PRINTABLE RESOURCE

Click Here for a Printable Brochure about Transportation Services. Updated 10/26/23.

 

Transportation for Older Adults

Bergen County Community Transportation

178 Essex Street Lodi, NJ 07664
201-368-5955 (Service is for appointments 10:30-2, Best to call between 8 AM and 4 PM)

Provides a safe, trouble-free, scheduled door-to-door bus transportation system for persons with disabilities, senior citizens, veterans, and welfare to work residents of Bergen County. Suggested donation $1.

It is important to make reservations 7 to 10 days in advance or as early as possible as appointments are available on a first-come, first served basis.

For those needing routine transportation for dialysis, physical therapy or any other trips requiring weekly service, requests should be faxed by the facility providing the service to Bergen County Community Transportation.

Provides transportation to:

  • Routine medical appointments (given the highest priority when scheduling services)
  • County Regional Senior Centers
  • Shopping (in certain towns on a weekly basis)
  • Competitive and non-competitive employment
  • Education
  • Recreation
  • Post-stroke programs

 

Village of Ridgewood Senior Transportation

The Ridgewood Senior Bus
The Village of Ridgewood’s Senior Bus runs on the following days:

  • Tuesdays – within the Village of Ridgewood 9:30 am – 2:00 pm.
  • Wednesdays – to Wyckoff ShopRite on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month ONLY; Pick-ups start at 9:00 am; Return departs ShopRite at 11:15 am. Third Wednesdays within Ridgewood and surrounding towns 9:30 am – 2:00 pm.
  • Thursdays – within towns contiguous to Ridgewood 9:30 am – 2:00 pm.

To make a reservation, please call 201-670-5500 ext. 2203. The phone is staffed M-F 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, if you call during other hours leave a message and you will get a call back.

Senior Citizen Discount Taxi Coupon Program
Ridgewood residents aged 65 and older can purchase Senior Taxi Discount Coupons for use with Village Taxi for local transportation needs.  The discounted taxi coupons will reduce the cost of taxi service by about 50%.  The cost for a $25 coupon book of 25 $1 coupons is $13 and the cost for a $75 coupon book of 15 $5 coupons is $39.  Village Taxi is the only taxi service that accepts the senior discount taxi coupons.  The discounted taxi coupons are valid only for use with Village Taxi for local transportation and are not valid payment for airport trips.

Senior Discount Taxi Coupons can be purchased at the reception desk in the lobby at Village Hall, 131 N. Maple Ave., Ridgewood.  For more information please call 201-670-5500 ext. 204. The phone is staffed M-F 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, if you call during other hours leave a message and you will get a call back.

For Village Taxi reservations call 201-494-4444.

Bus Reservations for the Senior Bus

NJ TRANSIT

Reduced Fare Program
1 Penn Plaza East, 5th Floor Newark, NJ 07105
973-491-7112 (8:45 AM to 4:15 PM, Monday – Friday)
www.njtransit.com

Senior citizens 62 years or older (65 years of age for travel to/from Metro-North stations) and disabled people can ride for ½ the regular fare on NJ Transit buses, trains, and light rail. Many private bus companies operating in the state also participate in the program. A Medicare card can be used for identification or if you don’t have a Medicare card you may obtain a special Reduced Fare Identification Card. Applications for the Reduced Fare programs are available at most banks or can be obtained through the Reduced Fare Program office.

Allowable IDs for senior citizens 62 and older now include any ID or document printed with your date of birth and issued by a government, social service, or mass transportation agency.

For senior citizens 62 to 64, valid ID includes an NJ TRANSIT Reduced Fare Card; Driver’s License; Passport; Birth Certificate; State-Issued Non-Driver’s ID; or County, Medicaid, or Military ID.

For senior citizens 65 and older, this includes a NJ TRANSIT Reduced Fare ID; Medicare Card; Driver’s License; Passport; Birth Certificate; State-Issued Non-Driver’s ID; County, Medicaid, or Military ID; MTA Reduced Fare Card; PATH Senior Fare Card; or PA Senior Citizen Transit ID or PACE Card.

