RYDE is making transportation a lot more accessible for South Bay seniors

Cupertino's age-friendly designation celebratedPhoto: Santa Clara County

Senior residents in five West Valley cities, including Cupertino, will soon be able to get around more easily thanks to a recent expansion of Reach Your Destination Easily (RYDE), a service that provides local transportation to people over 65 years old.

RYDE launched in 2017 and is offered through a collaboration between the Saratoga Area Senior Coordinating Council, West Valley Community Services, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, Valley Transportation Authority, the cities of Campbell, Cupertino, Monte Sereno, and Saratoga, and the town of Los Gatos.

Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian is co-hosting a RYDE webinar on Wednesday, June 2nd at 3 p.m. to inform residents about the expansion and increase awareness of these services.

“As we look to a future where people can more safely socialize, we want to make sure no community member is left housebound due to lack of transportation,” said Simitian. “The goal of this event is to make sure folks know how to access these services when they’re ready to get back out in the community.”

Residents who choose to utilize the service can travel anywhere within the city limits of Campbell, Cupertino, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Los Gatos and parts of San Jose. The service can be used for anything from appointments, grocery shopping, or visits with friends to doctors’ offices, hospitals, the Sunnyvale Caltrain center and the VA Hospital in Palo Alto.

This curb-to-curb transportation service is available for use Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, excluding holidays. RYDE fees are based on income and net assets as well as the number of miles you travel to a destination.

To register for the upcoming webinar, visit here. Residents can also call into the webinar on the day of the event by phone at 1(669) 219-2599 or 1(699) 900-6833 and input the webinar ID: 923 4359 2196.

For frequently asked questions and information on how to schedule a ride, visit here.