Educational Programs
Transportation Counseling
The biggest barrier to community transportation stated by the survey’s respondents were “not familiar with range of transportation options.” The single most important aspect of creating a transportation coordination entity is educating individuals on their range of transportation options. This can be done in a multitude of ways.
The National Center for Mobility Management (2016) focuses on informing and connecting customers. The center suggests organizations employ Transportation Solutions Coordinators to assist individuals by sharing information about current transportation options, discover the individual’s needs and create an individualized transportation plan. Transportation Solution Coordinators must be knowledgeable in the range of transportation options and know the benefits and limitation to each option.
Integrating the individual’s transportation plan into Virginia’s No Wrong Door system will provide for greater efficiency in service delivery. Providers will be able to access the individual’s transportation plan to refer the individual to services within the service area of their preferred method of transportation creating a more person-centered delivery of services. The No Wrong Door system allows providers, who are serving the same individual, to securely share person-level data between partners and eliminate the need to collect the same information multiple times. The system can also make electronic referrals to partner organizations (Virginia No Wrong Door, 2017).
In addition, to the counseling piece of transportation coordination, it is important to provide outreach to disperse information about various transportation options and create a travel instruction program to assist users in navigating new modes of transportation (National Center for Mobility Management, 2016).
Age Wave also supports the provision of information by DMV for persons who are facing license suspension or inability to renew due to conditions such as diminished eyesight. For individuals who are unable to renew their license, they may find it helpful to know what other transportation options exist in their community.
On-Demand Services
Common barriers cited by survey respondents for not using on-demand services such as Uber or Lyft were cost, not knowing how to use smartphone applications, fear of not finding the car, not having a smartphone and limited mobility to use such services.
UZURV, the nation’s first Transportation Network Company Broker, is finding solutions to many of those common barriers. UZURV is aware that many localities across the country are struggling to meet the transportation needs of residents, especially those in need of specialized transportation.
Costs was the most common barrier cited by survey respondents. A current pilot program between UZURV and Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) is providing subsidized rides for individuals in the GRTC service area. GRTC will pay up to an additional $15 for the cost of the ride, while the customer pays an initial $6 (Greater Richmond Transit Company, 2017).
Other barriers being addressed by the company are not knowing how to use the app or not having a smartphone to access an app. UZURV operates a call center for individuals to call in and reserve their ride and choose their driver. Reservations can be made up to 30 days in advance or as little as one hour in advance (UZURV, n.d.).
Educating riders on the availability of services such as UZURV and how to navigate such services creates a successful model for transportation coordination. Since these services are a new and innovative approach to mobility, it comes with a certain amount of fear and anxiety. The best way to combat those fears is through education.
The biggest barrier to community transportation stated by the survey’s respondents were “not familiar with range of transportation options.” The single most important aspect of creating a transportation coordination entity is educating individuals on their range of transportation options. This can be done in a multitude of ways.
The National Center for Mobility Management (2016) focuses on informing and connecting customers. The center suggests organizations employ Transportation Solutions Coordinators to assist individuals by sharing information about current transportation options, discover the individual’s needs and create an individualized transportation plan. Transportation Solution Coordinators must be knowledgeable in the range of transportation options and know the benefits and limitation to each option.
Integrating the individual’s transportation plan into Virginia’s No Wrong Door system will provide for greater efficiency in service delivery. Providers will be able to access the individual’s transportation plan to refer the individual to services within the service area of their preferred method of transportation creating a more person-centered delivery of services. The No Wrong Door system allows providers, who are serving the same individual, to securely share person-level data between partners and eliminate the need to collect the same information multiple times. The system can also make electronic referrals to partner organizations (Virginia No Wrong Door, 2017).
In addition, to the counseling piece of transportation coordination, it is important to provide outreach to disperse information about various transportation options and create a travel instruction program to assist users in navigating new modes of transportation (National Center for Mobility Management, 2016).
Age Wave also supports the provision of information by DMV for persons who are facing license suspension or inability to renew due to conditions such as diminished eyesight. For individuals who are unable to renew their license, they may find it helpful to know what other transportation options exist in their community.
On-Demand Services
Common barriers cited by survey respondents for not using on-demand services such as Uber or Lyft were cost, not knowing how to use smartphone applications, fear of not finding the car, not having a smartphone and limited mobility to use such services.
UZURV, the nation’s first Transportation Network Company Broker, is finding solutions to many of those common barriers. UZURV is aware that many localities across the country are struggling to meet the transportation needs of residents, especially those in need of specialized transportation.
Costs was the most common barrier cited by survey respondents. A current pilot program between UZURV and Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) is providing subsidized rides for individuals in the GRTC service area. GRTC will pay up to an additional $15 for the cost of the ride, while the customer pays an initial $6 (Greater Richmond Transit Company, 2017).
Other barriers being addressed by the company are not knowing how to use the app or not having a smartphone to access an app. UZURV operates a call center for individuals to call in and reserve their ride and choose their driver. Reservations can be made up to 30 days in advance or as little as one hour in advance (UZURV, n.d.).
Educating riders on the availability of services such as UZURV and how to navigate such services creates a successful model for transportation coordination. Since these services are a new and innovative approach to mobility, it comes with a certain amount of fear and anxiety. The best way to combat those fears is through education.
