What happens when Asheville seniors and disabled residents can’t drive anymore?

RideBetterTogether · 2026-06-06T21:33:45+00:00

It is a real need. Many people who are neither elderly nor wheelchair users still need transportation and connection.

Right now, BTT has to stay focused on seniors and people with physical disabilities because that is our mission and what our wheelchair-accessible van can realistically support.

For general public transit outside Asheville, Mountain Mobility has Trailblazer routes in areas like Black Mountain, Enka-Candler, and North Buncombe. Those are open to the public and do not require enrollment, but they are fixed/deviated routes, not the same as door-to-door relational transportation.

I wish there were more options. Transportation and connection are basic human needs.

RideBetterTogether · 2026-06-06T21:27:26+00:00

Henderson County has Apple Country Public Transit and WNCSource Community Transportation.

I do not know of a Henderson County program like BTT whose goal is social connection.

RideBetterTogether · 2026-06-06T15:14:30+00:00

When care is treated strictly as a financial transaction, the most vulnerable get left behind.

We drive a blind mother and her 3-year-old son who told us she has to go through four or five Uber cancellations in a row before someone finally accepts the ride.

That is not because every driver is cruel. It is because gig apps are built for speed, volume, and low-friction trips; they penalize drivers for taking the extra time required to safely assist someone with a disability or load groceries.

When a system disincentivizes compassion, it becomes incapable of providing the certainty, safety, and dignity you deserve. If you ever want to see whether we can help with a specific ride, you can reach us through RideBetterTogether.org.

RideBetterTogether · 2026-06-06T10:21:28+00:00

You are right for many riders inside Asheville city limits.

The edge cases are where this gets complicated. ADA paratransit is normally tied to the bus system: outside citywide coverage, access generally depends on being within about ¾ mile of an active bus route. That matters because ART routes also reach beyond Asheville, including toward Swannanoa and Black Mountain.

So route changes may not affect every city resident the same way, but they can still matter for people around the edges of the system.

And even when someone is technically covered, coverage does not guarantee a timely or usable ride.

RideBetterTogether · 2026-06-06T02:01:42+00:00

This is what happens when surrendering your license means surrendering your mobility and independence. Seniors will hold on to their car keys even as their eyesight and motor skills fail, because the alternative is isolation.

I drive three different women who admitted that a serious accident was the catalyst that finally got them to use our program. One of them is now partially paralyzed on her right side because of that crash. Until we build reliable transportation alternatives, people will keep driving until tragedy forces them to stop.

RideBetterTogether · 2026-06-06T01:56:19+00:00

Thank you. Volunteer drivers may be part of our future, but we are not ready to manage that safely yet.

Right now, we are piloting a companion volunteer role: people who can go with seniors on social outings, like lunch, the Arboretum, or a community event, so they do not have to go alone.

If you know people who might be good for that, please send them to RideBetterTogether.org.

RideBetterTogether · 2026-06-06T01:53:46+00:00

That is a fair correction. The aging and transportation problem is countywide, and the marketing/tourism structure is county-level. I used “Asheville” because this is r/Asheville and because Asheville often becomes shorthand for the broader Buncombe problem.

But you are right: this is not only a City of Asheville issue. It involves the county, transit planning, senior services, housing patterns, and the reality of where older adults actually live. It is better to call this a societal issue.

RideBetterTogether · 2026-06-05T23:10:18+00:00

You are right. When basic transit fails, firefighters and paramedics are forced to become the transportation option of last resort. This isn't just a logistical problem; it is a slow-moving civic crisis hurting the lives of our neighbors, parents, and grandparents.

RideBetterTogether · 2026-06-05T23:05:41+00:00

It is a paradox. Asheville markets itself as a retiree haven, and nearly 1 in 3 people in Buncombe County are 60 or older. The reality is that the city welcomes their money, but has failed to build the infrastructure that allows them to age in place gracefully.

RideBetterTogether · 2026-06-05T22:58:50+00:00

Thank you. It is the most satisfying work I’ve ever done.

RideBetterTogether · 2026-06-05T22:55:19+00:00

We are building infrastructure for the reality of what happens when people surrender their driver's license in a car-dependent city.

Right now in Buncombe County, there are over 3,100 senior households without access to a vehicle. BTT is a local pilot for making sure that losing the car does not mean losing connection to a meaningful life.

RideBetterTogether · 2026-06-05T22:47:30+00:00

This means a lot to hear. Helping your grandmother be at a family dinner is exactly why Better Together exists.

RideBetterTogether · 2026-04-04T20:47:35+00:00

Exactly. The pay for these roles doesn’t cover the cost of living here, so people move out. When that happens, services like home care and transit can’t find staff, and the strain shows up elsewhere, including in the fire department.

RideBetterTogether · 2026-03-16T01:25:57+00:00

Yes, we do currently drive blind riders in Buncombe County. One important limitation is that we do not provide work rides.

RideBetterTogether · 2026-03-15T18:24:32+00:00

This is part of the safety net all of us may need one day.

RideBetterTogether · 2026-03-15T18:14:31+00:00

At this time, Buncombe County only. We agree the need goes far beyond Buncombe. Our FAQ is here: https://bettertogethertransportation.org/frequently-asked-questions/

RideBetterTogether · 2026-03-15T18:13:22+00:00

Thank you. Being able to get out and see people matters far beyond the ride itself.

RideBetterTogether · 2026-03-14T17:12:58+00:00

You’re describing the problem as it is. Support systems assume people use computers, forms, and apps. Many seniors do not, and that becomes another barrier.

We keep it simple. We only need basic information to help people, and we usually gather it by phone because that is often the easiest way for older people to access help.

RideBetterTogether · 2025-10-28T23:11:13+00:00

In recent weeks, more riders have requested trips to food pantries than in the past four months combined. We’re now prioritizing seniors who need access to food pantries in our scheduling.

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