Need help getting around? SDOT announces ‘Ride Now’

People who are 65 and older and/or living with disabilities have a new transportation option this spring, announced today by the city:

SDOT has launched a new pilot program called Ride Now to provide free and discounted rides to transit stations and other nearby destinations that can be difficult to reach by transit only – specifically for older adults (65+) and people with disabilities and their caregivers. The goal of the program is to provide more accessible, convenient, and affordable transportation options for these community members. The pilot program will be active during the months of April and May 2022.

Eligible community members can request six $20 paper or digital vouchers per month to use for rides from Yellow Cab, Uber, or Lyft. Program participants can request these rides when they want them, no reservations required, and have an accessible ride come right to their door. Vouchers will work on trips that start or end within the city of Seattle, and riders can receive higher discounts off trips that connect to transit.

Eligible individuals include:

Older adults: Individuals aged 65 or older.
People with disabilities: Individuals with any type of disability that impacts their ability to access transit, including physical and cognitive disabilities.
Caregivers: Individuals who travel with the above eligible riders.

You can request vouchers at seattle.gov/transportation/RideNow or by calling 206-684-ROAD [7623]. Vouchers will also be available through some community-based non-profit organizations. This pilot program, the result of a grant, is in addition to services offered by other agencies, such as the Hyde Shuttle and other King County programs linked here.

8 Replies to "Need help getting around? SDOT announces 'Ride Now'"

  • 62above April 11, 2022 (3:24 pm)

    Why not 62+ as they are eligible for SS?

    • KT April 11, 2022 (5:23 pm)

      65 is the age for senior riders on Metro.

      • 62above April 11, 2022 (6:16 pm)

        What can’t they lower to 62?

  • onion April 11, 2022 (4:23 pm)

    This sounds like a good program. But how about transit from a bus station (Alaska Junction. for example) to one’s residence? This would be helpful for seniors or handicapped people who attend a concert or other downtown event and return to West Seattle on a Rapid Ride C at night when the spur routes up California don’t run as often.

  • Mj April 11, 2022 (5:28 pm)

    And basic bridge maintenance continues to be woefully underfunded.  

    • Yeah April 11, 2022 (9:18 pm)

      Things like road maintenance will always be underfunded as long as people continue to scream for ever-increasing police budgets to arrest and jail anyone who perturbs them.  

  • Diane April 12, 2022 (6:15 am)

    @Onion sounds like that would work.  Take the C line back to WS then call a taxi/Uber from the bus station to get you the rest of the way home.

  • anonyme April 12, 2022 (11:24 am)

    Does this program run on weekends?  Otherwise, how does it differ from Hyde Shuttle?  Are the alternative rides charged at full price, but covered (theoretically) by voucher?  How much does it cost? We definitely need better options for seniors, but I’m not understanding how this is an improvement.  Seems like it would be easier just to expand Hyde service, including eliminating the 3-day lead time for scheduling rides.  There is a widespread tendency for fragmenting service, making it more convoluted and probably more expensive.  Our disastrous health care system is another example of that trend.

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