Paradise: What happens when I no longer drive? (Chico: low income, subsidized)

[heartfocus]

I live in Paradise and like it a lot, but I'm pushing 60 and can barely take care of my old car and my old dog together. What can I do when I lose my car because it breaks down and I can no longer maintain a car? How do you get around this place? The buses only go down Skyway and down Clark. I can't afford a taxi. I have an application for the dial-a-ride bus or whatever it is, but it asks so many silly questions that its ridiculous, and I think there's a minimum age to use that.

Am I gonna have to move? I don't like the heat in Chico!

Thanks!

[Carlite]

I don't know your town. You do want to make yourself eligible for paratransit, so you can use that as much as possible. But you might want to think about moving to a more transit/walk friendly location, because paratransit certainly doesn't fully substitute for driving.

[caligirlz]

One has to qualify for paratransit. It looks like there is a line that covers Paradise, but it appears to have a specific route, unlike in other counties. http://www.blinetransit.com/Paratransit/index.html

But I second the comment above that you should consider moving to a more public transit friendly city, or develop a network of friends. You may want to check into available county or medical services...keeping in mind that these types of services typically do not provide transportation for errands and shopping.

[heartfocus]

Thanks, but the only place I want to move is the state of Washington, for cooler weather. I guess I will check out this forum on that state!

[Samoi137]

You may not be their exact target audience, but they may have ideas on where you could inquire further: Senior and Adult Services

Congrats on your loyalty to your dog. You might consider Oregon as well as Washington.

[mateo45]

Originally Posted by heartfocus

I live in Paradise and like it a lot, but I'm pushing 60 and can barely take care of my old car and my old dog together. What can I do when I lose my car because it breaks down and I can no longer maintain a car? How do you get around this place? The buses only go down Skyway and down Clark. I can't afford a taxi. I have an application for the dial-a-ride bus or whatever it is, but it asks so many silly questions that its ridiculous, and I think there's a minimum age to use that.

Am I gonna have to move? I don't like the heat in Chico!

Thanks!

Yes, the B Line Paratransit minibus (aka, dial a ride) will come to your door, but you do need to be 65 & low-income, or else disabled. And since its subsidized, naturally there's an application process. But even in Chico, or for that matter any larger urban area with wider bus service, you'd still have to live near the routes... or at least be willing to walk a few blocks. So maybe you could just try to find someplace in Paradise that's closer to existing routes, which actually cover a pretty large footprint.

[Carlite]

Under the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), paratransit has to be provided to eligible people within 3/4 mile of a fixed route bus. You do not have to be low income. But I really wouldn't want to rely just on paratransit to get around, it won't give you that much mobility.

[mateo45]

B Line Butte Regional Transit, Paratransit Eligibility