Examples of Mobility on Demand Policies and PublicPrivate Partnerships to Increase Accessibility

January 2020

Prepared by:
Shared-Use Mobility Center & the National Center for Mobility Management

Primary authors:
Albert Benedict, Research Manager, Shared-Use Mobility Center
Judy Shanley, Ph.D. Assistant VP, Education & Youth Transition, Co-Director, National Center for Mobility
Management, Easterseals
Jerom Theunissen, Project Associate, National Center for Mobility Management, Easterseals
For questions about this report, please contact Judy Shanley. Ph.D., Easterseals Director, NCMM:
jshanley@easterseals.com or Albert Benedict, Research Manager, Shared-Use Mobility Center:
Albert@sharedusemobilitycenter.org

Acknowledgements:
The Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC) was contracted by NCMM to develop this case study. SUMC drew fromits MOD Learning Center for the examples used in this analysis. This report and other mobility on demand
examples can be found at the Shared-Use Mobility Center MOD Learning Center.

About the National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM)
The National Center for Mobility Management is a national technical assistance center funded through a
cooperative agreement with the Federal Transit Administration, and operated through a consortium of threenational organizations—the American Public Transportation Association, the Community Transportation
Association of America, and Easterseals Inc. The mission of the Center is to promote customer-centered mobility
strategies that advance good health, economic vitality, self-sufficiency, and community.

About the Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC)
The Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC) is a public-interest organization working to foster collaboration inshared mobility (including bikesharing, carsharing, ridesharing and more) and help connect the growing industry
with transit agencies, cities and communities across the nation. Through piloting programs, conducting new
research and providing advice and expertise to cities and regions, SUMC hopes to extend the benefits of sharedmobility for all.

This research is based on the joint efforts between the Shared-Use Mobility Center and the National Center for
Mobility Management. Content in this document is disseminated in the interest of information exchange. Neither
SUMC nor NCMM assumes liability for its contents or use.
1

Table of Contents
The Issue & Potential ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 3
Growth of Shared Mobility ............................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Policies .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Arizona – Expansion of TNCs as Non-Emergency Transportation (NEMT) Option for Medicaid Recipients ..................................... 5
California – TNC Access for All Act .................................................................................................................................................... 6
Illinois – Chicago WAV Requirement and Accessibility Fund ............................................................................................................ 7
Massachusetts – MBTA The RIDE and MassDOT Pilot Program to Increase WAVs .......................................................................... 8
Washington – King County Wheelchair Accessible Services Fund .................................................................................................... 9Service Coordination & Trip Planning Programs ............................................................................................................................................. 10
California – Oakland Adaptive Scooter Pilot ................................................................................................................................... 10
California – Mobility On-Demand Every Day, Big Blue Bus (BBB), Santa Monica ............................................................................ 10
California – Lyft partners with First Transit for on-demand paratransit pilot in San Francisco & Los Angeles ............................... 11
California – Ford GoBike Adaptive Bikeshare Pilot, Oakland .......................................................................................................... 11
Connecticut – Norwalk Wheels2U Microtransit ............................................................................................................................. 12
Florida – Jacksonville Transportation Authority Pilot for Medical Appointments .......................................................................... 13
Illinois – Chicago Suburb High School Approves Ridesharing Company to Provide Alternative Transportation for Special
Education Students ......................................................................................................................................................................... 13
Kansas/Missouri – RideKC Freedom On-Demand Program ............................................................................................................ 14
Maryland – Washington Metro Area Transit Abilities-Ride paratransit program ........................................................................... 15
Michigan – Flint Mass Transit Authority’s On-Demand NEMT “Rides to Wellness” Program ......................................................... 16
Michigan – Michigan Mobility Challenge for Transit Providers to Improve Customer Service for the Visually- and HearingImpaired .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Michigan – DOT Developing Statewide NEMT Brokerage System .................................................................................................. 17
Minnesota – GoDakota County Lyft Partnership ............................................................................................................................ 18
Minnesota – Southwest Transit launches NEMT pilot program in Minneapolis ............................................................................. 19
Minnesota – Hitch Health and Lyft Pilot Program .......................................................................................................................... 20
Missouri – St. Louis Gateway to Better Health Program with NEMT and Mobile Clinic ................................................................. 21
Nevada – RTC Paratransit Partnership with Lyft ............................................................................................................................. 22
Ohio – Smart Columbus NEMT Program for Prenatal Care ............................................................................................................. 23
Ohio – RTA & Ford partner for GoRide paratransit service, Dayton ............................................................................................... 23
Pennsylvania – Rabbittransit Paratransit for Seniors and People with Disabilities ......................................................................... 24
Washington -Seattle Bikeshare Permit Program............................................................................................................................. 25
Texas – Non-profit launches on-demand transportation pilot program for seniors and people with disabilities in rural counties 26
Vermont – Go! Vermont Trip Planner ............................................................................................................................................. 27
Virginia – CARE On-Demand, Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) .................................................................................... 27
Wisconsin – Milwaukee Adaptive Bikeshare Program .................................................................................................................... 28
Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 292

Introduction
This report offers examples of policies and pilot programs that take into consideration the transportation needsof persons with disabilities. The examples are organized by Policies and Service Coordination & Trip Planning
Programs. The examples were identified and compiled for a poster session at the Transportation Research
Board (TRB) 99th Annual Meeting. Each example gives an overview of how each policy/program works, uniquepartnership qualities, and additional information.

The Issue & Potential
Recent technological advances have driven an unprecedented expansion of the menu of transportation services
available to users, especially through the integrated set of tools and services together known as Mobility on
Demand (MOD).
New mobility services have emerged in the last ten years that leverage advancements in mobile technology anddigital platforms to connect riders with mobility services across diverse transportation modes. Theseadvancements in new transportation services and innovative technologies have the potential to ensure access todiverse transportation options for all. A vast number of the new services utilize essential concepts of shared-use
mobility, which is characterized by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as “transportation services that areshared among customers, including transit agencies; taxis and limos; bike sharing; car sharing (round-trip, oneway, and personal vehicle sharing); ridesharing (car-pooling, van-pooling); ridesourcing; scooter sharing; shuttle
services; neighborhood jitneys; and commercial delivery vehicles providing flexible goods movement.”
Accessibility of shared-use mobility systems is an essential consideration to provide enhanced mobility forpeople with disabilities. Shared-use modes are appealing for this group for several reasons. First, shared-use
mobility services promote independence by reducing the need to rely on friends, family, or caregivers to provide
transportation in fulfillment of everyday activities. Second, these services are on-demand and flexible, reducing
the need to book trips far in advance, and can be routed to efficiently serve customers. Third, the costs ofshared-use mobility services may be cheaper to people with disabilities than other transportation options.
Fourth, shared-use mobility can fill gaps in fixed-route transit and paratransit service. Together, these aspects ofshared-use mobility offer significant quality of life benefits for people with disabilities to access everyday
destinations, such as employment, medical appointments, education, and recreational activities.

