Make the Ride Happen (Lutheran Social Services of WI & Upper MI)

Mission: To make the ride happen for older adults and individuals with disabilities so they can remain active and involved in their community.

Make The Ride Happen (MRH) is a program of Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. MRH grew out of a 2004 community-wide meeting that first raised the need for additional transportation options for the elders in our community. Since program commencement in 2004, there has been one essential task of the project team. This is to identify those individuals who fall between the cracks as related to existing transportation options (including Valley Transit, Go Transit and their respective paratransit programs) in the tri-county area and to find them a safe ride at a reasonable cost.

Make The Ride Happen identifies those un- or underserved individuals in the community, and coordinates with other local providers of transportation services. This program ensures that services are being provided to individuals in a way that complements rather than duplicates any existing services.

Make The Ride Happen assists older adults and individuals with disabilities so they can remain active and involved in their community. Make The Ride Happen coordinates with other local transportation services to find rides for residents that meet their needs.

Our mobility management activities will build coordination among transportation stakeholders, human service providers and private/public transportation providers in the Tri-County area. Through these efforts, the availability of transportation options for adults with disabilities and older adults will increase, allowing them to live independently and stay connected to their communities. A special focus will be placed on increasing capacity in rural areas in order to better connect rural riders to programs and services.

See below for our program highlights:

• Cycling Without Age – A network of trained volunteers who can provide free trishaw (a pedal assist cargo bike) bicycle rides, allowing older adults and those with differing abilities the opportunity to spend time outdoors interacting with their community.
• Waupaca Catch A Ride (WCCAR) – A collaboration among multiple entities with a goal to provide employment rides as a top priority for any resident of Waupaca County, Wisconsin who is in need of transportation.
• Volunteer Driver Program – Volunteers use their vehicle to provide transportation to older adults and individuals with disabilities in the Tri-County area for medical appointments, shopping and errands, socialization, volunteering. We also own a specialized vehicle that is driven by volunteers.
• Individual Travel Training – MRH staff provides support and training and will facilitate and/or enhance travel training in the areas served by Go Transit (Oshkosh). MRH Staff and a volunteer bus buddy will work one-on-one with someone, helping them to use public transportation to meet their needs.