42 U.S.C. § 12141
Section 12141 · Definitions
This is § 221 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Amended 1 time on record
Applied in 18 court decisions — leading case Frame v. City of Arlington (2011)
Most recently applied in Margda Pierre-Noel v. Bridges Public Charter School (September 2024)
How often courts cite this section
Court decisions citing this, by year.Markers show enactment, consequential amendments, and circuit splits over this section — watch for a citation surge after a change or a disagreement. The dip in the last several years is a data-coverage gap, not a real trend — our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so recent citations are undercounted.
As used in this subpart:
(1) Demand responsive system
The term “demand responsive system” means any system of providing designated public transportation which is not a fixed route system.
(2) Designated public transportation
The term “designated public transportation” means transportation (other than public school transportation) by bus, rail, or any other conveyance (other than transportation by aircraft or intercity or commuter rail transportation (as defined in section 12161 of this title)) that provides the general public with general or special service (including charter service) on a regular and continuing basis.
(3) Fixed route system
The term “fixed route system” means a system of providing designated public transportation on which a vehicle is operated along a prescribed route according to a fixed schedule.
(4) Operates
The term “operates”, as used with respect to a fixed route system or demand responsive system, includes operation of such system by a person under a contractual or other arrangement or relationship with a public entity.
(5) Public school transportation
The term “public school transportation” means transportation by schoolbus vehicles of schoolchildren, personnel, and equipment to and from a public elementary or secondary school and school-related activities.
(6) Secretary
The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Transportation.
Editorial notes U.S. Code · Office of the Law Revision Counsel
Effective Date
Section 231 of Pub. L. 101–336 provided that:
“(a) General Rule.—Except as provided in subsection (b), this part [part I (§§221–231) of subtitle B of title II of Pub. L. 101–336, enacting this subpart] shall become effective 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act [July 26, 1990].
“(b) Exception.—Sections 222, 223 (other than subsection (a)), 224, 225, 227(b), 228(b), and 229 [sections 12142, 12143(b) to (f), 12144, 12145, 12147(b), 12148(b), and 12149 of this title] shall become effective on the date of enactment of this Act.”