Most people are probably aware of on-demand ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft, businesses that offer transportation alternatives to taxis or public buses and trains, but a new ride sharing service — meant specifically for seniors and those with vision impairments — has opened in Gainesville.
Officials cut the ceremonial ribbon Monday morning at Featherbone Communiversity to officially open iTN Lanier for business, the first iTN affiliate in Georgia.
Marcia O'Connor, of Gainesville, got to be the first driver for the local service, something she considers an honor.
"My father is 101, and I know he needs help getting around. I felt I could give something to the community, by (volunteering)," said O'Connor.
Her passenger, Marsha Wright, of Gainesville, said the ride sharing service, which operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week, is needed in the community.
"The only thing (Gainesville) has are taxis that don't like to go a lot of places, and not everbody speaks the language of the taxi cab drivers. The buses here only go during the day. Not at night, or on the weekend," said Wright. "Plus you have to be physically able to get on and off the bus."
For iTN customers, passengers need only to be able to transfer themselves to and from the seat of a car. They are allowed to bring their wheelchairs, walkers and canes with them to their destination, where their driver can wait for them to finish whatever they are doing — be it a doctor's appointment or a trip to the grocery store — or the rider can book another trip when they are done.
The average cost for a ride is around $12, according to Erika Walker, co-chair of the iTN board of directors. It is $4 for a base fare, then $1.20 per mile.
Walker said drivers go through a stringent background check and training program before they "go live" on the service.
"Their driver's records are checked. Typically what happens is the people who are your neighbors wind up being the volunteer drivers, and you have the option to request a particular driver. So you wind up with people you can trust," said Walker.
Anybody interested in the service can register on iTN Lanier's website.
