Transportation Options to Help Seniors Get Around Santa Clarita
Today’s seniors want to keep their independence for as long as possible. With nearly 90% of older adults wanting to remain at home while they grow old, reliable and safe transportation to doctor’s appointments, grocery stores, and social outings is essential. However, some seniors may be nervous about driving or unable to do so at all due to mobility issues.
Luckily, Santa Clarita, CA, has many transportation options to help seniors get out and about. This allows older adults to maintain their independence, get to where they need to go and stay socially engaged.
Benefits of Public Transit for Santa Clarita Older Adults
Public transportation services are an invaluable asset to anyone living in an urban or suburban area. Overall, having the access and ability to travel, even locally, truly opens a world of possibility. Santa Clarita’s variety of transportation services offer many benefits, especially for seniors:
Maintained Sense of Independence: When seniors are able to travel freely by themselves without relying on the help of others, they feel more independent.
Safety and Security: Public transportation makes getting around town safer and more secure for older adults. They do not have to drive in bad weather or with health conditions that make it challenging for them to do so. The city of Santa Clarita does a wonderful job of ensuring that their transit options offer the highest level of safety and quality, especially for older populations and people with disabilities.
Promotes Health and Wellbeing: Public transportation allows seniors to get to their doctor’s appointments, to the pharmacy to pick up their medication, and to the grocery store to stay nourished and have easy access to everyday essentials. It also promotes socialization, enabling older adults to attend church, see friends, or travel to their local community centers. This reduces feelings of loneliness and depression while promoting mental health.
Public Transportation for Santa Clarita Seniors
Santa Clarita provides many public transportation services, including trolleys, buses, and trains. And with multiple stops all over town, seniors have easy access.
City of Santa Clarita Transit
Santa Clarita Transit provides rides within Santa Clarita and to nearby cities. With a variety of buses, vans, and trolleys–all wheelchair accessible–there’s no reason to stay cooped up inside or miss important medical appointments. They place an emphasis on fixed-route services to make transportation as accessible as possible to older adults and those with disabilities. If you are over the age of 60 and traveling locally, Santa Clarita Transit offers free rides. Seniors also receive reduced fares for commuter routes. Additionally, all Santa Clarita Transit staff undergo regular travel training to better assist senior residents.
Dial-A-Ride
If seniors feel uncomfortable taking the bus or trolley, they can use Dial-A-Ride. This Santa Clarita service provides curb-to-curb paratransit for qualified seniors or people with disabilities. To qualify, you must be a resident of Santa Clarita, CA, who is at least 60 years old or has a certified disability. As long as you’re traveling within the Santa Clarita Valley, they can take you anywhere you want to go for recreation or business.
Access Services (AS)
Similar to the Dial-A-Ride program, Access Services is an alternative method of transportation offering rides for those unable to ride on a fixed bus route due to physical or cognitive impairment. However, unlike Dial-A-Ride, which is also available to the general public, Access Services is strictly for those with an Access I.D. card. Trips around Santa Clarita stay within a limited distance of fixed bus routes, but there are also transfer options to provide rides elsewhere throughout Antelope Valley, San Fernando Valley, and the Los Angeles Basin.
Go! Santa Clarita
Go! Santa Clarita is essentially a public rideshare option (like Uber or Lyft), that operates on fixed fees and within certain hours and city boundaries. Stops are made citywide, with the aim of providing a public transportation option where other city-provided transit options don’t go. All vehicles are ADA-compliant, and there is a discounted fee for senior and disabled riders.
Metrolink
Metrolink is Southern California’s train system, providing rides throughout the region during weekdays and on weekends. Santa Clarita has multiple stations where you can board and off-board trains, including the Santa Clarita Station, Newhall Station, Via Princessa Station, and Vista Canyon Station. Discounts are available to seniors, as well as for disabled and Medicare passengers with the appropriate proof of eligibility.
Stay Active Around Town With the Help of an Angel!
Although Visiting Angels is not a transportation service, our in-home caregivers provide safe and dependable transportation assistance for our clients, helping them get to social events, supermarkets, and appointments. We assist in ways that support a safe and high-quality lifestyle while remaining independent at home.
Find out more about how we can assist you or your senior loved one living in the Santa Clarita or Antelope Valley areas. Call us at 661-263-2273.