Story Published:
Oct 8, 2008 at 8:05 PM EST
Story Updated:
Oct 9, 2008 at 12:11 AM EST
One of the downfalls of aging is the loss of independence, especially if you can no longer drive a car. But thanks to Measure C, there's a program for seniors 70 and older that gives them door to door taxi service at a fraction of the cost.
Ed Ames is 78-years old and blind, but that doesn't stop him from getting around. He's one of 450 Fresno County Seniors 70 and older participating in the Measure C Taxi Scrip program. The program allows him to take a cab anywhere in Fresno county at a quarter of the cost.
"If it's eight dollars it costs me two dollars," said Ames. "It's a wonderful deal and it's all part of the Measure C funding program that all of us as taxpayers put money into."
"We now have over 11 taxi companies signed up for this program. It's very simple. You just call and order the taxi on your own. There's no third party. You tell them you have taxi scrip because they have to do paperwork, and they have to have it with them when they pick you up," Ames said.
Seniors 70 and older fill out an application and once approved, they can purchase $20 of taxi scrip (like coupons) for $5. This is a 75% discount. Up to five booklets of taxi scrip can be purchased each month. The scrip can be used like cash with participating cab companies 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Scrip booklets can be purchased at several FAX locations, the Manchester Transit Center, Clovis City Hall, select Senior Centers and Fresno COG (FCOG only accepts mail orders).
As easy as it is to participate in the program, Ames is concerned that so few seniors have signed up. More than 20,000 seniors 70 and older live in Fresno County, yet only 450 have joined the program. "We have at the moment several hundred thousand dollars in our treasury just set aside for this program, and if it's utilized and gets people to do things they wouldn't ordinarily do, that's what it's all about.," said Ames.
In addition to the taxi scrip program for seniors 70 and older, there's another Measure C program that allows seniors 65 and older to ride city buses for free. For more information on this program, call 559-621-RIDE.
To find out more about the 75% taxi discount for Seniors 70+ go to Taxi Scrip or call the Council of Fresno County Governments at
559-233-4148, during regular business hours. You may also send an email to Melissa Garza at mgarza@fresnocog.org.
For more information on regional transportation in general go to Council of Fresno County Governments
