San Luis Obispo - Caltrans - State of California

SAN LUIS OBISPO REGION
COORDINATED HUMAN SERVICES-PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PLAN
• Runabout certification process is a barrier to seniors riding; many don’t understand the
process and need a trip “now”, not understanding they must be certified several weeks
ahead of time.
• The quality of the ride on Runabout is very rough for frail bones; need better shocks,
particularly where this is a shared-ride, long-distance trip.
• Long ride times are hard on frail elderly; importance of dispatchers’ paying attention to
ride-time length in the scheduling of the trip.
• Driver training needed for serving the frailest, oldest seniors. Easy not to understand
these issues.
• Interest in environmentally friendly project – show connection to the environment by
riding transit.
• Importance of having successes; want to be able to show success but also tolerate
failure in special projects. Need to have an environment where it is okay to experiment
as to what projects will work best for seniors. Need to have measures for evaluating
success and failure in special projects. Need flexibility in programming in order to find
those projects that truly will work best.
• Need for a transportation guru who can help translate transit information for seniors.
• Opportunity for coordination with “Senior Connection” around information issues and
needs.
• Information needs are constant; senior advocates are aware that Ride-On has services
for seniors but sometimes difficult to translate these into service options for seniors.
• Need to distribute transit information in the water bills; having it always in front of seniors
towards the times when the individual needs it.
• Information needs to be constant and continuously out there as individual seniors don’t
want to think about transit now but may have to soon.
• Information needs to be simplified; interest in one number option with a person at the
other end of the telephone and not multiple buttons to push to get to needed information.
• A special transportation hotline staffed to handle requires from seniors; preferable to
calling a phone number with multiple options.
• Importance of regional orientation to information; probably best to centralize information
in the Rideshare office as this is an appropriate place. Provide for getting information
out to seniors in as many ways as possible; have it there for the time when they are
ready to pay attention to transit needs and issues.
• Medical trip needs are continuing for individuals and difficult to serve, particularly when
out-of-the county --- Santa Barbara, Stanford or UCLA in Los Angeles.
• Coordination between different services is desirable. The train station is served by SLO
and RTA but no way to get to or from SLO airport on public transit.
• Taxi services are very limited; can’t help with many trips.
• Potential with Silverado Stages running tour buses and shuttles between SLO and LAX,
Port of Long Beach – combined with potential medical shuttle expansion. (UCLA, USC)
Potential Projects
Operations or alternatives services: Information projects oriented specifically towards
seniors; may be a role for churches and for volunteers; potential private sector partnering
(taxis, Silverado Stages; others); role for police department in directing after-hours persons
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OCTOBER 2007