Growth of Shared Mobility
Examples of shared-use mobility can be found throughout the United States from urban centers to small towns
and even rural areas. The symbols on the map below help to illustrate the widespread availability of sharedmobility across the United States. The symbols on the map are coded by shape and color to represent different
modes of shared mobility, including carshare, bikeshare, electric scooters, ridesourcing, ridepooling andmicrotransit. At the time of this writing, of the top 50 metropolitan areas in terms of population, all of them
have a form of ridesourcing, 47 have a form of carshare, 41 have a form of bikeshare, and 31 have electricscooters.

3North American Shared Mobility Landscape, 2019. Image credit: SUMC

The rise of shared-use mobility services across the country corresponds with growth of partnerships between
shared-use mobility providers and public transportation agencies. However, some of these partnerships raise
concerns regarding equitable access to services for people with disabilities. Additionally, descriptions of thesepartnerships do not consistently include reference to how the service impacts riders with disabilities. With anincreasing number of public & private providers entering this space, policies and programs are needed to ensurethat people with disabilities also have access to equitable shared-use mobility service with a high standard of
quality. In response to this growing need, the former U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx
published a “Dear colleague” FTA guidance in December 2016, advising transit agencies that they are obliged to“ensure equity and access as you partner with TNCs.” The guidance clarified that ADA regulations apply
regardless of federal funding and apply to public and private transportation providers. What’s more, demandresponsive service needs to be deemed “equivalent” to services provided to other individuals in the areas of:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Response time
Fares
Geographic area of service
Hours and days of service
Availability of information and reservations capability
Any constraints on capacity or service availability
Restrictions or priorities based on trip purpose4

To take advantage of these new transportation options public transit agencies are increasingly turning to publicprivate partnerships (P3s) with shared mobility operators to help provide mobility options for everyone. Thisfactsheet offers examples of state and local shared mobility policies and P3 pilot programs that consider theneeds of seniors and persons with disabilities. It is important to note, while some of these examples may notmeet the needs of every person with a disability, the cases discussed offer a base of knowledge to continuebuilding equitable and accessible on-demand transportation solutions. Equally important, involving users withvaried transportation needs in the planning and development of either a policy or program is important toassuring its success.

Policies
The policies reviewed in this factsheet primarily address Transportation Network Companies (TNCs). TNCs
began operating across cities in the U.S. and were quickly adopted as a transportation mode and their use
skyrocketed. Given this rapid growth cities and states were often caught off-guard as the regulatory policies
were not designed with this new shared technology in mind. Recent policies and public-private partnerships
have helped to close this gap and we are now seeing evidence that TNCs could be one of many transportation
modes available to help meet the needs of individuals with disabilities. Following are state and local examples
that have both regulated and enabled TNCs to provide accessible transportation solutions.

Arizona – Expansion of TNCs as Non-Emergency Transportation (NEMT) Option for
Medicaid Recipients
How it works: The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment
System (AHCCCS) announced a policy change effective May
1, 2019 that allows TNCs to register as NEMT medicaltransportation providers. Medicaid recipients in Arizona
can use their benefits to pay for Lyft rides to and frommedical appointments. AHCCCS stated that adding TNCs as
NEMT providers “can add flexibility to the health caredelivery system and increase transportation options for
Medicaid members.” The policy establishes TNCs as a new
AHCCCS provider category. However, these rides are only
servicing people on Medicaid who do not require personal
Uber and Lyft stickers on driver's windshieldassistance during medically necessary transportation. This
still leaves traditional NEMT providers to serve Medicaid
members who have specialized needs and are not ambulatory. Lyft was the first rideshare company to receive
approval to register as a non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) provider in June 2019.
Unique partnership qualities: One of the first of its kind, this state policy enables rideshare companies like Uberand Lyft the opportunity to provide on-demand service to Medicaid members that do not require personal
assistance. This state level policy provides additional service to 1.7 million people and could potentially savemillions of dollars.
5Additional information:•

Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) Transportation Network Companies Now
Eligible to Provide Medicaid Services•

MedCityNews: Lyft opens up access to covered rides for Arizona’s 1.7 million Medicaid patients

California – TNC Access for All Act

How it works: This bill requires TNCs to provide access for people with disabilities, including wheelchair users
who need a WAV. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is charged with developing TNC regulations
that address issues relating to accessibility for persons with disabilities who use TNCs, with input from relevant
stakeholders including “California cities and counties, disability rights organizations, persons with disabilities,
transportation and transit agencies, social service transportation providers, paratransit coordinating councils,
and TNCs.” This act also requires the CPUC to assess a fee on TNC rides to fund accessible transportation
services for persons with disabilities, establishes criteria for exempting TNCs that meet accessibility standards
from the fee, and creates criteria for using the fee revenues to provide on-demand accessible transportation
services. Upon passage of the bill on September 22, 2018, CPUC began to conduct workshops with relevant
stakeholders to determine the adequate WAV demand and supply, fee pricing, and geographic areas for fee
collection and distribution. According to ruling 19-02-012, TNCs are required to collect a ten cent ($0.10) fee on
each TNC trip in California starting July 1st, 2019. Monies are collected based on the number of TNC trips withineach county and are deposited in an “Access Fund.” These funds would be distributed on a competitive basis toaccess providers that establish on-demand transportation programs to meet the transportation needs of people
with disabilities in each county. The act requires CPUC to report to the Legislature by January 1, 2024 oncompliance with the act and on the effectiveness of on-demand mobility programs sponsored by the AccessFund. The act repeals these provisions on January 1, 2026.
Unique partnership qualities: CPUC has engaged a diverse group of stakeholders, including persons withdisabilities, to guide TNC regulations across the state. CPUC also established an Access Fund to meet themobility needs of persons with disabilities.
Additional Information:•

California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) TNC Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities Program (SB1376, Hill)•

California Senate Bill 1376 (Hill 2018), Public Utilities Code § 5440.5•

California Public Utilities Commission (June 27, 2019) CPUC Rulemaking 19-02-012 – Decision On Track 1
Issues: Transportation Network Company Trip Fee and Geographic Areas
6

Illinois – Chicago WAV Requirement and Accessibility FundCity of Chicago Business Affairs and Consumer Protection. Screen capture of Taxicab Excellence Awardee 2016 video.

