Some say that seniors avoid cell phone apps and texting like the plague. Then again, this cliché, like most, probably does have a foundation in fact.
Paramount is bringing the convenience of Uber and Lyft to residents 55 and older or those who are disabled by partnering with an organization that will make accessing ride-sharing easy as pie.
The City already provides subsidized transit for these residents to in-town government facilities, medical offices, shopping centers, and the Paramount Senior Center, as well as out-of-town medical offices within a five-mile radius using a taxi-based program. The taxi company, like so many businesses, has experienced labor shortages, so Paramount has sought to expand its choices.
Consequently, the Paramount City Council has approved this new option for hailing Uber and Lyft without the need for downloading their apps.
GoGo Grandparent schedules the rides to the same destinations as a resource for those who aren’t comfortable arranging ride-sharing directly.
A simple phone call to GoGo Grandparent, or enlisting the help of staff at the Senior Center, will send them on their way. All one needs is to be registered with the City and cover an affordable co-pay of $1 for each one-way trip, with the City funding the rest of the cost. Rides to the Senior Center, by the way, are free.
GoGo Grandparent is utilized by a handful of Northern California cities and operates in four other states and Canada. Paramount, however, is the first Southern California municipality to make this senior-friendly transit service available for those who need to get out and about but can’t always do it on their own.
“Paramount is devoted to our senior population and offers a healthy variety of programs and services to enhance their quality of life,’ said Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings. “I’m proud that we’ve now added another innovative way to make things easier for them on a daily basis.”