Rural Rides helps Salisbury people get around
Residents of Salisbury, N.B., have created a program called Rural Rides to help carless people get around.
The rural community offers no taxi or bus service. It costs $10 to join Rural Rides and then members pay per trip. It costs $10 within town and $30 to travel round-trip between Salisbury and Petitcodiac. The service asks for 48 hours’ notice.
Volunteer driver Don Purdy says there are a lot of seniors in the area and he hopes this helps them get out more often.
“This is a great opportunity for them to be able to put their car away, have somebody come with a nice warm car to pick them up and drop them back off again,” he said.
Drivers are screened by the RCMP and have to carry an extra insurance policy. They are re-imbursed for that and for gas.
Independence and flexibility
Leny Langelaan used the service this week. She said the door-to-door delivery offers her independence and flexibility.
“It was very nice and comfortable. My children are behind me because they are busy and they like me to go anywhere I want,” she said.
Rural Rides president Ross Alexander says a ride-share program was desperately needed in his community.
Running the service makes him feel like a good neighbour.
“Maybe it's old school, but I think a lot of people forget about how enjoyable that is, to be able to help somebody else in your community,” he said
“I know the community has given me a lot over the years and it's nice to be able to give something back.”
The group is still looking for volunteer drivers and hoping that more sponsors will get behind the program.