Note: NJ Transit’s bus fleet is 100% accessible with bus lifts and ramps. NJ Transit also offers kneeling buses for people who have difficulty with the first step up into the bus. If you would like to use the kneeling feature, simply ask the bus operator to make the bus kneel. When traveling into or out of the Port Authority or George Washington Bridge Bus Terminals, please call NJT Customer Service at 1 (973) 275-5555 for the location of an accessible boarding and arrival gate.

Many private bus companies operating in the state also participate in the reduced fare program. Please contact individual private carriers to find out if and how they participate.

NJ Find a Ride
www.njfindaride.org
or dial 211

NJ Find A Ride is an online directory of public and accessible transportation options. The website offers a searchable database which can be used to research and plan trips between locations.

Access Link
1-800-955-2321 / TT: 1-800-9556765 (Open 8:30AM to 5 PM, Monday – Friday)
accesslink.njtransit.com

Access Link is available to a disabled person who lives within ¾ of a mile of a bus route and who cannot use public transportation.

Eligible people must apply in-person at one of the designated agencies, known as “Assessment Agencies”. All transportation assessments are held in-person. To schedule a transportation assessment appointment, contact NJ TRANSIT at the number above.

If transportation is required to the Assessment Agency, round-trip service on Access Link may be provided. Please make this request when scheduling your transportation assessment interview.

To make a reservation, call Access Link between 7:30 AM and 4 PM every day including holidays. Reservations may be made up to seven (7) days in advance, but not less than the day before your trip. Same day requests cannot be accommodated.

New Jersey Travel Independence Program (NJTIP) at Rutgers

The New Jersey Travel Independence Program (NJTIP) @ Rutgers was created in an effort to increase the independence and self-sufficiency of people with disabilities, older adults and others by empowering them to use the public transit system safely and independently.

NJTIP @ Rutgers works with a variety of government agencies, community organizations and schools to teach travel skills to individuals. Travel instruction is also available in select counties to individuals and small groups based on available grant funding.

The instruction, which is provided in both English and Spanish, includes a spectrum of services meant to teach safe independent travel skills on public transit: the bus, train, light rail, county and private systems. Participants learn how to read bus and train schedules; plan their trips; pay their fares; and take safety precautions.

The service is available to Access Link applicants (except for those with visual impairments) who reside in any one of the following counties: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, or Union. The only cost to customers during training is paying their own fares. Each graduate receives a free one-month bus pass.

Learn more about this service by visiting their website: vtc.rutgers.edu/njtip/.

You may contact the service by phone at 848-932-4499 or email: [email protected].

EZ Ride/RYDE4LIFE

144 Park Place East, Wood-Ridge, NJ 07075
201-939-4242 option 4
Email: [email protected]
www.ezride.org
Hours: M-F 8am-8pm and Sat. & Sun. 8am-5pm

Transportation for adults 18 years or older in partnership with Transportation Network Companies (TNC) like Lyft and Uber. No advance reservation required. Just call us and we will take care of all the scheduling arrangements.

To participate in the program you should have a credit or debit card, a cell phone (not a smartphone) and complete and sign a Registration and Agreement Form.

Costs:
$15 annual membership fee
$1 administrative fee per ride + Lyft/Uber trip rate at the ​time of ride (will be quoted before pick up).

On-Demand Transportation Businesses

Uber
www.uber.com

An on-demand 24/7 car service.
In order to use this service, download the Uber app on your smartphone and set up an account with a credit card.

GoGoGrandparents
855-464-6872 (855-GOGO-USA)
www.gogograndparent.com

Operators connect older adults to Uber so smart phone not necessary. Rides monitored. Fees involved.

Lyft
www.lyft.com

An on-demand 24/7 car service.
In order to use this service, download the Lyft app on your smartphone and set up an account with a credit card.

