CATS knows how important it is for students to experience lessons outside the classroom. That's why Wheels for Learning is your school's pass to get out of the classroom and into the community for a "hands on" learning experience.

Give your students the opportunity to experience first hand how their current studies are applied in real-life situations. That's what Wheels for Learning is all about. The best part is that it's totally FREE! We'll take you anywhere our existing transit routes go, including the LYNX Blue Line.  So, your opportunities are virtually limitless!

The program is simple…here's how it works:

Select any destination (on an existing transit route) that coincides with your current classroom studies. Some suggestions:

• Federal Reserve Bank                             
• Museum of the New South
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Dept.     
• Mint Museum of Art
• Discovery Place                                         
• Superior Courts
• Main Branch of the Public Library          
• Municipal Courts
• Afro-American Cultural Center               
• Spirit Square              
• Chamber of Commerce                      
• Charlotte/Douglas International Airport

Click here to fill out the Form

Follow these five simple steps and you're on your way:

1. Contact the destination you wish to visit and arrange a tour.

2. Contact CATS via the www.ridetransit.org website or at 704-336-RIDE (7433) to have our staff develop your itinerary. For trips on CATS bus routes, please give us at least two weeks notice. Any teacher requesting a Wheels for Learning trip for their class aboard the LYNX Blue Line must contact CATS at least four weeks in advance of the trip so that an Operation Lifesaver Safety Training class can be scheduled. Any request for travel without Operation Lifesaver Safety Training will be denied.

3. CATS will send FREE passes for your students, chaperones and all teachers, along with pick-up and drop-off times and locations closest to your school.

4. Arrive at the bus stop or light rail station at least seven minutes before the scheduled pick-up time (don't be late).

5. Board the bus or train and enjoy the ride!

The program is simple…here are the guidelines:

1. The program is for students in grades K-12 attending public, private or home schools within Mecklenburg County.  The program is not available to daycares, Head Start, summer camps, after school programs, church groups, or organizations such as Boy Scout, etc.

2. Fields trips must be scheduled during regular school hours when school is in session.  Trips planned during holiday breaks, teacher workdays and summer recess are not permissible.

3. All classes requesting to ride LYNX must receive Operation Lifesaver Safety Training from a certified presenter prior to their scheduled trip. CATS staff will work with the teacher to set up the training.

4. The group must be within walking distance of a bus stop or light rail station. Your pick-up and drop-off locations must be on or near an existing transit route. Most Charlotte-area schools are on existing routes or within walking distance. If your school is not, you must have transportation to and from the stop or light rail station. Large groups requiring more than one bus or train must wait for the next scheduled trip. Special or additional vehicles will not be sent by CATS.

5. All field trips are to be for educational purposes and must consist of an origination and a destination point.  Trips for recreational purposes, such as to the Aquatic Center, YMCA, etc., are not permissible.

6. For auditing purposes, requests for 50 or more attendees will require a roster of attendees.

Now, you are ready to put your wheels in motion and take your lessons to the streets.

For more information, call CATS at 704-336-RIDE.