NEW YORK: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.
