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Alternatives to Thumbing a Ride

Like many people of our vintage, I had to give up driving nearly nine years ago. It was hard!  I knew my vision was fading, and I was taking risks every time I got behind the wheel of my car.

That awful day finally came… I did not see a curb and blew out two brand new tires!  Thankfully, no one was hurt. It was my turning point. I asked myself, “Do you want to live with hurting someone or yourself, or do you want to learn to live without a car?”

The answer was immediately clear. I sure did not want to live with knowing I had hurt anyone or myself!  That’s the day I hung up the keys.

We elders stop driving for many reasons, not just vision. Driving after dark is difficult for many. After the Eaton Fire, many Villagers lost their cars and were temporarily without transportation. Recovering from an injury or surgery, too, can cause an interruption in driving. Whether your situation is temporary or permanent, needing transportation is a common issue that Pasadena Village works very hard at addressing.

The Village has a number of volunteer drivers and is always looking for more. These volunteers may be Villagers themselves or simply community members who want to help others. All drivers are vetted and make themselves available whenever they can to provide rides to our non-driving Villagers for appointments, social gatherings or shopping. Volunteer drivers are some of the most wonderful people I come in contact with. They are often new members I have not met yet or a new face of a community member offering help as a volunteer. I always enjoy those rides and am most appreciative of their time.

While the Village cannot guarantee a ride for each and every situation, their track record is excellent. In situations where there is no volunteer driver available, the Village works with an organization called Butterfli. This is an assisted ride service, meaning they are licensed to assist passengers in and out of the car and also transport their wheelchairs and walkers. Butterfli requires that rides be pre-planned with a pick-up time, as well as a return time. This service has proven to be a great back-up for supporting our non-driving Villagers.

In addition, our FireAid LA grant has made it possible for us to purchase a hybrid Kia Carnival minivan and hire a part-time driver. This will enable the Village to provide group rides to Village events, as well as a third “line of defense” for rides in general. In addition, the van can have the seats removed and/or adjusted to enable the transport of items for events, as well as help Villagers with small items when relocating.

The Village van is a pilot program with great potential. We are hopeful that it will prove to be the wonderful asset we are looking for to address Villagers’ transportation needs.

Staff driver Rick Valladares has been hired for this pilot program, and Pablo Ortiz-Morales and Katie Brandon are also permitted to drive the van. Carpool for events will continue to be arranged by the staff in the same way, with the addition of using the staff driving the van for some events. Through December, we will advertise that we are offering rides for Community Events such as the healing concerts and IT Cafes. 

As if all of this is not enough, in November Pasadena Village is sponsoring a free transportation fair -  OnTheGo Expo  - where you will learn new ways to get around and connect to what you need.

For additional information to help anyone with limited transportation options, you can also visit AgingSGV Transportation resources.

In keeping with the mission of Pasadena Village, there are always new ways we can help members of our community age in place with vitality, engagement and support. I know that transportation options for me are what keep my life whole with socializing, volunteering and the general business of life.

If you are wondering how to give back to your Village or your community and you enjoy driving, this could be the perfect fit for you. Just call the Pasadena Village office and ask for Nathan Wolford or Pablo. They will be pleased to hear from you… and so will our members!