Serving Communities         Helping Others                 Opportunities for All The Volunteer Resource For Southern Rhode Island

Transportation

I have no other way of getting there [to medical appointments]. It's something beautiful. Otherwise, you're stuck in your apartment all alone."     — Anna of South Kingstown

SHO volunteers provide rides to medical appointments and hospital visits for individuals who lack transportation resources of their own.

SHO office staff will call, usually a few days in advance, to check a volunteer's availability for each transportation request. Thus the more time in advance you can give us to arrange rides for you the better chance our staff has of finding volunteers to fulfill your need in a timely fashion. In general, at least three days' notice in advance are required.

If enough willing volunteers are available, transportation also may be provided for such other facilities as pharmacies and grocery stores.

The Realities of Life in South County:

A few transportation options are available and sometimes helpful to some people. But they are limited and are not options for many South County residents.

• RIPTA offers limited regular bus service. Flex routes are not very flexible for disabled individuals. So if you are not on a route it can be a very long walk.
• RIDE offers transportation for individuals who are 60 or over, or disabled. But appointments must be between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and, as of January 1, 2004, there's a five-week wait for a seat on the bus.
• Taxis get people where they want to go, when they want to go, but South County is a big place (see map below), and it will cost more than many elderly people can afford: The average fare in South County is about $48.75*. Ouch!

Volunteer Country:
South County & Jamestown