CityVan: Rider Stories
Early on the rainy morning of July 23, I went to Ithaca Dispatch to ride CityVan. Two Dispatchers were busy taking calls from customers for Taxi and CityVan service. The CityVan Driver Paul started his work day at 6:40 AM with a vehicle check to make sure CityVan was ready to go at 7 AM. Paul is the dedicated driver for CityVan with many years of taxi driving since 1974. CityVan is a rural van service that takes people between the Towns of Newfield, Enfield and southwest Town of Ithaca and Downtown Ithaca, or for in-Town trips. CityVan can be used for in-town trips in Newfield and Enfield too! CityVan is supported with federal funds and fares.
Paul enjoys getting out into the countryside as he is country at heart, and is enjoying the Monday to Friday work after several years of being away from home and family at work delivering vehicles. He has roots in Ithaca, and recalls that his mother was born at the family home on Hudson St and that his grandfather kept a cow in the backyard. Paul enjoys meeting CityVan riders and provides a pleasant, fun experience so that folks will want to call to CityVan again. On the ride out to Newfield, Paul shared that the CityVan ridership has been steadily growing since the service began in March. Within the last 3 weeks there has been a big increase in usage. He is seeing a wide diversity of folks, from high school students to adults, who are using the service for a range of purposes including doctor’s appointments, work, summer school, driver’s education, volunteer work, and just coming into Ithaca for fun during a day off from work.
CityVan’s first trip was to pick up a CityVan rider in Newfield. We pulled into a driveway for the early morning pickup and a young woman boarded to get to work. After a friendly exchange with the driver, the woman introduced herself as Alex. Alex shared that she takes CityVan almost every morning to work. Sometimes she uses CityVan for the return trip. She was unsure if she first heard about CityVan from her Mom or at work. When I asked why she takes the CityVan, she replied that she likes taking CityVan because it is easy to use, convenient in bad weather and likes that CityVan comes right to her door. She enjoys talking with Paul. Her favorite reason for riding CityVan is that she is early for work and her supervisor appreciates that she is early for work.
There was an easy exchange of conversation between the rider and driver, and the ride was peaceful with a skilled driver behind the wheel. During the course of a CityVan ride, Paul enjoys talking about local history trivia, the beauty of Finger Lakes region and all the opportunities for a weekend vacation within New York State. The seating on the van was very comfortable, clean and has room for six passengers. Paul notes that “Everyone appreciates being able to get to town for $3.00. News of the CityVan service in Enfield and Newfield has spread by word of mouth and the community grapevine. To his new riders, he is quick to say that “We are happy to see you and don’t be bashful about calling us for a ride.” ” He clearly enjoys getting to know his riders and helping others to get where they need to go.
CityVan is available from early morning to early evening on weekdays, Monday thru Friday. Transportation service is set by calling Ithaca Dispatch at 277-7777 the night before to schedule your trip. Call for more information or go to www.cityvan.weebly.com .
Submitted by Cynthia Kloppel, Tompkins County Mobility Program Specialist, 274-5022. 7/27/2010
Paul enjoys getting out into the countryside as he is country at heart, and is enjoying the Monday to Friday work after several years of being away from home and family at work delivering vehicles. He has roots in Ithaca, and recalls that his mother was born at the family home on Hudson St and that his grandfather kept a cow in the backyard. Paul enjoys meeting CityVan riders and provides a pleasant, fun experience so that folks will want to call to CityVan again. On the ride out to Newfield, Paul shared that the CityVan ridership has been steadily growing since the service began in March. Within the last 3 weeks there has been a big increase in usage. He is seeing a wide diversity of folks, from high school students to adults, who are using the service for a range of purposes including doctor’s appointments, work, summer school, driver’s education, volunteer work, and just coming into Ithaca for fun during a day off from work.