How it works: The City’s Vehicle Accessibility Fund, which is supported by fees paid by the taxi and TNC
industries at ten cents ($0.10) per every trip performed by a non-accessible vehicle. Transportation network
provider (TNP) Accessibility Requirements state that the TNP digital platform connecting drivers and passengers
must be accessible to customers who are blind, visually impaired, deaf and hard of hearing; plus, the TNP must
implement plans to enhance service to customers with disabilities. The Fund has allowed the Department of
Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) to offer incentives to increase the number of WAV vehicles in
Chicago’s streets. In 2012, the city began offering a $15,000-$20,000 incentive to convert a vehicle to a WAV
taxicab or purchase a factory-built WAV taxicab. In 2016, the city of Chicago created new incentives, including an
exemption of fees charged to WAV medallion holders for dispatch service, a $10,000 “early bird” incentive to
medallion owners that purchased WAV taxicabs in 2016, and up to $5,000 in an annual grant for WAV taxicab
owners for vehicle maintenance.
Unique partnership qualities: The Vehicle Accessibility Fund has been used to increase the numbers of WAVs
through purchase and maintenance subsidies. Since the policy was enacted, the number of WAV taxicabs
operating in Chicago has increased from 91 to 436, more than quadrupling the city’s fleet.
Additional Information:•

Chicago Business Affairs and Consumer Protection. TNP License Fact Sheet.
7•Chicago Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. Financial Incentives to Increase Number ofWheelchair-Accessible Taxicabs.

•

Chicago Data Portal. Public Passenger Vehicle Licenses: City of Chicago: Data Portal•

Chicago Business Affairs and Consumer Protection: Transportation Network Providers•

Chicago Wheelchair Accessible Taxis

Massachusetts – MBTA The RIDE and MassDOT Pilot Program to Increase WAVs

Credit: MBTA The Ride

How it works: The MBTA in Boston, Massachusetts launched the well-documented on-demand paratransit pilot
program in September 2016. The overarching goals for the pilot were to reduce the cost of providing ADA
paratransit by shifting trips to lower cost TNC services, while increasing the mobility of its customers. Both Uberand Lyft have worked with the MBTA and/or third-party vendors to provide trip request, service, and payment
options that are ADA compliant. The most recent development is the joint effort between MassDOT and MBTA
that directly subsidizes TNC operators to increase the number of WAVs in service. The pilot will reimburse
participating TNCs with a fixed, $24 per-hour subsidy for each hour that a WAV is available on TNC platforms.
The goal of this pilot is to quadruple the WAV supply hours. The per-trip fee assessed through Massachusetts’2016 Act, “Regulating Transportation Network Companies” will be used to reimburse participating TNCs in
exchange for providing on-demand WAVs within The RIDE service area. This is an example of state policy being
used to improve access to shared-use mobility for people with disabilities. New information will be provided ona monthly basis to allow the MBTA to monitor the program and make programmatic changes as necessary.
Unique partnership qualities: MBTA The RIDE is an example of both a pilot and how policies can be leveraged toincrease accessibility from within the pilot through $2.4 million subsidy to increase WAVs. The RIDE was one of
the first public transit and TNC public-private partnerships created to address the mobility needs of persons withdisabilities.
8Additional Information:•

MBTA The RIDE and MassDOT press release•

MassDOT and the MBTA to Partner with Transportation Network Companies to Support More
Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicles•

King County, Washington. Wheelchair Accessible Services Fund – Disbursement

Washington – King County Wheelchair Accessible Services FundHow it works: This county-level policy enacted in 2016 stipulates that a TNC will pay a ten cent ($0.10)
wheelchair accessibility fee surcharge for all rides originating in Unincorporated King County, or any municipalitythat contracts with the county for the county to license taxicabs, for-hire vehicles, or TNCs that operate in themunicipality. The fee surcharge shall be used to offset the operational costs incurred by the owners andoperators of wheelchair accessible taxis, wheelchair accessible for-hire vehicle or wheelchair accessible
transportation network company endorsed vehicle services including, but not limited to, the costs associatedwith purchasing and retrofitting an accessible vehicle, fuel and maintenance costs and the time involved inproviding wheelchair accessible trips. Funds are disbursed in three categories: Dispatched Wheelchair Passenger
Trip Reimbursement, Wheelchair Accessible Service Vehicle Maintenance/Acquisition, and the Wheelchair
Accessible Service Training Fund. The policy is in line with fund collection and disbursement administered by theCity of Seattle Regulatory Compliance and Consumer Protection Division, which ensures streamlined andsimplified compliance for taxicab or TNC drivers across Seattle and King County.
Unique partnership qualities: Seattle established a Wheelchair Accessible Services fund in 2015, followed by
King County the following year. King County’s fund is featured above, but both collect $0.10 per TNC trip andare designed to offset the costs of providing wheelchair accessible vehicles. Open for comment throughDecember 30, 2019, Seattle and King County have established a joint WAS fund that will supersede theirrespective ordinances.
Additional Information:•

Seattle Wheelchair Accessible Fund•King County Wheelchair Accessible Fund•

Proposed Rule: Reimbursement from the WAS Fund

9

Service Coordination & Trip Planning Programs
The policies discussed above are only effective when programs are designed around them to more fully meetthe mobility needs of all of its users. Following are examples of mobility on-demand public-private partnershipsthat have planned for and provide mobility options to increase accessibility.

California – Oakland Adaptive Scooter Pilot
How it works: In January 2020, Oakland, CA launched an adaptive e-scooter pilot program in partnership with
Lime. The pilot includes 75 Lime scooters that have been adapted for the needs of people with disabilities,
including adjustable seats, larger wheels for smoother travel over bumps, and wider handlebars for betterbalance. Unlike the traditional e-scooters that are available throughout the city and can be picked up at random,these adaptive scooters must be ordered through the Lime app and one will be delivered to the requested
location. They cost $32 for 24-hours of use.
Unique partnership qualities: In July 2019, San Francisco required that shared mobility operators provide accessto people with disabilities as part of its permitting process. Lime’s application for a permit included details on its
plan to launch this adaptive scooter pilot within three months of receiving a permit, and scale up to 75 scooterswithin 6 months.
Additional information:•

Streetsblog: “Oakland’s New ‘Adaptive’ Scooters”•

Lime San Francisco Permit Application•

Fast Company: “E-scooters are leaving people with disabilities behind. Lime wants to fix that”

California – Mobility On-Demand Every Day, Big Blue Bus (BBB), Santa Monica
How it Works: In July 2018, BBB, Santa Monica’s bus operator, alongside the non-profit social services
organization WISE and Healthy Aging, replaced its previous dial-a-ride (DAR) program by rebranding to Mobility
on Demand Everyday (MODE). Trips within the city of Santa Monica are made by shared, on-demand DAR
service via Lyft. The purpose of MODE is to improve the customer experience, provide same-day mobility
options for DAR customers, and reduce the cost of DAR service for BBB. All trips cost $0.50, and customers may
travel with up to three companions at an additional cost of $.50 each, or one personal car attendant for $0.25.
Customers must be age 60 or older, or age 18 or older with a disability; registered through MODE; and certified
by WISE and Healthy Aging. Wheelchair and door-through-door customers can reserve a BBB-operated vehicleby phone for same day pickup.
Unique partnership qualities: BBB was able to address ADA concerns by providing service through the transit
agency itself by allowing customers to request a wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV). The program is being
funded by the budget of BBB and is a permanent service offering.
Additional Information:•

Big Blue Bus. Mobility On-Demand Every Day Program.
10

•American Public Transportation Association. Transit and TNC Partnerships.

