LASHONDA DOGAN-JONES DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION AND FLEET
The East Baton Rouge Council on Aging has answered the requests from our senior community to add transportation services to the agency’s portfolio, which is currently known as “Lotus Rides.” The Agency was approved for the Seniors and Disabled Program (5310) through DOTD, which aids in meeting the transportation needs of disabled persons and EBR seniors that are 60 and older who either, have no access to personal transportation, currently utilize public transportation to and from senior centers, and or may be experiencing difficulties in finding dependable transportation due to financial hardships or disabilities. The Lotus Rides department operates with five - 12 passenger buses and eight - 16 passenger buses that are equipped with two wheelchair accessible options. Lotus Rides is a “demand response” transportation service that currently provides transportation to and from senior centers, as well as to doctor’s appointments and daily activities. The seniors make their reservations on our transportation phone-line, on a first-come, first-served basis. Since 2019, when the program was established, we have experienced significant incremental growth and our ridership Lotus Rides Transportation: “The Dream Team”
has increased from 72 daily riders, totaling 10,033 trips to currently servicing 143 daily riders, totaling 26, 381 trips. We currently have more demand than we can provide services for, and we are still growing.
2019 vs. 2024
72 Daily Riders
10,033 Total Trips
143 Daily Riders
26,381 Total Trips
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