Eastside Easy Rider Collaborative

Gary Dickerman, Eastside Easy Rider Collaborative Committee Member

 

There's a transportation advocate out there working for the East King County older Americans, youth, special needs, and ESL riders that depend upon public transportation. We're called the Eastside Easy Rider Collaborative (EERC).

Did you know that according to a survey released by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), more than four in five (82 percent) of Americans age 65 or older worry that they will be stranded and unable to get around when they can no longer drive? "America's older citizens believe staying mobile is essential and that 'mobility security,' just like 'financial security' and 'medical security,' needs to be planned for," said William W. Millar, president of APTA.

The Eastside Easy Rider Collaborative is working actively to identify and initiate coordinated, creative, sustainable ways to assist special needs populations on the Eastside to attain a better quality of life by increasing their transportation options.  Some of the funding and implemented program successes we accomplished are the Travel Ambassador Program, the Bus Buddy Program, the Dial-A-Ride Program, a Mobility Coordinator for East King County, and a voice in the Downtown Bellevue Circulator project.

Just one of many EERC success stories concerns Arlena, 83. Upon the sudden loss of her husband, Arlena came to Hopelink for assistance. She had used the "Access" shuttle service for many years due to her husband’s failing health. But now she would no longer be eligible for Access or other mobility offerings. This was a crucial dilemma for her, as she had no ability to drive, and had never used public transit on her own. Arlena was matched with a Bus Buddy volunteer, who helped her plan rides and traveled with her until she was comfortable navigating on her own. She completed several trips with her Buddy, and today she is totally confident traveling around the Eastside and into Seattle for necessary appointments and errands. Arlena says, "This is a wonderful service for Hopelink to offer. As a senior, I needed the personal approach and my volunteer Joanne was generous with her help."

The Eastside Easy Rider Collaborative is a concerned group of volunteers representing community organizations such as King County Metro; Sound Transit; Aging & Disability Services, Seattle-King County; Hopelink; the City of Bellevue Human Services Commission; City of Bellevue Parks and Community Board; United Way of King County; Bellevue Network on Aging; and citizen advocates. 

The EERC committee meets with elected officials and key decision makers in the community to tell our story of how important expanded transportation options are needed throughout the Eastside. Our goals are to improve the mobility of all people through: