A report on Global last night, shared our need for more volunteers is all areas – SERSC CSRSE, Connexions communautaires/ Community Links, Fundy Regional Service Commission, Western NB Community Development and the Capital Region. We cannot share news links on social media but if you go to their site and look for an article called Demand outpacing volunteers for New Brunswick transportation program you can watch the interview that includes a client, a driver, our Executive Director and some additional information from Dr Trevor Hansen from UNB.
An organization providing cheap transportation to medical appointments and food bank pickups in southeastern New Brunswick is searching for more volunteers.
Volunteers with Urban/Rural Rides say demand keeps growing as the cost of living prices more and more people out of owning a vehicle.
Getting around New Brunswick isn’t easy without a car, and the service provides much-needed transportation to those who need it. The fee for the program is subsidized based on their clients’ income.
The service helps a number of clients, such as 70-year-old Nancy Tingley of Riverview, who can’t drive or take the bus due to medical reasons.
“I have to wait for a half an hour to transfer buses on Main Street, and a cab would cost me $100 just for what I need today,” she said.
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Nancy Tingley is a client of Urban/Rural Rides and relies on the service to get around. View image in full screen
Nancy Tingley is a client of Urban/Rural Rides and relies on the service to get around. Suzanne Lapointe/Global News
Volunteer Louise Tingley said it’s a rewarding program to be a part of.
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“I feel very good by helping people. I love how grateful they are,” said Tingley, who is related to Nancy by marriage.
“We see a lot of people that have cancer treatments that have to go two or three times a week, or two or three times a month, and we’re the friendly face that they see when we pick them up.”
Kelly Taylor, executive director of Urban/Rural Rides, says the service has around 700 clients, most of whom are referred by agencies.
“Inflation, things are costing more than they used to — it’s really putting a pinch on the lower income, the families and the working poor, making it difficult or impossible to operate a vehicle,” she said.
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But a lack of volunteers is making the service difficult to operate.
“We won’t deny people to become part of the service, but there are times when we have to deny transportation because we don’t have people available,” said Taylor.
Kelly Taylor, executive director of Urban/Rural Rides, says the service is looking for volunteers. View image in full screen
Kelly Taylor, executive director of Urban/Rural Rides, says the service is looking for volunteers. Suzanne Lapointe/Global News
Urban/Rural Rides currently has about 100 volunteers in Moncton, Fredericton, and various rural areas in southeastern New Brunswick.
As the province’s population grows, University of New Brunswick transportation expert Trevor Hanson says it’s going to take a long time to shift to a less car-dependent way of life.
“If you live in a city and you have to drive to four or five different places to meet your needs, we have to think of, ‘Do we change how we do our land-use planning in a way to reduce demand?’”
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