CityVan’s first trip was to pick up a CityVan rider in Newfield. We pulled into a driveway for the early morning pickup and a young woman boarded to get to work. After a friendly exchange with the driver, the woman introduced herself as Alex. Alex shared that she takes CityVan almost every morning to work. Sometimes she uses CityVan for the return trip. She was unsure if she first heard about CityVan from her Mom or at work. When I asked why she takes the CityVan, she replied that she likes taking CityVan because it is easy to use, convenient in bad weather and likes that CityVan comes right to her door. She enjoys talking with Paul. Her favorite reason for riding CityVan is that she is early for work and her supervisor appreciates that she is early for work.
There was an easy exchange of conversation between the rider and driver, and the ride was peaceful with a skilled driver behind the wheel. During the course of a CityVan ride, Paul enjoys talking about local history trivia, the beauty of Finger Lakes region and all the opportunities for a weekend vacation within New York State. The seating on the van was very comfortable, clean and has room for six passengers. Paul notes that “Everyone appreciates being able to get to town for $3.00. News of the CityVan service in Enfield and Newfield has spread by word of mouth and the community grapevine. To his new riders, he is quick to say that “We are happy to see you and don’t be bashful about calling us for a ride.” ” He clearly enjoys getting to know his riders and helping others to get where they need to go.
CityVan is available from early morning to early evening on weekdays, Monday thru Friday. Transportation service is set by calling Ithaca Dispatch at 277-7777 the night before to schedule your trip. Call for more information or go to www.cityvan.weebly.com .
Submitted by Cynthia Kloppel, Tompkins County Mobility Program Specialist, 274-5022. 7/27/2010
Gloria's Story
Have you used CityVan? It is the newest public transportation option in Enfield and Newfield with service to Ithaca and Cayuga Medical Center. Newfield resident Gloria is one of many satisfied CityVan riders. “CityVan has been such a wonderful program for me. I was always wondering when such a program as this would be available in our community and it has helped me out tremendously. I was able to keep my job in Ithaca when my car broke down. And I was still able to get to other places like the store plus the price is amazing! The driver Paul is so pleasant and kind. I hope that others find CityVan as great of a resource as it has been for me.”
CityVan service takes people between the Towns of Newfield, Enfield to Downtown Ithaca and also directly to Cayuga Medical Center plus medical offices within the CMC medical complex on Dates Drive. CityVan can be used for in-town trips in Newfield and Enfield too. And the price of a one way ride for an adult from Enfield or Newfield to Ithaca or Cayuga Medical Center is $3.00.
See for yourself why CityVan is a great transportation resource! CityVan Driver Paul enjoys getting to know his riders and helping folks get to where they need to go. A CityVan ride is made by calling Ithaca Dispatch at 277-7777 the night before to schedule your trip. Remember to say that you are calling to schedule a CityVan ride so the dispatcher will know that you are not calling for a taxi and schedule your round trip ride on CityVan. CityVan is available from early morning to early evening on weekdays, Monday thru Friday. For more information on CityVan, call Ithaca Dispatch at 277-7777 or go to www.cityvan.weebly.com .
CityVan service takes people between the Towns of Newfield, Enfield to Downtown Ithaca and also directly to Cayuga Medical Center plus medical offices within the CMC medical complex on Dates Drive. CityVan can be used for in-town trips in Newfield and Enfield too. And the price of a one way ride for an adult from Enfield or Newfield to Ithaca or Cayuga Medical Center is $3.00.
See for yourself why CityVan is a great transportation resource! CityVan Driver Paul enjoys getting to know his riders and helping folks get to where they need to go. A CityVan ride is made by calling Ithaca Dispatch at 277-7777 the night before to schedule your trip. Remember to say that you are calling to schedule a CityVan ride so the dispatcher will know that you are not calling for a taxi and schedule your round trip ride on CityVan. CityVan is available from early morning to early evening on weekdays, Monday thru Friday. For more information on CityVan, call Ithaca Dispatch at 277-7777 or go to www.cityvan.weebly.com .