NEED A RIDE?
ABOUT THE DRIVE HAPPINESS SENIORS ASSISTED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM:
The Seniors Assisted Transportation program helps older adults stay active, independent, and connected to their communities. Eligible riders must first apply and become members with Drive Happiness, after which they purchase tickets for transportation as needed. Our volunteer drivers are carefully screened, provide clean and safe vehicles, and are committed to offering a dependable service. Rides are not guaranteed. If a volunteer driver is not available for a requested ride, our team will notify the rider the day prior and direct the rider to make alternate arrangements.
ELIGIBILITY:
The Drive Happiness core operations is providing transportation services to seniors (65+) in need of transportation services due to limited income, mobility, and other health related issues.
Applicants should:
- Be able to enter and exit vehicles with minimal assistance
- Have personal challenges that restrict them from accessing other forms of transportation such as ETS, DATS, etc.
WHERE DO WE OPERATE:
The Seniors Assisted Transportation Program (SATP) operates through the help of volunteer drivers. Drive Happiness volunteers reside in the following communities across Alberta (non-exclusively):
- Edmonton and surrounding communities (Sherwood Park, St. Albert, Spruce Grove/ Stony Plain, Leduc, Beaumont, and surrounding area)
- Airdrie and Calgary (and surrounding area)
- Lethbridge
- Red Deer and Red Deer County (and surrounding regions)
- Fort Mcmurray
- Grande Prairie
- Smoky Lake
- Jasper
- Camrose
Please visit our volunteering page for more information.
HOW THE SENIORS ASSISTED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM OPERATES:
All riders must first submit an application to the Drive Happiness office via mail or email. After being accepted to the program, riders contact the Drive Happiness office by calling or emailing to book their rides with a minimum of 3 business days notice. Rides are then booked into the schedule for volunteer drivers to access.
Rider MUST provide the following information to book a ride:
- Time & Date of Appointment
- Pickup Address
- Drop off Address
- Duration of Appointment/Outing
Volunteer drivers do not book rides, sell tickets, or take money. Volunteers choose when, where, and how often they drive. We do not guarantee that every ride will be filled by a
volunteer.
Volunteer drivers take riders to various locations like medical appointments, shopping, banking, programming, and to visit friends or family. Riders buy tickets for $12.00 each from the Drive Happiness office. We have three payments options:
- Mail a cheque to “Drive Happiness” 9916 45th Avenue NW Edmonton, AB T6E 5J1
- Phone with credit card number (extra $3 fee)
- Email money transfer to payments@drivehappiness.ca with the security answer to any question you choose as “happiness“.
Each ticket ($12/each) covers ninety minutes of time and/or 40 km driving distance. Time and/or distance exceeding this requires another ticket.
There are 3 types of ride bookings:
- Roundtrip: 1 ticket (90 minutes or less from pickup to drop-off)
- One-way trip: Starts at 1 ticket (Drop-off OR pick-up only)
- Two-way trip: 2 or more tickets (Longer than 40 km/90 minutes from pickup to drop off)
If assistance is needed with a walker, oxygen, poor eyesight, etc. please inform the office. Volunteer vehicles are not equipped for wheelchairs or scooters. Riders needing Handicapped Parking are urged to have their own placard. Parking fees are the responsibility of the passenger.
Rides should be booked THREE FULL BUSINESS DAYS in advance. Phone 780-424-5438 or 1-888-336-4503 and (press extension 1). Leave a voice mail with your name, phone number, address, and the appointment time, destination (full address, postal code and phone number), and estimated duration of the appointment. Our office hours are from 9AM to 4PM daily except Saturday and Sunday and all holidays.
When and if a volunteer driver is found, the volunteer driver will call the rider to confirm the appointment details such as pick-up times, etc. If a volunteer is not available, someone from our office will phone within 24 hours of the appointment with an update to allow the rider to make alternate arrangements.
If you need to cancel, please contact the Drive Happiness office as soon as possible. The volunteer driver will then be contacted with the cancellation. Rides must be booked and cancelled through the Drive Happiness office (780-424-5438 or 1-888-336-4503).
APPLICATION FORM
Once you have completed and signed the Rider Application form, please send your application to:
Email:
info@drivehappiness.ca
OR
Mail:
Drive Happiness
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“.
Once you receive the Rider Protocol and agree to the terms and guidelines of the program, you are 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 thereby 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.