Our transportation services are designed for people age 60 and older who do not drive and have no other transportation resources available. The service is offered primarily on weekdays from 8 am to 4 pm. We also offer weekend and evening service with advance notice. In 2019, we made 39,000 trips with groups and more than 1,000 trips for medical appointments.
Our Buses are Familiar Sights in the Cincinnati Area
Our group transportation relies on a fleet of small blue-and-white buses. The buses, which go door to door, take older adults to senior centers and stores as well as on social outings. It’s free but it’s first come-first served to anyone 60 years and older, regardless of their income level.
We pick up passengers at their homes as well as from retirement villages, senior housing complexes and more.
Our drivers give each passenger assistance to get on and off our buses, as needed. Additionally, each bus is equipped with a wheelchair lift. Our buses hold 10 to 18 passengers.
Our group transportation services include:
- Daily trips to 10 senior centers;
- Weekly trips to stores, including grocery stores;
- Transportation to Cincinnati recreation centers;
- And special event transportation on weekends to popular community events.
Individual Transportation is Available
We use our CASS-owned car to take individuals to medical appointments, social events, restaurants, visits with family and friends and more. We request at least 24-hour notice for such transportation. But we know that urgent matters arise and we’ll do our best to accommodate seniors who cannot provide more notice. Our fee for individual transportation is $70 but we try to find funding for those who need it.
How to Arrange Transportation
For more information or to schedule a ride, seniors or their caregivers can call our Transportation Department at 513-721-0375.
Our Drivers Are Highly Trained
Our drivers undergo extensive training, including training required by state and federal laws that focus on the needs of older adults and people with disabilities. Our drivers also have been fully screened, which includes criminal background checks. They wear uniforms to make them easy to identify.
Snow-Covered Roads Don’t Stop Us
We recognize the importance of our services. So our policy is to provide as many of our services as possible during adverse weather. But we’re also cautious. We decide whether to provide transportation based on the ability of our drivers to safely operate our vehicles and the ability of our riders to get on board safely. We typically do not discontinue transportation services unless government officials declare a Level 3 emergency, which means roads are closed except to emergency personnel.
Our commitment to seniors even extends to natural disasters. We are part of a local community-wide disaster planning team coordinated by the American Red Cross. During natural disasters, our fleet has been used to take seniors to temporary housing, such as hotels and temporary food sites.