October 3, 2023 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

MODE: Don’t Downgrade Success!

MODE (Mobility On-Demand Every Day) is a program launched in July 2018 by the Big Blue Bus to serve the transportation needs of Santa Monica’s senior residents. The BBB partnership with LYFT provides seniors with service throughout the City of Santa Monica, south on Lincoln Blvd to Smart and Final and to 5 local medical facilities. The fare $.50.

MODE has been a resounding success!

Twice as many riders per day are going to medical appointments, shopping destinations, social events, services and more, than those served by the clunky old Dial-a-Ride. Twice as many senior riders are set free to have a life beyond apartment and house walls.

Now the City of Santa Monica and the Big Blue Bus system want to make “program adjustments” that, in effect cut back service availability to seniors. I guess we were enjoying our new life too much. Time to put the seniors back in their box.

The four “proposed adjustments” to MODE service represent a major cut to the service currently enjoyed by seniors in our community

Fare Adjustments

The most glaring proposed adjustment is the fare increase times 4 from $.50 per ride to $2.00 per ride.

$4.00 RT to go to the grocery store, shop or attend a class at Emeritus. What does it cost a resident to make that same grocery store run in their private car?  Maybe, $1.00. At most $2.00 if you’re going across town.

The alternative to Lyft is the BBB. This is not always the safest environment and is definitely a huge time commitment. The same grocery store trip can take two or more hours for the round trip. It can often involve taking two different busses each way. That means four rides, lousy bus seating, and a wait in the elements at the bus stop. Riding the bus potentially represents a big chunk out of anyone’s day just to purchase basic grocery items.

A dependency on the bus also limits a person’s opportunity to shop a variety of stores for lower-priced necessities.  The elder adult sees their cost of living go up while their quality of life goes down.

Furthermore, this fare increase to $2.00 is only good through the end of 2020. Then it jumps to $2.50 and again to $3.50 in 2021.

It’s going to cost the most financially vulnerable members of our community a lot more to run the basic errands that keep them independent.

Monthly Trip Cap

BBB also wants to cut the number of Lyft rides from 40 per month to 35. Some months 35 rides might be more than enough. Then there are other months where 40 barely makes it. For example, if someone requires daily medical treatment, that’s 10 rides per week, 40 per month. No rides left for basic needs. Every ride you cut is going to cost a senior at least $6.00, maybe more depending on distance. Many will do without when they really shouldn’t.

Minimum Age Requirement

Raising the minimum age required for older adults to enroll in the program from 60-years-old to 62-years-old is just petty and mean. What about the seniors who qualified for the program this year at 60? Do they get dropped and have to wait to requalify? Two additional years of waiting when someone needs the service? Petty and Mean.

Medical Appointment Trips

Currently medical appointment trips outside of Santa Monica can be taken any time during service hours. The new direction is to encourage weekday trips to be taken between 10am and 3pm. You’re looking at an appointment window between 10:30am and 2:30pm if you consider transportation time.

Trying to get an appointment with a doctor or other out-patient care within such strict parameters can be next to impossible.

This limits Urgent Care to weekdays 10am to 3pm. How long do you want to wait for urgent medical need to be addressed? This adjustment is a significant cut back from what Dial-a-Ride offered.

MODE allows elder adults in Santa Monica to be self-sufficient. They travel in a safe environment from doorstep to destination and back.

The MODE Proposal sheet states: “The success of MODE thus far, reflects how essential on-demand, curb-to-curb transportation is to Santa Monica residents.”

Let me tell you, those of us using MODE have been celebrating a life of reconnecting socially and meeting our needs independently. Our quality of life has improved. BBB is providing a valuable life-affirming service. Let’s keep it that way.

Guest Columnist Pat Becker has been a Santa Monica resident for over 35 years, is now an active Senior, and a member of the Historic San Vicente Coalition. We thank Pat for her contribution this week.

