Accessibility in Madison: transit, parking, services and adaptive recreation

Metro Transit paratransit

Metro's fixed-route buses are accessible. For people who cannot use them because of a disability, Metro runs ADA paratransit, a shared-ride service with hours and service area that closely match the bus system.

Eligibility depends on functional abilities, not on diagnosis, age, income, whether you use a mobility aid or whether you drive, according to Metro. To apply:

1. Fill out the written application, available as a PDF in English, Spanish, Hmong and Chinese, or call Metro to have one mailed.
2. Send it to the Metro Transit Administration Office, 1245 E. Washington Ave., Suite 201.
3. Complete an in-person assessment, which Metro requires.

Metro says it mails a decision within 21 days after the process is complete. Eligibility can be conditional, for example only when there is ice or snow, or temporary.

Visitors can use paratransit for up to 21 days in any 365-day period. Contact Metro before your trip; it accepts another agency's ADA certification. Metro's customer service line is (608) 266-4466, with relay through 711. Dane County's Group Access Service also provides scheduled trips, at (608) 242-6489.

Reduced fares on the bus

Metro's half-price fare is available through a Fast Fare account to seniors 65 and older, people with disabilities, youth, and riders with low incomes. People with disabilities qualify with a Metro reduced-fare disability card or by completing the application form, plus a Medicare card (Metro says ForwardHealth cards are not accepted). As of 2026, Metro lists the half-price single ride at $1.00. See Metro's half-price fare page for caps and current steps.

Disability parking permits

A Wisconsin disability parking permit requires certification by an authorized health care specialist. WisDOT lists qualifying conditions such as being unable to walk 200 feet without stopping to rest, needing a walking aid or another person's help to walk, or using portable oxygen. The application is a paper form (MV2548 for permanent, MV2933 for temporary) mailed to WisDOT's Special Plates Unit.

• Permanent permit (blue): no fee for an original, renewal or replacement, and recertification every four years.
• Temporary permit (red): valid up to six months, $6 as of 2026, and renewable for another six months.
• Disabled parking plates carry the same privileges.
• Visitors: a valid permit from another state can be used in Wisconsin.

Permits are not shareable. For questions, call WisDOT at 608-266-3041.

Parking rules in the city

The City of Madison says a valid state hang tag or plate lets you use reserved accessible spaces and exempts you from time limits and meter payment where the limit is a half hour or longer. These privileges apply only while the person with the disability is in the vehicle. Some city accessible spaces have a posted three-hour limit, and regular fees still apply in city lots and garages, so read the signs.

Take the hang tag down while driving, since hanging it from the mirror can obstruct your view and draw a citation. Don't park in the striped access aisles beside accessible spaces, which people need to load and unload. For city on-street or garage questions, call the Parking Division at 608-266-4761. To report a vehicle blocking an accessible space in a lot, call Parking Enforcement at 608-266-4622. See also our downtown parking guide.

City ADA contacts and accommodations

The City's Disability Rights & Services Program, part of the Department of Civil Rights, coordinates compliance with the ADA and Section 504 and gives information, referrals and informal help with access concerns in work, housing, public places and city services. Call (608) 266-6511.

For a formal ADA grievance about the City, the ADA coordinator contacts you within 15 calendar days and sends a written response within 30 days after your discussion. For discrimination complaints about housing, employment or public accommodations, the Department of Civil Rights, 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Room 100, takes complaints online, in person or at 608-266-4910. Complaints about Metro go through Metro's own process.

For Common Council meetings, you can request a disability-related accommodation, an interpreter or a translation at no cost by calling 608-266-4071 or emailing council@cityofmadison.com. The council page gives no notice period, so ask early. For other city meetings, start with the Civil Rights program.

Access to Independence and the ADRC

Access to Independence, 3810 Milwaukee St., is a disability-led nonprofit serving disabled people of all ages. It offers independent living services, including trainings and home accessibility assessments, and accessibility consulting for businesses and events. See its website for how to get started.

The Aging & Disability Resource Center of Dane County, 2865 N. Sherman Ave., offers information on aging and disability, help applying for public benefits and information about long-term care options. Services are free to all Dane County residents regardless of income or assets. Call 608-240-7400 (toll-free 855-417-6892), Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For older adults, see our senior resources guide.

Library services

The Madison Public Library's Home Service Program brings materials to people who can't visit a library, including those with developmental disabilities. Large print and audiobooks are mailed free to people who are blind or visually impaired, and the library delivers monthly to retirement homes, assisted living and adult day care. Sign up through the program page or call 608-266-6300; accommodations are on the library's Accessibility & Accommodations page.

The state's Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library loans audiobooks, braille books and playback equipment free, with free postage, to Wisconsin residents with a qualifying visual, physical or reading disability certified by a professional. Call (800) 242-8822. More in our libraries guide.

Parks, beaches and adaptive recreation

Our parks guide covers accessible playgrounds, fishing piers and campsites. The city's beach page adds that Bernie's and Vilas beaches have accessible beach mats, and Esther, Tenney and Warner have a paved path and a mat. See also our swimming guide.

MSCR Adapted Recreation is open to anyone with a disability. Programs include chair exercise, yoga, bocce, bowling, pottery, city clubs and a warm-water adapted swim, plus small-group swim lessons for youth. MSCR's Inclusion Services also provide reasonable accommodations in any MSCR program. Call 608-204-3000 (TDD 608-204-3058). Fee assistance is available. See the recreation programs guide.