Glossary

This glossary is intended to help users better understand the terminology in the RIS database.
For assistance, please call Rides in Sight at 855-607-4337.

Database Field	Definition
Special requirements	Some organizations may have unusual eligibility requirements or other special notes for the public, which will be captured by this field.
Non-transportation services – Grocery or meal delivery	Grocery shopping orders and/or meals are delivered by volunteers.
Non-transportation services – Minor home repair	Minor home repairs such as fixing broken gutters are provided by volunteers.
Non-transportation services – Light housework	Light housework tasks such as cleaning dishes, vacuuming, etc. are provided by volunteers.
Non-transportation services – Light yardwork	Light yardwork such as raking is provided by volunteers.
Non-transportation services – Friendly Visits	Volunteers will come to a seniors’ home to check in and provide socialization.
Non-transportation services – Telephone check ins	Volunteers will schedule regular check-in calls with seniors.
Type of transportation – Door-to-door	Driver will come to the door, offer rider an arm, and escort them to the vehicle.
Type of transportation – Curb to curb	Vehicle will come to the curb, but rider must be able to navigate to vehicle on your own.
Type of transportation – Shared ride	Rides are taken with multiple passengers. Often, shared ride services will make several stops before dropping you off at your destination.
Type of transportation – Fixed route	Refers to public transit that operates on predermined routes
Type of transportation – Paratransit	Curb-to-curb, shared ride, wheelchair accessible service for those who are unable to use regular fixed route public transit service. Frequently operates within 3/4 mile of any fixed route service. Application process can take up to a month and is based on functional ability to use regular service.
Trip purpose – Medical	Rides are provided to medical examinations, treatments, and follow-ups.
Trip purpose – Grocery shopping	Rides are provided to stores where food is sold, including grocery stores, corner markets, and big box stores like Walmart or Target.
Trip purpose – Necessary errands	Rides are provided to banks, post offices, pharmacies, social security offices, etc.
Trip purpose – Religious service	Rides are provided to religious services such as church or synagogue.
Trip purpose – Social/Recreation	Rides are provided for social engagements such as meeting friends, going to a movie, or going to play bingo.
Trip purpose – Work/Volunteer	Rides are provided for people to go to work or to volunteer.
Trip purpose – Senior center	Rides are provided to and from senior centers.
Trip purpose – Any	Rides are available for any purpose.
Assistance Available – Wheelchair accessible	Any transportation service that transports people in wheelchairs (who do not leave the wheelchair for the ride). Such services may have vehicles with wheelchair lifts, ramps, or other wheelchair-accessible mechanism.
Assistance Available – Help with mobility devices	Driver will assist with folding wheelchairs, walkers, and rollators. May not be fully wheelchair accessible for those who stay in a wheelchair.
Assistance Available – Help in and out of vehicle	Driver will assist rider getting into and out of vehicle. This may include offering a steady arm, helping with seatbelt, or pushing and securing wheelchair in designated handicap spots on vehicle.
Assistance Available – Driver will wait during errand or appointment	Often for an accompanying fee, driver will wait while errand/appointment is completed and then drive rider home.
Assistance Available – Service animals allowed	Riders may bring a service animal–typically a dog–with them for the ride.
Assistance Available – Help with packages/bags	Driver will assist with packages or bags. Most often, there is a limit of 1-2 bags per rider.
Assistance Available – None	No additional assistance is offered by this service. Riders must be ambulatory, able to carry their own packages, fold their own wheelchairs, etc.
Payment Options – Cash	Rides can be paid for in cash, typically a transaction made in the vehicle.
Payment Options – Credit card	Rides can be paid for by credit care.
Payment Options – Check	Rides can be paid for by check.
Payment Options – Pre-payment	Payment is made in advance, often as part of a membership program, and ride costs are drawn down from balance. Usually no cash transaction is made in the vehicle.
Payment Options – Insurance	Rides are covered by health insurance. Generally, only select transportation providers such s non-emergency medical transportation companies accept insurance.
Payment Options – Medicaid	Rides are paid for by Medicaid
Payment Options – Free service	Rides are free of charge.
Payment Options – Accepts donations	While rides may be free, donations to help cover the cost of gas, insurance, and car maintenance are accepted.
Vehicles used – Car	Sedan-style, low to the ground vehicle.
Vehicles used – Van	Vehicle used to deliver rides is a minivan or full-size van.
Vehicles used – Bus or train	Vehicle used to deliver rides is a full-size public transit bus or train, or a smaller, often 14-passenger minibus
Vehicles used – Wheelchair accessible vehicle	Vehicle used to deliver rides has a wheelchair lift, ramp, or other mechanism for transporting people who stay in their wheelchair.