California – Lyft partners with First Transit for on-demand paratransit pilot in San
Francisco & Los Angeles
How it works: In August 2019, Lyft announced a 12-month pilot program in partnership with First Transit in San
Francisco and Los Angeles, CA. After enabling Access Mode in the Lyft app, customers can request a WAV that
accommodates their fixed-frame or non-collapsible wheelchairs. First Transit – a national mobility provider – willthen provide a WAV from its fleet of dedicated 2019 Toyota Siennas. First Transit is also responsible for
operational support and maintenance of the vehicles, as well as for providing 60 hours of training to its
drivers. Each of the WAVs are equipped with ramps and safety tie-downs.
Unique partnership qualities: Throughout the pilot, Lyft will analyze trip data to assess program success andviability. Because First Transit’s fleet of WAVs is allocated to this pilot program, its drivers will not pick up othertypes of fares.
Additional information:•

Lyft Program One-Pager•

First Transit Press Release•

Los Angeles Times•

Lyft Blog

California – Ford GoBike Adaptive Bikeshare Pilot, Oakland
How it works: Ford GoBike, the incumbent bikeshare program operated by Motivate in the Bay Area, partneredwith the City of Oakland, California, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and the Bay Area Outreachand Recreation Program (BORP) to launch an adaptive bikeshare program for users with disabilities for thesummer 2019. The program included five types of adaptive bikes, as well as adaptive equipment such assupportive pedals, seats and straps, and hand pedals for quad level SCI riders. There was no charge for people
with disabilities, and users without a credit card can register online through the Bike Share for All Program.
Unique partnership qualities: BORP volunteers fit users to the various bike models, and they provided rider
training. BORP plans to build an online reservation system, but for the summer 2019 program, the bikes wereavailable on a first-come, first-serve basis, or could be reserved in advance via phone or email. BORP’s webpage
includes additional features and a FAQ section.
Additional information:•

Ford GoBike Adaptive Bikeshare Pilot, Oakland, CA, 2019•

“Oakland, CA bike-share pilot caters to people with disabilities” Smart City•

Ford GoBike release11

Connecticut – Norwalk Wheels2U Microtransit

Credit: Norwalk Transit District

How it works: Wheels2U started as a six-month pilot project in September 2018 using off-peak Norwalk Transit
District (NTD) paratransit vehicles to increase mobility options within its downtown and adjacentneighborhoods. The agency decided to use demand-responsive microtransit service that can be operated more
efficiently and at a lower cost than fixed-route service. Normally the vehicles are part of the transit district’s
paratransit fleet, but the program uses vehicle otherwise sit idle during the evening. By using its own fleet of
WAVs the transit agency has been able to remove some of the most common barriers to entering into a publicprivate partnership, those being insurance, accessibility and driver training. Further accessibility measures will
be implemented when the service becomes permanent, offering additional ways to schedule a ride, including
SMS text notifications and a dispatch/call center. The project included funding from the FTA and the Connecticut
Department of Transportation (CDOT). The Norwalk Transit District also partnered for local funding support andpromotional services with local mall developer Brookfield Properties, the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency, andother local businesses and restaurants. In early 2019, the transit district issued an RFP to make the service
permanent and in June, 2019 they announced their partnership with Via to continue the service on a permanent
basis starting September 2019.
Unique partnership qualities: The service is able to take advantage of off duty ADA paratransit vehicles toprovide the on-demand transportation in Downtown Norwalk and its adjacent neighborhoods. In this publicprivate partnership, the private partner provides the on-demand and routing technology and the transit agency
is responsible for the vehicles and drivers. This P3 type of arrangement has helped to address some of the mostcommon barriers often associated with a public private partnership, such as insurance, driver training andaccessibility.

12Additional Information:•

Shared-Use Mobility Center and Todd Hansen, Texas Transportation Institute. Case Study: Wheels2U
Microtransit Service: Providing Mobility in Options in a Growing Downtown.

Florida – Jacksonville Transportation Authority Pilot for Medical Appointments
How it works: As a recipient of the FTA’s Rides to Wellness Demonstration and Innovation Coordinated Accessand Mobility Grants in March 2018, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) was working to develop asoftware interface that will seek to improve connections between medical scheduling services and public transit
schedules. For this work, JTA was collaborating with the University of Florida Health, Cambridge Systematics,
Smart Transit, and the Health Planning Council to develop and deploy the pilot. Once launched, the software
will generate transit travel times and costs for healthcare receptionists and patients to inform them of options
when choosing appointments.
Unique partnership qualities: The aim of this program was to collect data regarding improved health outcomes
and decreased healthcare costs that arise from linking medical appointments with transit and mobility options.
The 18-month pilot is scheduled to release a final report in winter 2020.
Additional information:•

JTA Rides to Wellness homepage•

FTA 2018 Annual Report on FAST Act Section 3006(b) Pilot Program for Innovative Coordinated Accessand Mobility

Illinois – Chicago Suburb High School Approves Ridesharing Company to Provide
Alternative Transportation for Special Education Students

Credit: Zum

13

How it works: In June 2019, the School Board overseeing the Evanston Skokie Consolidated School District
approved the use of Zum Services, Inc., a ridesharing company that exclusively transports students. With thisnew provider, Zum drivers will replace taxis providing transportation for the high school’s special education
students. Parents can access an app that allows them to see their child’s location in real time. Although theschool plans to start phasing in use of Zum slowly, it anticipates saving approximately 15% over the cost of thetaxis. Oak Park, a suburb on Chicago’s near west side, is exploring a similar arrangement with Zum andaccording to the school’s estimates, it anticipates saving approximately $10,000 per month by switching to Zum,
a sum of over $70,000 through the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
Unique partnership qualities: All drivers are vetted by Zūm, are required to hold a Class D School Bus Permit
issued by the Illinois Secretary of State and receive extensive school bus driver training. They also receive
specified training in transporting students with special needs and de-escalation techniques. All driver vehicles
are inspected twice per year by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The company asserts that it has over
150 partnerships with schools across seven different states.
Additional information:•

