Thoughts on Kauai transit
Thoughts on Kauai transit
If the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program needs people to participate, the organization must pay for necessary transportation to and from the recipient facility, and funds should be identified in their budget.
Currently, full senior participation in some circumstances is compromised.
Example — My Lihue friend and I currently sing and play with the Kilauea Senior Center on Mondays. We ride public buses — No. 500 up and No. 400 south. Then she walks home, and I transfer to the No. 70 shuttle returning home to Lihue Gardens Elderly — from which I departed via No. 70 at 7:20 a.m.
But for outreach to Kauai Care Center, Waimea, the unique “bus” used to originate at Kilauea, makes a stop at Kapaa, the skate park transfer stop, continues to Eiwa St. and picks up the two Lihue seniors (down from three) to complete the group.
Now, the transportation department says their contract for outreach is one-stop/pick up only, so we paratransit Lihueans can arrange our separate pickup to Waimea or drive/carpool. How cost-conscious is that solution to the transportation department and RSVP participants?
RSVP volunteers deserve free paratransit service to and from the server event. For personal use, charge accordingly but reasonably!
Alice Parker, Lihue