Vehicles used – Taxi	Vehicle used to deliver rides is a taxi.
Pricing Structure – Flat fee	Ride costs are fixed for each leg of the trip. Often there will be “zones” in which shorter rides are cheaper and longer rides are more expensive.
Pricing Structure – Pay by the mile	Rides cost a set amount of money per mile traveled. Often accompanied by other fees, for example a charge by the minute.
Pricing Structure – Hourly rate	Mainly employed by home care agencies, some providers charge by the hour.
Pricing Structure – Voucher/Coupon	In certain jurisdictions, seniors may be eligible for subsidized taxi or rideshare rides. Highly variable from place to place, but can represent a significant discount for older riders. Typically capped at a maximum monthly value.
Pricing Structure – Membership fee	Some services require riders to become members to ride. These fees are typically annual.
Eligibility – Available to the public	Rides provided to all.
Eligibility – Age 60+	Rides provided to those aged 60+.
Eligibility – Age 65+	Rides provided to those aged 65+.
Eligibility – Disabled	Rides provided to those with a certified disability.
Eligibility – Visually-impaired	Rides provided to visually-impaired people.
Eligibility – Illness or special medical condition	Rides provided to people suffering from a specific medical condition, most typically cancer.
Eligibility – Membership required	Rides provided only to members.
Eligibility – Seniors	Rides provided to seniors (organization has not specified exact age requirement)
Eligibility – Native American	Rides provided to Native Americans
Eligibility – Veterans	Rides provided to veterans
Eligibility – Only for those with no other means of transportation	Rides only provided to those without any other means of transportation (family, friends, ability to pay for private rides)
Scheduling – On-demand	Rides may be scheduled on demand, such as a taxi or rideshare service
Scheduling – Schedule rides at least one day in advance	Rides must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance.
Scheduling – Schedule rides at least a few days in advance	Rides must be scheduled a few days in advance (typically 2-3 days)
Scheduling – Schedule rides at least one week in advance	Rides must be scheduled at least one week in advance.
Scheduling – Fixed schedule	Transportation provided on a fixed schedule, for example a public bus or a pre-scheduled senior center trip to a grocery store.
Scheduling options – Telephone	Rides may be booked by telephone.
Scheduling options – Email	Rides may be booked by email.
Scheduling options – Online form	Rides may be booked via a form on the internet.
Scheduling options – Smartphone app	Rides may be booked through a smartphone application.
Rationed rides?	Rides may occassionally be limited to a certain number per month in order to equitably distribute available resources. More common amongst government-run programs.
Long distance rides provided?	While “long distance” lacks an agreed-upon definition, RIS considers anything 25+ miles away as a long distance ride. Many services, particually those in rural areas, will provide transportation to major medical centers in larger cities, for example.
Provider type – Nonprofit	501(c)(3) organizations. Often utilize volunteer drivers.
Provider type – Public transit	Buses, trains, subways, and other forms of transportation that charge set fares, run on fixed routes, and are available to the public.
Provider type – Paratransit	ADA-accesible services offered by public transit agencies for those unable to utilize regular fixed route service.
Provider type – Taxi or rideshare	Traditional taxis or app-based ride hailing service like Uber or Lyft.
Provider type – Non-emergency medical transportation	Private companies that provide service for those in wheelchairs or stretchers or with medical considerations. Generally staffed by EMT professionals. Often serve ambulatory patients as well.
Provider type – Senior center	A type of community center where older adults congregate for fellowship with others to fulfill many of their social, physical, emotional, and intellectual needs.
Provider type – Private transportation company	For-profit companies that specialize in senior transportation.
Provider type – Home care agency	Agencies that provide in-home care, particularly support for actvities of daily living, and may provide transportation as an incidental service.
Driver type – Volunteers	Volunteer drivers are unpaid people donating their time. May receive compensation for mileage.
Driver type – Paid drivers	Drivers are paid staff.
Driver type – Mix of volunteer and paid drivers	Organization utilizes both volunteer and paid drivers.
Mobility/Travel Training Offered	Typically provided by public transit agencies, travel training teaches people how to navigate a fixed route service such as a bus, train, or commuter rail network.
Has smartphone application	Organization has a smartphone application for use by riders, staff or volunteers, or both.
Weekend service available	Transportation provided on Saturday and/or Sunday.
Evening service available	Transportatino provided after normal business hours (6:00 p.m. or later)