Are you a senior aged 65 or older, or an adult over 18 with a disability residing in El Cerrito (94530)? Easy Ride Transportation offers a fantastic shared-ride van service designed just for you. Funded by Measure J Sales Tax, this door-to-door shuttle provides affordable and accessible transportation within El Cerrito and to select nearby locations, making getting around town easier than ever.
This reliable shuttle service is perfect for a variety of essential trips. Whether you need to get to medical appointments, local grocery stores, shopping centers, religious services, or personal care appointments, Easy Ride is there. It also provides convenient access to BART stations, classes, and even social visits to friends and family. All of this is available for a nominal fee of just $2 per ride. As a special bonus, rides to the Cafe Costa Senior Nutrition Program on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are completely free!
Service Area Expansion
While Easy Ride Transportation primarily serves the El Cerrito city limits, the service area has been thoughtfully expanded to include several key destinations just outside of the city. These expanded locations are predetermined to ensure efficient service and cater to common needs within the community. The expanded service locations include:
- West Contra Costa Adult School, Alvarado Campus (Richmond)
- Richmond Annex Senior Center (Richmond)
- Grocery Outlet (Richmond)
- Pacific East Mall/Ranch 99 (Richmond)
- Costco (Richmond)
- Target (Richmond)
- Albany Oral Surgery (Albany)
- Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation Care Center (Albany)
Service Hours for Your Easy Ride
To ensure you can plan your trips effectively, here are the operating hours for Easy Ride Transportation:
- Monday & Thursday: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
- Tuesday & Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Why Choose Easy Ride Transportation? The Benefits
Easy Ride Transportation offers numerous advantages, making it a preferred choice for local transportation:
- Friendly and Helpful Staff: Experience pleasant and supportive service from our dedicated team.
- Affordable Fares: At just $2 per ride, Easy Ride is significantly more cost-effective than many other local transportation options.
- Convenient Local Transportation: Ideal for errands and appointments within El Cerrito and the expanded service area.
- Reduced Wait Times: Enjoy quicker service compared to traditional public transportation, saving you valuable time.
- Free Rides to Senior Nutrition Program: Access to the Cafe Costa Senior Nutrition Program is made even easier with complimentary transportation on select days.
Applying for Easy Ride Transportation: A Simple Process
Becoming a registered rider with Easy Ride Transportation is straightforward. To apply, you will need to provide the following:
- Proof of El Cerrito Residency: A government-issued photo ID or a utility bill displaying your El Cerrito address (94530) is required.
- Disability Verification (if applicable): Applicants aged 18 to 64 must submit a doctor’s note confirming their medical disability.
Please submit your completed application along with the necessary documentation to our office at:
7007 Moeser Lane
El Cerrito, CA 94530
Attn: Easy Ride
For any questions or concerns regarding the application process or the service, please do not hesitate to contact our office at (510) 559-7000 or via email at [email protected].
Click here to download the Easy Ride Application
Rider Guidelines for a Smooth Easy Ride Experience
To ensure a comfortable and efficient service for all passengers, please adhere to the following guidelines when using Easy Ride Transportation:
- Health and Safety First: If you are feeling unwell or experiencing any COVID-like symptoms, please refrain from using the service to protect yourself and others.
- Advance Scheduling is Essential: All trips must be booked in advance. Please call to make your reservation at least one business day before you need to travel. Bookings can be made up to two weeks in advance.
- Accessibility Needs: When booking your ride, inform the staff if you will be using a cane, walker, or wheelchair, or if you will be accompanied by a personal care attendant. This allows the driver to be prepared for your pickup.
- Punctuality is Appreciated: Drivers are allotted a 5-6 minute window to wait at pickup locations. Please be ready and on time to ensure smooth scheduling for everyone.
- Shared Rides: Please be aware that rides may be shared with other Easy Ride passengers.
- Registration Required: Registration for the Easy Ride Senior & Disabled Transportation Service is mandatory to utilize the service.
- Annual Renewal: Program registration must be renewed on an annual basis to maintain active rider status.
Scheduling Your Ride: It’s Easy!
Booking your Easy Ride Transportation is just a phone call away:
- Simply call (510) 559-7000 to schedule your ride.
- Reservations can be made from one day in advance up to two weeks in advance.
Please note that ride reservations are subject to driver availability, and certain programs or activities may impact transportation availability.
Payment Options for Easy Ride
Easy Ride Transportation utilizes a convenient shuttle ticket system for fare payment:
- Shuttle ticket books are available for purchase at a cost of $20 per book. Each book contains 10 tickets, with each ticket valued at $2 per ride.
- Ticket books can be purchased at the El Cerrito Community Center.
- Alternatively, you can request to have ticket books delivered to you when you are picked up for a scheduled ride.
- Payment for ticket books can be made via cash, check, or money order. Checks and money orders should be made payable to “City of El Cerrito”.
- Payment for your ride is required at the time of pickup using shuttle tickets.
No-Show and Cancellation Policy
To ensure efficient service operation, Easy Ride Transportation has a no-show/cancellation policy in place:
- A “no-show” is recorded if a rider is not present at the designated pickup location during the scheduled pickup time.
- A maximum of 3 no-shows or cancellations are permitted within a 3-month period. Exceeding this limit will result in the following actions:
- 1st No-Show: A verbal warning will be issued.
- 2nd No-Show: A formal letter will be sent detailing the first and second occurrences.
- 3rd No-Show: Suspension of Easy Ride Transportation service.
Bag Limitations for Your Comfort and Safety
To ensure the comfort and safety of all passengers, please adhere to the following bag limitations:
- Riders must be capable of independently carrying their bags or packages.
- A maximum of 2-3 bags or packages are permitted per rider.
- Bags must be able to fit comfortably at the rider’s feet without obstructing aisles or other passengers.
- The total weight of all bags should not exceed 10 pounds.
- Drivers are unable to assist with carrying packages that exceed the weight limit or take them inside residences or facilities.
Easy Ride Transportation is committed to providing reliable, affordable, and accessible transportation for seniors and adults with disabilities in El Cerrito. We hope this guide has provided you with all the information you need to take advantage of this valuable service. For any further inquiries, please contact us today!
