Click here for updates on this story
MANSFIELD, Texas (KTVT) — The city of Mansfield officially launched a new ride-sharing service Monday, thanks in part to the tenacity of a woman who advocates for her friends with special needs.
Brian and David Hogan both work at grocery stores in Mansfield, but because the city doesn’t have a bus system, they have to rely on their younger brother or a friend to get to and from work.
“And we have a lot of great friends,” Brian Hogan said. “We’re blessed.”
Rachel Grossman is one of those friends.
“I grew up with David,” she said. “We graduated from Mansfield High School together.”
A few years ago, he contacted her asking for a ride home from work, so Grossman and her sister, Megan Koudelka, started a Facebook group asking for volunteers to give him rides. They now have more than 200 members, but it’s still a struggle.
Grossman reached out to churches and various organizations to find reliable transportation.
“And then we started calling and they were like, there’s nothing, there’s always a list of people who need help,” Grossman said.
So Grossman’s next email was sent to the mayor, which ultimately helped bring new microtransit service to Mansfield.
Trinity Metro On-Demand is a lot like Uber or Lyft, but it’s a lot cheaper.
“We’re growing and want to continue to help people get the basic services they need,” Mansfield Mayor Michael Evans said.
Brian and David are excited to experience the newfound freedom that the program brings.
“I hope people take advantage of this,” Brian said. “It’s hard to find a ride, but having something like this is really helpful, so you can go grocery shopping, you can go to appointments, you can go anywhere.”
Grossman and her sister are optimistic that this service will not only help their siblings, but many others.
“This isn’t just for seniors or people with disabilities,” Grossman said. “Anyone can take advantage of this service. We just want to spread the word.”
Rides can be requested anywhere in Mansfield for $3 per ride, with discounts for seniors and veterans. The trial service will run Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
To give everyone a chance to try out the service, rides will be free until September 14th.
“I don’t think people realize how life-changing this is going to be,” Koudelka said of the impact it will have on David and Brian.
Mansfield Council is rolling out the service on a six-month trial period to gauge user numbers and interest in the community.
Please note: this content is under strict embargo in the local market. If you are in the same market as this article’s contributors, you may not use it on any platform.
THE-CNN-WIRE (TM) & © 2024 CABLE NEWS NETWORK, INC., A TIME WARNER COMPANY. All rights reserved.
