NEED A RIDE?
ABOUT THE DRIVE HAPPINESS SENIORS ASSISTED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM:
The Seniors Assisted Transportation program is provided to eligible riders by our volunteer drivers. All volunteer driver candidates are screened for vulnerable security clearance, a well maintained vehicle, and a clean driving abstract before they are accepted as Volunteers for Drive Happiness.
ELIGIBILITY:
A big part of the Drive Happiness core operations are providing transportation services to seniors (65+); residing in the Greater Edmonton and surrounding areas, in need of transportation services due to limited income, mobility and other health related issues.
Specifically, according to the Drive Happiness Standard Operating Terms and the Drive Happiness Association Bylaws, applicants are assessed on the basis of the following criteria:
- Applicants need to be 65+;
- Applicants need to be sufficiently mobile such that they can enter and exit vehicles on their own cognizant; however need to have personal challenges that restrict them from utilizing other forms of transportation such as ETS, DATS, etc.;
HOW THE SENIORS ASSISTED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM OPERATES:
Volunteer drivers take riders to various appointments like medical appointments, shopping, banking, programming, and to visit friends or family.
The rider requiring the ride buys tickets for $10.00 each from the Drive Happiness office. Payments can be made by cheque to “Drive Happiness” and mailed, by credit card over the phone (with an additional $3 fee), or by sending an email money transfer to payments@drivehappiness.ca with the security answer to any question you choose as “happiness“. Each ticket entitles the rider to ninety minutes of time and/or 40 km driving distance. Time and/or distance over this requires another ticket.
Volunteer drivers do not book rides, sell tickets or take money.
If assistance is needed with a walker, oxygen, poor eyesight, etc. please let the office know this. Our cars are not equipped for wheelchairs. Riders needing Handicapped Parking are urged to have their own placard. Please note: Parking fees are the responsibility of the passenger.
Rides should be booked THREE FULL BUSINESS DAYS in advance by phoning 780-424-5438 or 1-888-336-4503, giving your name, phone number, address, as well as the appointment time, return time, destination (full address, postal code and phone number) and estimated length of the appointment. Our office hours are from 9AM to 4PM daily except Saturday and Sunday and all holidays.
When a volunteer driver is found, the volunteer driver will call the rider requesting the ride the day before their appointment in order to confirm the appointment with them and to set up a pick-up time.
If the Drive Happiness office cannot find a volunteer driver, the rider requesting the ride will be phoned 24 hours prior to their appointment; and informed so that the rider can make other travel arrangements. The volunteer driver will phone the rider the night before to confirm the time and place of the appointment. If the rider booking the ride must cancel, please contact the Drive Happiness office as soon as possible. The volunteer driver will then be contacted with the cancellation. Volunteer drivers do not book rides. This must be done through the Drive Happiness office ( 780-424-5438 or 1-888-336-4503).
There is an annual fee for the rider program based on income, please contact the office for more information.
APPLICATION FORM
Once you have duly completed and signed the Rider Application form, please send your application to Drive Happiness Seniors Association via:
Email:
info@drivehappiness.ca
OR
Mail:
9916 45th Ave. NW
Edmonton, AB
T6E 5J1
Rider annual fees can be mailed via a cheque, sent by email money transfer or over the phone by credit card. Please do not send cash. When sending a cheque please make it out to “Drive Happiness“.
Upon receipt of your application and annual fees, Drive Happiness staff will set you up into our rider database and mail out the Rider Protocol.
If you were accepted as a rider participating in our senior assisted transportation program You are now set to book rides! Call us!
Drive Happiness is committed to providing an inclusive and diverse environment for our staff, volunteers and clients that recognizes and values differences. We recognize that diversity – the many different and unique things about us, both individually and collectively – contributes to building a stronger organization and providing better service to our clients.
Drive Happiness respects and appreciates the difference in age, ethnicity, indigenous origin or heritage, gender, physical attributes, beliefs, language, sexual orientation, education, nationality, social background, and culture or other personal characteristics.
Want to be a driver?
Make a difference in your community and volunteer your time driving seniors.