Evanston Round Table: “D65 Will Phase in Zum for Transportation”•“OPRF may hire Uber-like firm to transport special ed students”

Kansas/Missouri – RideKC Freedom On-Demand Program
How it works: Launched on March 1st, 2017, thisnew pilot expands travel options for riders withdisabilities in the bi-state area. Through the RideKC
Freedom smartphone app, or by calling the regionalcall center, eligible users can book a traditional or
ADA-accessible taxi. Most importantly, Freedom OnDemand allows users to book a cab ride without
advance reservation. The service complements
traditional ADA paratransit service, RideKC Freedom.
This project leveraged their existing taxi contract for
both ambulatory and WAV service to provide ondemand transportation. About 100,000 trips havebeen completed on RideKC Freedom On-Demandsince the project launched in May 2017. It now
provides approximately 8,000 trips each month. A
surcharge for non-disabled riders is used to help
fund the system. The on-demand pilot falls under
the KCATA innovative programs budget, which isself-funded and supported in part by revenue
collected through the RideKC freedom app.

RideKC Freedom On-Demand Service Area. Image credit: RideKC

14

Unique partnership qualities: RideKC Freedom has leveraged its existing taxi partnership to provide a universal
on-demand transportation solution to increase the mobility for all users. When the program is utilized bypersons without a disability a small fee is collected that goes back into the program. The program has expanded
its service area since its launch and now provides approximately 8,000 trips per month.
Additional Information:•

Shared-Use Mobility Center. Case Study: RideKC Freedom On-Demand Pilot: Leveraging Existing
Contracts for On-demand Paratransit.

•

AARP Public Policy Institute Long-Term Services and Supports Scorecard Emerging Innovations: Mobility
Managers.

Maryland – Washington Metro Area Transit Abilities-Ride paratransit program

Credit: WMATA

How it works: In partnership with Silver Cab and Regency Taxi, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit
Authority (Metro) launched Abilities-Ride, a program offering subsidized, wheelchair-accessible taxi rides toparatransit-eligible customers. Service area for the program mirrors the service area for the traditional
paratransit service, MetroAccess. Customers pay the first $5 of each ride, Metro covers the next $15, and any
remaining fare exceeding $20 is covered by the customer.
Unique partnership qualities: User can book up to four rides per day, and one personal care assistant ispermitted to travel with the customer at no additional cost. The two participating taxi companies accept
requests for same-day rides via phone or through their respective apps.
Additional information:•

Abilities-Ride Program, Maryland, 2017•

MetroAccess’ Abilities-Ride program

15

Michigan – Flint Mass Transit Authority’s On-Demand NEMT “Rides to Wellness”
ProgramCredit: MTA Flint

How it works: In September 2016, the Flint, Michigan Mass Transit Authority launched its “Rides to Wellness”
program, which provides non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) to residents in the Flint and larger
Genesee County area. The program provides eligible recipients with on-demand transportation to their medical
appointments, and it also often permits additional stops at pharmacies or grocery stores to fill prescriptions. The
service operates from 8am to 5pm weekdays, and drivers are sourced from a number of partneringorganizations, including: the Genesee County Department of Veterans Services, the Genesee Health Plan, theAmerican Cancer Society, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Trips to any of thedesignated 6 local medical offices cost $85 round trip per person, and rides can be requested on-demand bycalling the centralized call center. Rides are free if you are a customer connected with one of the partneringorganizations.
The program built on a 2015 FTA-funded Healthcare Access Mobility Design Challenge Grant, and then received
an additional $300,000 in federal funds through the FTA’s Rides to Wellness Demonstration and Innovative
Coordinated Access and Mobility grants issued in December 2017.
Unique partnership qualities: The program began with access to just 5 vehicles in 2016, and had over 50 by theend of 2018. Similarly, participation in the program rose 69% from August 2017 to August 2018. Customers are
told that they can anticipate same-day requests for trips to be fulfilled within 30-minutes.
Additional information:•

Flint Mass Transit Authority’s on-demand NEMT “Rides to Wellness” Program, Flint, MI, 2016•

Flint Rides to Wellness homepage•

Flint Township View news article on R2W program•

Michigan Department of Health & Human Services R2W flyer•

FTA Rides to Wellness Grants
16

Michigan – Michigan Mobility Challenge for Transit Providers to Improve Customer
Service for the Visually- and Hearing-Impaired
How it works: In fall 2018, Feonix – Mobility Rising, a non-profit focusing on improving mobility options forunder-served and vulnerable populations, was awarded $457,000 through the Michigan Mobility Challenge
grant program. Feonix – in partnership with the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority – was tasked with
developing technology solutions to improve customer service for the visually- and hearing-impaired, particularly
in locating bus stops and final destinations. The effort also designed trainings for bus drivers and dispatchers;
these “Disability Awareness Training for Transportation Agencies” programs were first implemented in August
2019.
Unique partnership qualities: The app, when developed and launched, will enable passengers on fixed routetransit systems to navigate the bus routes and identify the exact location (within 10 feet) of the pick-up anddrop-off points for the bus stops.
Additional information:•

Michigan DOT Press Release•

Feonix website

Michigan – DOT Developing Statewide NEMT Brokerage System
How it works: In September 2017, the Michigan DOT – in collaboration with non-profit Michigan Transportation
Connection, Michigan Public Transit Association (MPTA), MassTrans, the Community Transportation Associationof America & area health centers – was awarded over $1 million from the FTA as part of the federal Rides to
Wellness Demonstration and Innovation Coordinated Access and Mobility grants. The grant was intended tofund an 18-month project beginning in 2018 to expand a NEMT brokerage system available in part of the state
to be available statewide. The project, titled the Michigan Access to Wellness (MATW) Project, aimed to develop
software and incorporate non-profit and private transportation providers’ offerings to route calls and requests
for transportation-related services. When the FTA grant funding concluded in December 2019, programsupervision and support was shifted to MPTA, where the pilot continues. The plan was initially to open 10
regional Mobility Centers to coordinate trips based on location and visit type in that region of the state,although that was later shifted to 5 centers. As of February 2020, Mobility Centers are operating in Lansing and
Bay City, and a center in Escanaba is anticipated soon.
Unique partnership qualities: The concept for this service stemmed from the model in Flint, MI, with the hopeof making a self-sustaining model state-wide. Individual health centers will incorporate the software and directclients on how to use the service. Performance will be measured by region, with some metrics including:number of late/missed trips or cancellations/no-shows; average hold times on calls; and trips per appointment
type, such as procedural/clinic visits, trip requests and mental health services.
Additional information:•

