For a price, Metro Mobility users can get a private on-demand ride
Metro Mobility users who can afford to pay a bit more for a private ride and faster trips have a new transportation option. The Metropolitan Council recently entered into a partnership with Carepool to provide same-day, on-demand rides for seniors and those with disabilities, in much the same way others arrange for rides using Uber or Lyft.
Carepool joins Transportation Plus in taking riders to their destination without picking up other passengers along the way. Both companies can accommodate wheelchairs, scooters and service animals. But as its name suggests, Carepool offers riders a “caring experience” as well as their choice of drivers, said CEO Josh Massey.
“With a taxi or other rideshare, you get something new every day,” Massey said. With Carepool, “a lot of time you get the same driver. They can have confidence in who their driver might be … and feel safe in driving experience.”
Riders certified to use Metro Mobility may book trips on Carepool by calling 612-284-5204 or online at carepool.us. Customers will pay the first $5 for any rides, and Metro Mobility will cover the next $15. If the total fare exceeds $20, the customer pays the remainder.
Carepool came to the Twin Cities about 18 months ago at a time when Uber and Lyft were threatening to leave Minneapolis as drivers demanded higher pay. Anyone can use Carepool, Massey said. Rides not covered by private insurance or the Met Council program will cost about the same as a traditional rideshare trip.