Uber and Gainesville recently teamed up to help seniors get around town.
Uber, an app that enables people to get from one destination to the next, has partnered with the city of Gainesville and ElderCare of Alachua County, Inc., to offer rides through the app to elderly citizens. A six-month trial of the service will begin this coming week for anyone age 60 or older in specific neighborhoods.
"For once, seniors will have options for transportation. While they’re aging, they can only rely on family, and now they have access to this program," said Anthony Clarizio, the executive director of ElderCare of Alachua County, Inc. "It will put them back in motion."
A representative from ElderCare will come to the community centers located in two Gainesville neighborhoods, the 400 Building in downtown Gainesville and the Turkey Creek Forest community, to teach citizens how to use the app.
"We project at least 100 people [will benefit]," Clarizio said.
He also said the program has been in the works since last year, and it received approval Sept. 3 during a city hearing.
The success of the next six months will determine any future expansion.
"Then we’ll see for students and the rest of the community," said Russ Blackburn, city manager of Gainesville.
He said the program will be managed by ElderCare and the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce during the trial period.
Clarizio said ElderCare would be responsible for paying for the program, using $15,000 in grants from the city of Gainesville.
The senior citizens using Uber would pay up to $5 based on their economic status, determined by Medicare and Medicaid, with some using the service for free.
Marcial Abrahantes, 19, said he thought the program would have great benefits.
"If none of their relatives have any time to move them around town, and they can’t drive themselves where they want, then why not teach them how to use (Uber)?" the UF behavioral and cognitive neuroscience sophomore said.
"The Uber drivers just need to be aware of any special requirements they might have," Abrahantes said.
But Julia Frohlich, a UF telecommunication freshman, said she was concerned about the possible confusion from an app.
"Elderly people tend to not have same understanding or feelings about Uber use," the 18-year-old said.
But Blackburn said the program would help the elderly citizens overcome the technology obstacle.
"We recognize the challenge it is that as people age [and] cannot drive, and a service like Uber could help them," Blackburn said.
