rider to be considered a senior.
- Up to two children 7 years or younger can ride free per fare paying adult.
- Transfers will be allowed from Pace fixed bus routes (routes 806, 807, 808, and 550).
- Pace passes and the Ventra app are not accepted on MCRide.
- For riders that need to make the same trips at the same times each week, MCRide offers a limited number of "subscriptions." Subscriptions eliminate the need for contacting the Call Center to book recurring trips.
- To get a subscription for recurring trips, you must first demonstrate the reliability of your travel by riding to the same place at the same time at least twice a week for an extended duration.
- After that, each time you call to make a reservation, ask the Call Center staff if you can be placed on subscription.
- Because there are limited subscriptions for each time slot/hour, it may take a while before one becomes available - especially if you are travelling during peak times.
Questions
- To reserve a trip on MCRide call 1-800-451-4599 or use 711 for the Illinois Relay Service. Reservations can be made Monday-Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Because of low staff levels on the weekends, call takers can only make same-day trip reservations on Saturday and Sunday. Reservations for Saturday, Sunday or Monday trips can be made on Fridays.)
- For questions or comments about this service, call the McHenry County Division of Transportation at 815-334-4981.
- Service compliments and complaints may be submitted through Pace Customer Relations at 800-606-1282 or (TTY) 847-364-5093.
History of MCRide
When MCRide formally began in 2012, local dial-a-ride services were consolidated to form one coordinated program. The program started with three municipalities and quickly added three townships to the service area. Since that time, the program has grown to cover twelve municipalities and eight townships.
MCRide allowed for previously unavailable inter-community trips and provided one consistent set of policies, one phone number, and one transit provider. This made it easier and more efficient for suburban commuters, seniors and persons with disabilities to schedule and use dial-a-ride services in McHenry County.
MCRide has improved access to jobs and schools and has provided greater mobility to all individuals. This program receives a portion of its funding from the Federal Transit Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation through grants administered by the Regional Transportation Authority (Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities).
Title VI Program Notice
No person in the United States shall on the ground of race, color, or national origin be excluded from participation in, denied the benefit of, or subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal Financial assistance. (42 USC 2000d)
MCRide operates without regard to race, color, or national origin, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Any person who believes he or she has been aggrieved by any unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI may file a complaint with MCRide.
Título VI Aviso del Programa
A ninguna persona en los Estados Unidos, por su raza, color de piel o nacionalidad, se le podrá excluir de la participación, negar los beneficios o ser objeto de discriminación en un programa o actividad que recibe asistencia financiera federal. (42 USC 2000d)
MCRide funciona sin tomar en cuenta la raza, color o el origen nacional, de acuerdo con el Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles. Cualquier persona que crea que ha sido perjudicada por alguna práctica discriminatoria ilegal bajo el Título VI puede presentar una queja con MCRide.
The final MCRide Title VI Program can be found here, which includes an explanation of the complaint and appeal process. To file an MCRide Title VI complaint on the grounds of race, color, or national origin please download the following form and follow the instructions (haga clic aquí para español). The appeal form can be accessed here.
Helpful Links
- Pace Suburban Bus Services
- Regional Transportation Authority (RTA)
- Transit Map for Lake-McHenry Counties (RTA)
- Metra (Commuter Rail)
- Ride In Kane
- Ride Lake County