Michigan DOT developing statewide NEMT brokerage system, Michigan, 2017•

National Aging and Transportation Center article
17

•

FTA 2018 Report: Program for Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility•

FTA Rides to Wellness Grants

Minnesota – GoDakota County Lyft Partnership

GoDakota Rideshare 101 Presentation Cover Slide. Image credit: GoDakota

How it works: Dakota County is located southeast of the Twin Cities, and while it is the third largest county in
Minnesota, it maintains a land use mix of ⅓ urban, ⅓ suburban and ⅓ rural. In March 2019, Dakota County
partnered with Lyft to offer flexible, on-demand rides to individuals with disabilities who receive home andcommunity-based services in the county. These rides supplement existing transportation options and are aimed
at making it easier for individuals with disabilities to access jobs and travel independently. The partnership is
supported in part by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Riders of the service do not
pay for their trips out of pocket as the service is covered through Medicaid. As a result, the County tells Lyft theamount that should be uploaded to each user’s account and those funds are then applied to the trip. Responseto the new program has been positive, with 75% of the users indicating that they are extremely satisfied withthe service, as opposed to 60% of the users indicating that they were dissatisfied with the transportation options
before the Lyft pilot. In addition to being more satisfied with the transportation options; 63% indicated that they
were able to work more hours or days in a week, 69% indicated that they no longer had to rely on a friend or18

family member to drive them, 88% felt that their transportation was more reliable and 3% of the respondents
were able to find a new job.
Unique partnership qualities: The program is unique in that it uses Medicaid to support Lyft trips for persons
with disabilities to access jobs and travel independently. Access to these types of services for persons withdisabilities are often difficult to obtain because they fall outside of the more readily available Non-Emergency
Medical Trip—but are no less important toward creating personal independence. GoDakota has been wellreceived by its users a with over 75% indicating that they were extremely satisfied with the service.
Additional Information:•

Shared-Use Mobility Center. See the full entry to access the contract and supporting materials. Dakota
County partners with Lyft for paratransit rides, Dakota County, MN, 2019.

•

GoDakota, Getting Around the County

Minnesota – Southwest Transit launches NEMT pilot program in Minneapolis

Credit: Southwest Transit

How it works: In September 2019, Southwest Transit launched a pilot program offering NEMT service in the
Minneapolis, MN area. To purchase and operate vehicles, the program received funding from a $290,000 grantfrom the FTA’s FY 2019 Access & Mobility Partnership Grant Program. The service operates from 6:30am to
7:00pm on weekdays, and it provides transportation to any medical facility in Eden Prairie, Chanhassen, Chaska,
Carver, and Victoria, as well as other facilities in nearby Minnetonka and Edina. Rides cost $10 each way, andchildren under 6 ride for free.
Unique partnership qualities: The community of Ridgeview is providing a $5 per trip subsidy for anyone
traveling to facilities located in Ridgeview. Rides to appointments can be booked in advance (up to 14 days), but
return trips are requested on-demand when the appointment concludes.
19Additional information:•

SW Transit SW Prime Homepage•

SW Transit Press Release

Minnesota – Hitch Health and Lyft Pilot Program
How it works: In July 2018, Hitch Health – a healthcare technology company – released the results of a 12month pilot in partnership with Lyft to provide non-emergency medical transportation to appointments at
Hennepin Healthcare internal medicine clinic in Minneapolis, Minnesota. During the pilot, Hennepin provided
the contact information for patients in need of transportation who had missed appointments previously. Hitch
then offered these customers participation in the service, in which they could request rides via call or text. Hitch
would proactively and automatically send patients offers for rides when appointments were scheduled, and it
would handle the logistics with Lyft on its end. When the patient was ready to go home, they would text “ready”
through the Hitch platform and a Lyft ride would be dispatched. The results released suggest that the pilot
resulted in a 27% reduction in the no-show rate for appointments, an increase of $270,000 in revenue for theclinic, and an estimated 297% return on investment.
Unique partnership qualities: Following the conclusion of this pilot and the publication of its results, Hitch
announced that it would be expanding this service with Lyft nationally. Hitch claims that its service is unique
because its software connects to healthcare providers’ electronic health records to identify patients who may
benefit from NEMT. The software allows health systems to customize ride offers through filters. In September
2019, University Hospital in New Jersey launched a similar partnership with Hitch Health in association with Lyft.
The Hospital pays Hitch Health a contracted rate, making the Lyft rides free to predetermined customers.
Additional information:•

Hitch Health and Lyft Pilot Program, Minneapolis, MN, 2018•

Hitch Health Home•

University Hospital in NJ launches partnership with Hitch Health, Newark, 201920

Missouri – St. Louis Gateway to Better Health Program with NEMT and Mobile Clinic

The Gateway to Better Health pilot programs includes a mobile clinic. Image credit: Bi-State Development

How it works: The Gateway to Better Health pilot program is a temporary program for residents of St. Louis City
and County, and it serves to provide uninsured adults healthcare coverage as a “bridge” until they can enroll
through the Affordable Care Act. In addition to covering costs for primary, specialty and urgent care services forindividuals earning an income up to 100% of the Federal Poverty Level, the Gateway program also includes free
non-emergency medical transportation to and from such covered medical appointments. A grant from the FTA
Rides to Wellness Demonstration and Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility grant program in the amountof $940,000 enabled the Gateway to Better Health pilot program – which launched service operating in the St.
Louis area in July 2012 – to continue service through 2022.
Unique partnership qualities: The federal funding is also facilitating a mobile clinic to provide health screenings
such as blood pressure and cholesterol tests at various public transit stations in north St. Louis County. This
mobile clinic will serve the healthcare needs of public transit riders along their route.
Additional information:•

