Transportation for seniors and individuals with disabilities
Don’t drive? Let Empowerline help you explore ways to get there. It’s common for many people to outlive their ability to drive or to seek alternate transportation options based on their abilities. But what if the bus line doesn’t go past the senior center? What if it’s too expensive to take a taxi to the grocery store? What if you’re not sure whether public transportation can get you to the doctor’s office in time for your appointment?
Whether you’re going about your daily routine or looking for opportunities to engage in your community, there are a number of roads to get you there. Read on to learn about the various transportation options. Or, if you know what you’re looking for, you can search for transportation options in our database.
What are my transportation options as an older person or an individual with a disability?
There are many organizations in Georgia that transport older persons and individuals with disabilities to everyday destinations for little or no charge. Ride options include:
- Round-trip from your home to your destination
- Shuttles that follow a regular route to needed community places
- Group trips to social and cultural activities
Riders can expect to travel in vans or buses, subway trains, volunteers’ personal vehicles, rideshare vehicles, or private shuttle services.
Let’s take a closer look at metro Atlanta’s transportation options for older persons and individuals with disabilities.
Specialized transportation services for senior citizen transport
Specialized Transportation services are popular with active seniors, especially those enrolled in community programs (such as senior centers, senior group lunches, volunteering, and adult day services). Most specialized transportation services provide free and low-cost rides to community program meetings and events. Many services offer on-demand or scheduled transport to medical appointments, shopping centers, and senior centers—some even sponsor group trips to recreational areas and special events. It is important to note that most specialized transportation requires you to be registered in a community program and often there are service limits.
For eligible Medicaid recipients, there are specialized transportation services to medical appointments available. For more information or to book a ride, you can look into LogistiCare or Southeastrans.
Public Transit—Including Paratransit & MARTA mobility
Public Transit can also be a convenient and cost-effective method for commuters of all ages and abilities. Depending on your location and abilities, you can choose between buses, ADA compliant paratransit options (including MARTA mobility), MARTA trains, or the Atlanta streetcar to get to your destinations. All public transit services follow regular route-schedules and most are accessible to individuals with disabilities. In the Greater Atlanta region, your transport options include: MARTA (serves Fulton County, DeKalb County, and Clayton County), Cobb County Transit, Gwinnett County Transit, Cherokee County Transit, and the Atlanta Streetcar.