Zoom Rides
Trish Manzo, Senior Director
Ridgewood NJ
201-694-0405
www.zoomrides.org

Zoom is a senior-friendly ride and personal shopping service that offers door-to-door service and can be scheduled in advance. Safety cameras in each vehicle. Call for current rates.

Valley Hospital

201-447-8000 x2507

Valley offers a free “non-emergent transportation service” for patients needing access to Valley’s Outpatient Programs. The service is for patients who are unable to drive or who do not have access to public transportation. The transportation must be for a service provided by the Valley Health System. The patient must live less than 30 minutes from the Valley Health System. Services are available on a first come, first served basis. The transport must occur between the service hours of operation, Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Services are not available on holidays.

Transportation for Bergen County Veterans to VA Hospital

201-368-5955 (Between 6:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.)

Bergen County veterans are eligible to receive transportation service to the VA Hospital in East Orange. Transportation is provided Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. and returns at 2 p.m. Veterans are asked to call 10 days in advance to book a seat. A $1 donation for the round–trip is requested.

Driver Discount Program

E-Z Pass Senior Citizen Discount Program

New Jersey Turnpike Authority
Customer Service
P.O. Box 5042, Woodbridge, NJ 07095
732-750-5300
www.ezpassnj.com/en/about/plans.shtml

Customers must have a NJ E-ZPass account, have a valid driver’s license, a vehicle registered in their name and provide proof of eligible age (65 and over) to enroll in the plan and receive a discount off the full fare off-peak* toll on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway.

*Peak hours are Monday through Friday 7 AM to 9 Am and 4;30 PM to 6 PM and all day on Saturday and Sunday.

Transportation for Medicaid Clients

Logisticare

1-866-527-9933
www.njmedicaidride.net/members/overview

Curb to Curb transportation provided for medical needs. Reservations are required 2-30 days in advance. The following information is needed when booking: client’s full name, date of birth, Medicaid 12-digit ID#, pick up address including zip code and telephone number, destination name, address including zip code and telephone number, and appointment date and time.

Transportation for People with Cancer

American Cancer Society

20 Mercer Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601
800-227-2345
www.cancer.org

Provides free rides to medical appointments/treatment for those diagnosed with cancer. Reservations are required 3 days in advance.

Cancer Care of New Jersey, Inc.

141 Dayton St. Suite 204, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
201-444-6630 / 800-813-4673
www.cancercare.org

Provides monetary grants to help pay for transportation (bus, train, cab, car service) to those diagnosed with cancer. Individuals must meet financial eligibility criteria. Call Cancer Care to discuss.

Transportation for People with Polio

New Jersey Polio Network

Heightened Independence and Progress
131 Main Street Suite 120, Hackensack, NJ 07601
201-996-9100 ext.18

Aids individuals throughout the state who have been affected by polio. Individuals can apply for grants for such needs as medical evaluations, home modifications, assistive devices and medical transportation costs. Funding up to $1000.

Driving Evaluations

Kessler Rehabilitation Center and the Jewish Home Family provide driving assessments for Older Adults. Appointments must be scheduled and inquire whether Medicare or your health insurance can cover the cost of this assessment.

Kessler Rehabilitation Center

300 Market Street #1, Saddle Brook, NJ 07663
201-368-6260
www.kesslerrehabilitationcenter.com/services/specialty-services/driving-program/

The Kessler Driving Program provides an individualized driving evaluation and training to those with physical, cognitive or vision limitations due to trauma, illness, disease or aging. A team of occupational therapists and certified driving specialists will help individuals gain the skills and understanding necessary to be on the road safely.

The Jewish Home Family

10 Link Drive, Rockleigh, NJ 07647
201-518-1174
www.jewishhomefamily.org/driving

The Jewish Home provides a driver assessment program. This is a two-step assessment process. The first step is an appointment with an occupational therapist to assess reaction time, vision, range of motion, knowledge of road signs, and cognition. The second step is a follow up appointment for a road assessment in a dual-control vehicle with an occupational therapist.