Expanding RYDE enables senior mobility and empowerment
Mobility is a gift. But, as with health, it’s one of those things you don’t think much about until you don’t have it. And let’s face it, the older folks get, the more limited their mobility becomes.
The ability to get around is foundational to a thriving society, enabling community members to access opportunities, essential services and social connections. This is especially true for older adults, who need reliable and affordable transportation options that support their mobility and independence.
To meet this need in the West Valley, my office and I helped launch a senior transportation program known as RYDE (Reach Your Destination Easily). RYDE was successfully piloted in Saratoga in 2017 to provide affordable and responsive curb-to-curb transportation for adults over age 64. Thanks to the outstanding work and support of two great nonprofits that operate the program—the Saratoga Area Senior Coordinating Council and West Valley Community Services—seniors in several West Valley cities and parts of San Jose are now able to get to where they need to go more easily.
In fact, the program has enrolled nearly 700 people and provided over 4,000 rides since July 2022.
The program has been so successful that in 2021 it secured dedicated Measure B funding from the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) to facilitate its expansion, and it now serves the communities of Saratoga, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Campbell, Cupertino, Morgan Hill and portions of San Jose, enabling more and more seniors to access RYDE.
The program offers more than just transportation services to seniors; it also connects them to programming and services through specially trained drivers who are knowledgeable about their senior clientele. Designed to work in concert with existing county programs, services and initiatives, RYDE is a unique blend of social services and transportation. It also connects our aging population to critical services. During the pandemic, these services included providing transportation to vaccine appointments and delivering much-needed food and other essential items to older adults sheltering in place.
It’s satisfying to see a pilot project like RYDE prove itself and grow to serve more communities. As our county ages, it’s imperative that we continue to prioritize and invest in programs like RYDE to ensure that older adults can continue to lead active and fulfilling lives. For both their physical and mental well-being, we want these folks up and about, out in the community—seeing their friends, getting to their doctors’ appointments and playing an active role in local affairs.
RYDE has been a tremendous success, but it can’t continue to thrive and grow if it doesn’t have volunteer drivers, which the program largely relies upon. Being a volunteer driver for RYDE is a practical way to help address the transportation challenges seniors face. By offering your time and car, you can help provide a reliable and personalized transportation solution. Whether it’s taking someone to a doctor’s appointment, helping them with grocery shopping or accompanying them to social activities, volunteer drivers empower older residents to live independently and engage fully in their communities. It is through these small yet significant acts that you can make a tangible difference in your neighbors’ lives.
If you need to catch a RYDE, visit www.rydescc.org. But if you can possibly be part of the solution by volunteering as a driver for RYDE, you can make a meaningful impact on the lives of our older residents and contribute to building a more inclusive and supportive community for all.
So, let’s embrace this opportunity and make a difference in the lives of those who paved the way for us. Together, we can create a more compassionate and inclusive community—one that values the contributions of older residents and supports their journey toward a fulfilling and vibrant life.
If you are interested in volunteering as a driver for RYDE, visit https://www.sascc.org/ryde-volunteer-driver-application.