L.A. Metro launches ‘Riders Club’ for seniors

On the Move Riders Club is part of Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (Metro) outreach to older adults.

Project Manager Lilly Ortiz visits senior citizen centers around Los Angeles County to teach older adults about the benefits of public transit and familiarize them with local transportation options, whether it be Metro, Foothill Transit, local Dial-A-Ride or one of the other municipal operators.

Once On the Move Riders Club is established at a center, older adults have access to a new support system of travel-savvy friends and tailor-made club activities, such as group sight-seeing trips or one-on-one trips to the grocery store or doctor. Ortiz also connects inexperienced riders with travel buddies — older adults who are experts at navigating bus and rail transit and trained on how to help their peers.

"The only way to really know how to ride Metro is to get out and use the system. We train travel buddies to teach others how to buy tickets, which routes are useful to know and what resources are available for trip planning," said Chip Hazen, Metro's ADA Compliance Administrator. "Then travel buddies go out and ride with those who need some encouragement until they are comfortable using Metro on their own."

The On the Move Riders Club is now forming groups throughout Los Angeles County.