Rider Guidelines

Rides For Ridgefield provides services for Ridgefield seniors and residents who have mobility disabilities (unable to drive for medical reasons). Minors must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

By signing the Rider Agreement, riders with Rides for Ridgefield certify that they are self-sufficient or will be accompanied by an adult who will provide assistance. Rides volunteer drivers are not able to provide assistance to riders beyond assistance into and out of the vehicle. Please notify the Rides office as soon as possible if there are any changes in your ability to be self sufficient.

To request a ride, please call the Rides For Ridgefield Call Center at least 2 business days prior to the date the ride is needed. Messages can be left on the office phone number, 203-894-RIDE. Please provide the following information:

  • Day, date and appointment time that the ride is needed
  • Purpose of the ride
  • Where the ride will begin
  • Name of destination (ex. name of doctor)
  • Address of destination
  • Return time and destination
  • Any special accommodation needed for this ride
  • If this is a one-time ride or a ride that is needed on a regular basis
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Your contact information and ride request detail will be provided to the Rides volunteer driver who accepts the requested ride.

The Rides volunteer driver will contact you to confirm the scheduled ride, and ask covid screening questions.

Please cancel the ride if you feel ill, have symptoms of a contagious illness, are awaiting results of a test for a contagious illness or have recently been in close contact with someone who has a contagious illness. Symptoms may include: fever or chills; change in cough or a new cough; shortness of breath; sore throat; nasal congestion; nausea or vomiting; diarrhea.

In inclement weather (e.g., snow, storms or icy road conditions), please contact your destination location to be sure that they are open and available to you. The notes below provide additional information regarding inclement weather situations.

Please be sure that the path from the car to your home is accessible and not blocked by snow or other items.

Should you need to change or cancel a Rides For Ridgefield scheduled ride, please notify the Call Center as soon as possible.

Notify Rides For Ridgefield if you become symptomatic or test positive for a contagious illness after the ride.

Notes:

Callers will be offered information about all available ride providers for the ride needed. The Rides For Ridgefield’s Ride Program gives priority to rides that are not available from other volunteer providers.

Rides For Ridgefield services are dependent on volunteer availability. While Rides For Ridgefield will make every effort to fill your ride request, there is no guarantee that we will be able to provide you with a ride. Rides for Ridgefield reserves the right to refuse ride services to any individual whose actions Rides for Ridgefield believes might adversely affect the safety, well-being or condition of other persons or property, or the general welfare of the public, including Rides for Ridgefield.

During inclement weather (e.g., snow, storms or icy road conditions), riders will be encouraged to reschedule. Requests for life-sustaining medical trips (e.g., dialysis) should not be provided in private cars in inclement weather. Appropriate referrals will be made to other modes including ambulances (at the rider’s expense).

Drivers monitor weather and road conditions on days when they are scheduled to drive and use their best judgment in deciding if a ride is safe and feasible given current and anticipated conditions. Drivers will always suspend rides whenever drivers are asked to stay off the roads by state or local authorities.

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You will be notified if a scheduled ride cannot be fulfilled due to inclement weather or other unpredictable event.

Town Hall may close for inclement weather. The Call Center is closed when Town Hall is closed. Manager oversight of the Call Center continues whenever the Call Center is closed. The covering manager monitors voice mails periodically and responds as appropriate.

Should severe weather arise while a ride is in progress, the volunteer driver will seek a safe location for the volunteer and rider(s) to shelter.

Remember that rides must be scheduled through the Call Center. Please do not ask the driver for additonal rides or other favors.

Rides For Ridgefield is a non-profit organization. Therefore staff and volunteers may not accept gifts in any form from users of their services. Donations to the organization are tax-deductible and may be made to Rides For Ridgefield, 400 Main Street, Ridgefield CT 06877.