Why this matters more than it sounds
The most common reason a non-emergency medical ride fails is not traffic. It is that the trip was booked as the wrong mode — a passenger who needs a wheelchair vehicle is assigned a standard car, the driver arrives, and the trip cannot legally or safely go ahead.
The passenger is left at the door, the appointment is missed, and everybody involved is upset. It is entirely avoidable with two minutes of thought at booking.
The modes
Ambulatory (curb-to-curb)
For passengers who can walk to and from the vehicle and sit in a standard passenger seat. The driver collects you at the kerb and drops you at the kerb. Suits people who are steady on their feet and going somewhere with a straightforward entrance.
Ambulatory door-to-door (assisted)
The same vehicle and the same seat, with assistance added: the driver comes to your door, offers a steadying arm, helps you in and out of the vehicle, and walks you to the facility entrance rather than leaving you at the kerb.
This is the right mode for a great many people who think they need a wheelchair vehicle. If you can walk but you are unsteady, slow, or need someone alongside you, this is your mode.
Wheelchair-accessible
A vehicle with a ramp or lift, where you remain in your own wheelchair and the chair is secured with tie-downs. Required if you cannot transfer out of your chair into a passenger seat, or if doing so is unsafe or exhausting.
Stretcher (gurney)
For passengers who must remain lying down for the journey. A different vehicle again, and not the same as an ambulance — stretcher transport is still non-emergency, with no clinical care en route.
Ambulance
Emergency medical transport with clinical staff and equipment. If the situation is an emergency, this is a 911 call, not a booking.
Working out which one applies
Answer these in order.
- Does the passenger need to lie down for the journey? If yes, stretcher transport.
- Can the passenger transfer out of a wheelchair into a normal car seat, safely, without excessive effort? If they use a chair and the answer is no, wheelchair-accessible transport.
- Can the passenger walk to and from the vehicle, with help if needed? If yes, ambulatory — and if they need a steadying arm or help at the door, specify door-to-door.
- Is the passenger likely to need clinical attention during the journey? If yes, this is not non-emergency transport at all.
Two edge cases worth naming. A passenger who uses a wheelchair for distance but can walk a few steps and transfer comfortably is often an ambulatory door-to-door passenger — the chair does not automatically decide the mode. And a passenger who is fine in the morning but exhausted after a procedure may need door-to-door on the return leg even if curb-to-curb was fine on the way out. It is legitimate to book the two legs differently.
Why providers ask, and why you should answer precisely
It is not bureaucracy. A provider is certified by the state for specific modes, and their vehicle record lists exactly what they are equipped to carry. A company certified for ambulatory transport cannot carry a wheelchair passenger who cannot transfer — not "would prefer not to", but cannot, because the vehicle has no securement and the certification does not cover it.
Under-describing mobility needs, usually out of politeness or optimism, is the single most common cause of a failed trip. Describing them precisely is what gets you a ride that works.
Where Mediride fits
Mediride is certified for ambulatory transport only — curb-to-curb and door-to-door assisted. Our Minnesota STS vehicle record states wheelchair: no, stretcher: no, protected: no.
We say that plainly because a vague answer here does real harm. If you use a wheelchair and cannot transfer, or you need a stretcher, we are not your provider. Tell us when you call and we will point you to one who is, rather than taking the booking and failing you on the day.
If you are ambulatory — including if you walk slowly, use a stick or frame, or need an arm to lean on — we cover the Twin Cities seven-county metro: Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Anoka, Washington, Scott and Carver. Call (612) 888-1188.
Frequently asked
I use a walker. Is that ambulatory?
Usually yes. If you can walk to the vehicle with your walker and sit in a normal seat, that is ambulatory — book door-to-door so the driver assists and stows the walker.
I use a wheelchair but I can stand and transfer. Which mode?
Often ambulatory door-to-door, if transferring is safe and comfortable for you. Describe it exactly when booking and let the provider decide — and if there is any doubt, wheelchair transport is the safe answer.
What is the difference between stretcher transport and an ambulance?
Stretcher transport carries you lying down but provides no clinical care en route. An ambulance provides emergency medical care. They are different services with different staffing.
Does the mode change the price?
Yes. Wheelchair and stretcher transport require specialised vehicles and cost more than ambulatory transport, whoever provides them.