When Cecilia Braddock was employed by Bell Telephone she often relied on her local taxi service for transportation to and from work. As she was nearing retirement age her driver told her she was eligible to use the Senior Citizen Shared Ride Program.
That was over 20 years ago and Cecilia has been using the service regularly ever since. Going to the Inn Flight Restaurant for lunch is a daily ritual of hers. Over the years she has grown so close to the staff at Inn Flight that she has even attended weddings and funerals. Cecilia also uses the Shared Ride service for various other reasons like going to the grocery store, pharmacy, hairdresser, and doctor's office.
Cecilia likes sharing her discovery with others and is truly a goodwill ambassador for TransNet. She always carries Shared Ride applications in case she meets other senior citizens with transportation needs. If they have questions about how the program works or what is has to offer, Cecilia knows the answers.
"Everybody is willing to help you, regardless of what you need," says Cecilia of her local transportation provider, Bux-Mont Transportation Services Co. "Everyone is courteous, from the reservationist to the dispatcher to the drivers." She recalls one occasion when, after completing some tests at a local hospital, she needed a ride home. The hospital staff was reticent about letting her use a "taxi" service. They thought she would be better off contacting a family member or friend. Cecilia told them, "That company is closer to me than my family," and she called Bux-Mont to get her home safely.
Cecilia is a member of the Senior Citizen Shared Ride Advisory Committee which meets regularly to discuss possible improvements in the service. She is also an active member of the St. John Cross Senior Citizen Club and the Bell Telephone Pioneers. Thanks to the Shared Ride Program Cecilia has continued to be an active participant in the life of her community.
I need to let you know how Bonnie Geist made my mothers 94th birthday so special.
My mom has been a resident of Regina Nursing Home since December of 2007. I promised I would take her to Red Lobster for her Birthday, but had no idea how I was going to get her there. She can not walk and is in a wheelchair. She can not get in and out of my car. Why did I make this promise, where were my thoughts?
One morning I stopped at WaWa in Jeffersonville and I saw one of your transit vans. I wrote down the number and made the call. I got in touch with Bonnie Geist and from the start, she was wonderful. I told her my quest to take my mom to Red Lobster for her 94th birthday. I mentioned that Mom used the Shared Ride service when she lived with me and that was the magic statement. Bonnie made some calls and got back to me to say that she could transport my mom. Wow, she got my mom's membership reinstated.
We went to Red Lobster and Pete was our driver. He had a balloon and a birthday greeting signed by Bonnie. What an awesome thing to do. Pete was so personable, I felt like I knew him for years. Mom had her lobster and cried all the way home, she was so happy.
Thank you so much for making her day so special.
In the meantime, all the people at Regina are asking me how I pulled this off. Bonnie sent some applications with Pete and I will attach a letter telling them about my wonderful experience.
Thanks Bonnie, Pete and Suburban Transit for the special day for my mom. Her last words to me before I left Regina Nursing Home that day was, when are we going again. Now that I have her ID card, I am sure we will be using the service again.