Gateways to Better Health Homepage•

Gateways to Better Health flyer•

FTA Rides to Wellness Grants

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Nevada – RTC Paratransit Partnership with Lyft
How it works: In February 2018, the Regional
Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC)
partnered with Lyft to provide on-demand, subsidized
rides for paratransit users. Riders can use the Lyft app
or the RTC’s Customer Care Center to schedule either a
traditional Lyft ride or a shared ride on the pooled LyftLine service, paying the standard fee of $3, with the
RTC subsidizing the rest of the cost, up to $15. If theride is more than $18, riders can choose to pay theremaining balance or schedule a ride through thetraditional paratransit service. In the first phase of the
program, customers who use a wheelchair could
request a ride through the Customer Care Center,
which then dispatched an on-demand Wheelchair
Image credit: RTC Southern Nevada
Accessible Vehicle (WAV) to their location. In thesecond phase (beginning November 2018), the program incorporated a partnership with Tango, an on-demand
WAV service provider. WAVs are not available directly through the Lyft app. Program participants are given a
quota on the number of rides, which was calculated through a formula that considered their use of conventional
paratransit service during the previous 6 months.
Unique partnership qualities: The initial budget of the on-demand paratransit pilot program was $400,000,
meant to serve up to 200 participants for 6 months. The pilot was under budget for its first phase, mainly due tothe RTC scaling up the program more slowly than initially expected. The program succeeded in reducing per-ride
costs by 53 percent compared with its traditional paratransit service, including both WAV and non-WAV trips.
The agency purposefully chose to keep the pilot small, as officials wanted to receive and process qualitative
feedback from each of the users and react quickly if there were issues that needed to be addressed. The firstparticipants were the former users of a supplementary veteran’s mobility service that shut down, providing the
RTC with a small pool of new users who needed paratransit service. Other participants were later added to theprogram by RTC officials, who identified groups that would benefit from the program and reviewed interest
forms submitted by current paratransit users.
Additional information:•

Shared-Use Mobility Center: Case Study: RTC Paratransit Partnership with Lyft•

RTC On-Demand Pilot Program•

RTC Ride On-Demand Pilot Program FAQs

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Ohio – Smart Columbus NEMT Program for Prenatal Care
How it works: Launched in May 2019, the prenatal trip assistance (PTA) pilot program called Rides for Baby
provided non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) for expectant mothers residing in eight communities in
the Columbus, OH area. Other project partners included The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center,
Caresource, Molina Healthcare, StepOne, Physicians CareConnection, and CelebrateOne. The aim of the PTA
program was to develop and implement a software application to enable NEMT trips for pregnant women.
Women who qualified for the program had to be enrolled in Medicaid and reside in one of the 8 designatedhigh-risk neighborhoods, and they were able to receive free transportation to prenatal and post-partum medical
appointments. Women using the service could schedule NEMT services by creating a trip request and entering
information about their trip, including origin and destination address and additional needs.
Unique partnership qualities: The PTA program aimed to improve health outcomes for expecting women andtheir children by increasing access to appointments. These 8 eligible neighborhoods for this program were
determined as a result of a study analyzing patterns of infant deaths in the county, carried out by CelebrateOne,
a division of the Mayor’s office. The pilot ran until November 2019.
Additional information:•

Smart Columbus NEMT program for prenatal care, Columbus, OH, 2019•

Smart Columbus PTA Homepage•

PTA Concept of Operations

Ohio – RTA & Ford partner for GoRide paratransit service, Dayton
How it works: In May 2019, the Greater Dayton Regional
Transit Authority (RTA) launched its partnership with Ford
Motor Company to offer Ford GoRide Health(GoRide) first/last mile and paratransit service in Dayton,
Ohio. While powered by Ford, the service is offered as part of
RTA Connect, the collection of alternative transportation
services offered by the RTA, which includes paratransit, bikeshare, first/last mile and general demand response services.
Through this partnership, wheelchair accessible rides areprovided to help connect individuals with disabilities tohealthcare, jobs and other services. By partnering with Ford,
Credit: Ford GoRide
RTA aims to enhance its paratransit and general demand
response services, complement existing mobility options, and improve first/last mile access to fixed routeservices.
Unique partnership qualities: At the time of publication, the program has been shut down due to Ford’sbusiness model pivoting to AV research. This example has still been included because the service model offeredon-demand mobility services that were wheelchair accessible, had trained drivers, and was HIPAA compliant.

23

Additional information:•

Greater Dayton RTA to partner with Ford to expand services•

Ford GoRide Health Expands Nationally, Launches First Public Service

Pennsylvania – Rabbittransit Paratransit for Seniors and People with Disabilities
How it Works: To complement Rabbittransit’s existing paratransit service across a 10-county area in Central
Pennsylvania, the transit agency partnered with Lyft and Uber for additional options to deliver ADA
paratransit. Rabbittransit makes use of Pennsylvania’s Shared Ride Program funds, which allows senior citizens
or an approved third-party sponsor to pay 15 percent of the fare, and the Lottery Fund pays the remaining 85
percent on local shared-ride transportation service. Rabbittransit books a TNC trip on behalf of its customers if
the ride is determined to be cost effective and the customer is ambulatory. The program has been operating
since May 2017 until the present. This option frees up capacity during peak hours for users who are notambulatory, who still require traditional paratransit vehicles to get to their destination.
Unique partnership qualities: The service area spans 10 counties in Central Pennsylvania and the partnershipwith Lyft and Uber offers additional options to ADA paratransit.
Additional Information:•

American Public Transportation Association. Transit and TNC Partnerships.

24Washington -Seattle Bikeshare Permit Program

Informational video highlighting the importance of parking bikeshare bikes correctly for persons with disabilities. Image credit: Seattle
Department of Transportation Bikeshare Permit Program and Rooted in Rights.

How it works: By establishing a permanent regulatory framework for bikesharing, the Seattle Department ofTransportation (SDOT) is seeking to harness the accessibility and reach of dockless bike companies. The new
permitting process makes bikesharing available to people with disabilities, with $50,000 in permit fees
redirected to create a program for an adaptive bikeshare partnership. Adaptive bicycles, which can include
three-wheeled bikes, hand-pedaled cycles, recumbent cycles and others, can help fill an accessibility gap for
riders with disabilities. Companies that deploy adaptive cycles will be allowed a “fleet-size bonus” of two
additional bikes for each approved adaptive cycle deployed in the city up to 1,000 additional bicycles. The
Seattle bikeshare permit also has measures to assure bikeshare bikes are parked properly and not obstructing
the pedestrian right-of-way. SDOT partnered with Rooted in Rights, a non-profit organization that protects therights of people with disabilities, to produce an informational video highlighting the importance of parking
bikeshare bikes correctly.
Unique partnership qualities: The SDOT bikeshare permit program outlines a number of measures to assure
correct usage, parking, and accessibility. The bikeshare program continues to grow and the permit offers a way
to outline the operational conditions to form a strong Public-Private Partnership.
Additional Information:•

Shared-Use Mobility Center. Case Study: Seattle Bikeshare Program & Permit Process.

•

Seattle Department of Transportation. Free-Floating Bike Share Program Permit Requirements.

