MyRide is a free transportation program for seniors 60 years old and older who have difficulty driving or moving independently. Completely volunteer-based, drivers help transport seniors to destinations such as grocery stores and doctor’s appointments, even providing assistance from car to door.  

Maria Lee’s office is focusing each month on a demographic to support and this month they chose seniors, according to communications director Ella Watkins. For example, this month is seniors; next month is pregnant women.  

“This is focused on trying to meet community needs across the state as well as mobilizing Tennesseans to get out and serve their communities in unique ways,” said Watkins.  

She said they reached out to MyRide through the state’s Commission on Aging & Disability to help volunteer for one day. Watkins along with communications director Sutherland Shrader helped transport two Bedford seniors for the day last Thursday.  

“The hope is that we can share this with the First Lady’s constituency audience so that our people are able to learn about MyRide and the MyRide chapters all across the state,” said Watkins.  

MyRide was implemented in 2018 with Lawerance County serving as one of the first locations. Bedford County is also one of the three counties in the South-Central region in addition to Maury County. Lawerence and Maury counties are averaging around 150 rides per month, according to Assistant Director of Aging & Disability Programs for the South-Central Tennessee Development District.  

Among these three counties, Rochelle said it average probably around 400 rides a month. 

With so many rides, the program needs anywhere from 20 to 25 volunteers per county, but finding drivers is difficult.  

“There are waiting lists because the demand is there but the challenge is always getting more volunteers,” said Rochelle. 

There are several perks to being a volunteer driver, such as gas reimbursement. “But most of our volunteers don’t ask for that. We've maybe had one or two in the history of all three programs. Once they start doing the program, they’re like ‘it’s no big deal.’” 

At the South-Central Tennessee Development District, some of the funding they receive from the federal Older Americans Act funding (Title III-B) can be used until June.  

At that point, Rochelle said they’re hoping to get some of the state legislators to sponsor a bill that would provide funding for current MyRide programs as well as for counties that need to implement the program. 

Often, the program services seniors who have either lost their ability to drive or lost their primary caregiver. This makes simple daily tasks like going to the grocery store or a doctor’s appointment difficult. 

“We don’t think about it until we’re in that situation or we have a loved one in that situation,” said Rochelle. 

And what separates MyRide from a public transportation system is seniors receive car from door to door. “Public transportation is not allowed to go beyond the curb, so how do you help those people who have a walker, and oxygen, or have mobility issues?” said Rochelle. “It’s that one-on-one assistance.” 

“It’s part of their social being, and we want to promote their quality of life,” said Rochelle. 

MyRide is not income based but is for anyone 60 years old and older. For more information about MyRide Bedford call 931-703-0286 or email tn.aging@tn.gov.