By Pat Becker for SMart (Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow)

Thane Roberts, Architect, Robert H. Taylor AIA, Ron Goldman FAIA, Architect, Dan Jansenson, Architect, Building and Fire-Life Safety Commission, Samuel Tolkin Architect, Mario Fonda-Bonardi, AIA, Planning Commissioner, Phil Brock, Santa Monica Arts Commission. For previous articles see www.santamonicaarch.wordpress.com/writing

Related Posts

(Video) This Is Palisades Village at 4 a.m.

October 3, 2023

October 3, 2023

See what it’s like at the village after hours with no one around. @smmirrornews This Is Palisades Village at 4...

Homophobic Comments Lead to Termination of Downtown Security Contract

October 3, 2023

October 3, 2023

Two Months Ago, City Council Approved DTMS’ Contract for Additional Security By Zach Armstrong Concerns over homophobic comments have led...

City Will Pay 200 Local Residents to Rely on One Car

October 3, 2023

October 3, 2023

The Program Will Assist in the New One-Car Lifestyle With Other Benefits By Zach Armstrong To incentivize a future with...

(Video)The Malibu Triathlon Went Forward On Sunday At Zuma Beach

October 3, 2023

October 3, 2023

The Event Raises Money for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Pediatric Cancer Research Program. @smmirrornews The Malibu Triathlon Went Forward On...

Spanish Contemporary Home With Pink Mirrored Cocktail Bar on Market for $6.5M

October 2, 2023

October 2, 2023

There’s a Private Oasis With a Pool, Jacuzzi, and Verdant Backyard Situated in the Santa Monica Canyon, this residence presents...

Global Surfing Association to Leave Santa Monica, Lists Main Street Office Space

October 2, 2023

October 2, 2023

The Association’s New Location Is Set to Be Ready by November By Zach Armstrong The office headquarters of professional surfing...

(Video) Interview With Downtown Activist on Being Attacked by Homeless Suspect

September 29, 2023

September 29, 2023

John Alle, co-founder of Santa Monica Coalition, was attacked in Palisades Park while filming. @smmirrornews John Alle was hospitalized after...

Suspected Drunk Driver Slams Into Citizen on Venice Beach Boardwalk

September 29, 2023

September 29, 2023

The Suspect Is Also Seen Drinking From a Modelo Beer Bottle By Zach Armstrong A potential drunk driver hit a...

Beloved Roosevelt Elementary Teacher Kitty Donohoe Leaves a Legacy of Inspiration

September 29, 2023

September 29, 2023

Longtime Educator Remembered for 35 Years of Dedication to Roosevelt Community By Gail Pinsker The Santa Monica – Malibu Unified...

$10K of Pickleball Equipment Destroyed in Memorial Park Arson

September 28, 2023

September 28, 2023

Thanks to an Outpour of Donations and Support, Storage Bins Should Be Set Up by the End of Next Week...

Revolutionize Your Coffee Experience: Blue Bottle’s Exclusive Residency Unveiled

September 28, 2023

September 28, 2023

A Full Flavor Coffee Experience With Dessert Meant For Savoring  By Dolores Quintana Blue Bottle Coffee, a well-known specialty coffee...

Rebranded Breakfast Burrito Specialist Still Eyes 2023 Santa Monica Opening

September 28, 2023

September 28, 2023

Earlier This Year, It Was Reported the Restaurant Will Expand in a Different Time Frame Than Initially Expected By Zach...

Women’s Surf Film Festival Making California Debut in Venice

September 27, 2023

September 27, 2023

With an Array of Storytelling From Both Artists, the Festival Spotlights Inspiring Narratives of Female Surfers. The Women’s Surf Film...

Free “Masters of Dance” Workshops and Classes Open by SMC

September 27, 2023

September 27, 2023

It Features a Lineup of Master Classes and Educational Workshops Led by Accomplished Dance Professionals The Santa Monica College Dance...

Samohi Orchestra Program to Host Annual Fall Benefit Concert

September 26, 2023

September 26, 2023

Audience Will Be Enchanted With Pieces From Movies Including Aladdin, Harry Potter and Howl’s Moving Castle The nationally recognized and...