25

Texas – Non-profit launches on-demand transportation pilot program for seniors andpeople with disabilities in rural counties

Credit: Feonix Mobility Rising

How it works: In early 2019, Feonix – Mobility Rising, a non-profit focusing on improving mobility options forunder-served and vulnerable populations, began work with the Coastal Bend Center for Independent Living and
the Area Agency on Aging to provide mobility options to the elderly and those with disabilities in coastal Texas.
The program received a grant from the US National Aging and Disability Transportation Center, and with it,
Feonix launch an on-demand volunteer driver program for seniors and people with disabilities providing service
throughout Coastal Bend.
Unique partnership qualities: The Coastal Bend region includes two blighted urban counties and nine very ruralcounties, and the need for additional mobility services in the area had been documented by a regionaltransportation plan. Feonix also coordinated with the Coastal Plains Community Center to use the MaaS
software they developed for a smaller pilot providing rides to a medical clinic; that pilot concluded after the
grant period expired, but it served 30 unique individuals prior to its conclusion.
Additional information:•

Non-profit launches on-demand transportation pilot program for seniors and people with disabilities inrural counties, TX, 2019•

Feonix Mobility Rising: Coastal Bend Region website

26Vermont – Go! Vermont Trip Planner
How it works: In partnership with Trillium
and Cambridge Systematics, the Vermont
Agency of Transportation (VTrans) has
developed an online open-source trip
planning application, which – by using
GTFS-flex data – provides state-wide resultsthat include more flexible transportation
services such as dial-a-ride, hail-a-ride, anddeviated fixed-routes. With this platform,
users – particularly, non-traditional ruraltransit system users – gain a more
complete picture of all their mobility
options when planning a trip. The online
platform was developed as a pilot projectImage credit: VTrans; tablet displaying trip planning tool in front of VT MooverBus
within the FTA MOD Sandbox program, andseveral other transit agencies have alreadytaken steps to replicate the initiative’s resulting technologies. The Go! Vermont Trip Planner was established toserve both urban and rural areas across the state. Oftentimes, these areas, and in particular rural communities,
do not have access to extensive fixed route services that traditional trip planners are developed to show. Thisnew trip planner is also designed for people who have mobility challenges, as paratransit services that do notappear with Google Maps are available. By including services like dial-a-ride and wheelchair accessible vehicles
into the results, the trip planner offers individuals with mobility challenges greater transportation
options. Importantly, groups like the Vermont Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Vermont
Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living were engaged in the rollout of the trip planner toensure that their community members were made aware of the services. Feedback from many of these groups
and their members has been extremely positive.
Unique partnership qualities: The program offers an example of a statewide transportation planning tool thattakes into consideration services for persons with a disability while crossing local political boundaries. This isparticularly important in Vermont given the rural and small town areas and the need to travel from one
jurisdictional boundary to another. The program is also based on open-source planning tools so that otherlocations can adapt it to their specific community needs.
Additional Information:•

Shared-Use Mobility Center. Case Study: Vermont Flexible Trip Planner—Bringing Fixed and Flexible
Transit Together on a Single Platform.

Virginia – CARE On-Demand, Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC)
How it works: GRTC provided another mobility option for its ADA paratransit customers by partnering with two“reservation network companies” as a pilot in August 2017. The program is being run in GRTC’s service area,
including the City of Richmond, Henrico County, and parts of Chesterfield County. UZURV is a TNC that provides
27

all drivers with ADA and sensitivity training, and offers door-to-door service when needed by riders. Roundtrip isa web-based reservation service that has agreements with transportation providers in its network to serve therequested trips, including over 15 with accessible vehicles. Same day service for ADA paratransit riders is offered
if booking is made at least two hours in advance. Personal care assistants ride and companions (spacepermitting) can also ride without charge. The program is being funded with a combination of state and local
funds.
Unique partnership qualities: GRTC offers a same day on-demand service for persons with disabilities. Throughthe reservation system, riders are matched to a vehicle to meet their mobility needs, whether that is a TNC or a
WAV. The one-stop shop creates efficiencies and a higher quality level of experience for its users.
Additional Information:•

Homepage, Roundtrip•

CARE On-Demand•

Greater Richmond Transit Company

Wisconsin – Milwaukee Adaptive Bikeshare Program
How it works: In August 2019, the City of Milwaukee
incorporated several adaptive bikes into its docked
public bikeshare system, Bublr, for a 6-month pilot
program. The vehicles – which include upright trikes,
hand-cycles and 2-person side-by-side tandem bikes –can be located through the website or app-based
system. The first phase of the pilot concluded in
December 2019, and an evaluation of the pilot will be
conducted before a second phase is launched in 2020.

Unique partnership qualities: Rather than making theadaptive bikes available at specified locations, thebikes can be accessed directly from the bikeshare

Image credit: City of Milwaukee

stations.

Additional information:•

Milwaukee incorporates adaptive bikes into public bikeshare system, Milwaukee, MI, 2019•

City of Milwaukee Adaptive Bike Pilot Home•

Bublr Bikes Adaptive Cycles
28Conclusion
This policy and program scan of shared use mobility has raised important issues regarding the advancement ofthese strategies for individuals with disabilities.
First, individuals with disabilities must be at the table in the planning, design, operations, and evaluation ofthese services. Second, the policy and program scan found that coordination of policy across different levels ofgovernment is beneficial to ensuring that shared-use mobility is an option for people with disabilities.
When developing policies or programs it is important to recognize that one size does not fit all and the uniquecharacteristics of the neighborhood where these mobility services will occur must also be considered. Without
this local understanding of the mobility needs, travel patterns and external factors, such as the topography or
incidence of particular disability groups, a policy or program will likely not meet its intended goals. Involving thecommunity in this process can produce valuable information and help to build necessary community support.
New technologies have enabled mobility on demand. While these different mobility options are now available in
the palm of your hand, they are often spread across different apps and payment systems and can sometimes be
confusing to access. Early work from transit agencies has helped to bridge this gap through integrated trip
planning and payment integration tools.
Finally, although this scan did not capture information about empirical outcomes related to inclusiveness ofservice, we were able to identify policy and programmatic characteristics that have the potential to facilitate
inclusiveness. For instance, in those policies and practices that had the input of individuals with disabilities atmultiple steps, it could be anticipated that the considerations for riders with disabilities would be embedded in
the design and operations of the program. Similarly, when there was explicit language and reference toaccessibility and equity in policy statements or program descriptions, a heightened level of inclusiveness could
also be anticipated. The examples in this case study offer a beginning step toward understanding shared-use
mobility partnerships and policies and how they can increase mobility options for persons with disabilities.

The National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM; www.nationalcenterformobilitymanagement.org) is a national technical assistance center created to facilitatecommunities in adopting mobility management strategies. The NCMM is funded through a cooperative agreement with the Federal Transit Administration, and is operated
through a consortium of three national organizations – the American Public Transportation Association, the Community Transportation Association of America, and Easterseals.
Content in this document is disseminated by NCMM in the interest of information exchange. Neither the NCMM, SUMC nor the U.S. DOT, FTA assumes liability for its contents oruse.

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