8950 Route 108, Suite 115
Columbia, MD 21045
410-884-RIDE

VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION   If you are interested in volunteering with Neighbor Ride, the next orientation training dates are Tuesday September 9 at 10:00AM and Wednesday September 24 at 6:00PM.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 For what types of trips may seniors use Neighbor Ride?

Passengers may utilize Neighbor Ride for shopping, religious services, social outings, medical appointments and other day-to-day activities.

 When are rides available?

Neighbor Ride provides rides daily depending on the availability of volunteer drivers.  The office is closed on New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.  The ride request schedule is adjusted during those holidays.

 Will Neighbor Ride provide transportation to destinations outside of the county?

Yes, requests for rides to the Baltimore and the D.C. areas are accepted.  Our maximum one way driving distance is 35 miles from passenger pick up.  Please schedule these longer distance rides as early as possible, as there are fewer drivers able to do long distance rides.

 What information is needed before using Neighbor Ride?

Passengers complete a Passenger Registration form with the following information: name, birth date, address, phone number, emergency contact information, special pick-up instructions and information regarding any pertinent physical limitations. This information is entered in Neighbor Ride’s confidential database.  Each passenger must complete and sign a Passenger Waiver form.

 When can passengers schedule their first ride?

Passengers can schedule their first ride once the Neighbor Ride office has accepted their completed and signed Passenger Registration and Passenger Waiver forms.  Rides are limited to ten each month.

 If a spouse, friend or assistant accompanies a passenger, is there an additional fee?

No.  If the spouse, friend or assistant is traveling from the same location and traveling to the same destination only one ride fee will be charged.  However, each passenger must sign and complete a Passenger Waiver form which must be received by the Neighbor Ride office before the ride can be scheduled.

Where will passengers be picked up and dropped off?

Passengers are transported door to door by volunteer drivers in their personal vehicles.  For liability reasons, drivers may not accompany passengers into their homes or into homes passengers are visiting.

 Will Neighbor Ride be able to accommodate all ride requests?

Neighbor Ride will make every effort to accommodate ride requests, however, assignments are limited by the availability of our volunteer drivers.  If a driver is able to take the ride, Neighbor Ride will contact the passenger to confirm the details.  When Neighbor Ride is unable to provide a driver, the passenger is notified the day before the ride date.

 How do passengers schedule a ride?

Passengers must provide the pick-up time, appointment time, number of passengers and the complete destination address, zip code, telephone number and estimated return trip time.  For medical appointments the doctor’s name, group practice name, and phone number are needed.

Passengers are required to contact the Neighbor Ride office by phone at 410-884-7433 or through our web site (www.NeighborRide.org) at least three (3) business days in advance to schedule trip(s).  In order to allow time to find a volunteer driver, please request rides as soon as the date the ride is needed is known. The call day chart follows:

Call Day                        First Available Ride Day

Monday                        Friday

Tuesday                        Saturday, Sunday or Monday

Wednesday                        Tuesday

Thursday                         Wednesday

Friday                                    Thursday

 Office hours are Monday through Friday 9:00 am. to 2:00 pm.  Messages left on the answering machine after 2:00 p.m. and weekends are returned the next business day.

 Note: We are unable to accommodate individuals using wheelchairs or persons having anesthesia for a medical procedure.

 Will fees be charged for rides?  Yes, fees are based on a zip code zone system.

*Note: Maximum one way distance is 35 miles.

 What if I only need a one-way ride?  Neighbor Ride accommodates one-way ride requests.  The fare is the same as for a roundtrip ride.

 Are tolls and parking costs included in the Neighbor Ride fees?

No, passengers are expected to pay for tolls and parking on the day of the ride. 

 Should passengers tip their drivers?

No, it is against Neighbor Ride policy for our volunteers to accept tips.

  How do passengers pay the fees associated with their trips?

Passengers are expected to pre-pay for services on a per-ride basis or by establishing a transportation account that can be debited and replenished as needed.  Family members may “gift” rides to their senior relatives by contributing to the passenger’s transportation account. Checks should be made payable to Neighbor Ride, and mailed to:

Neighbor Ride, Inc.

8950 Route 108, Suite 115

Columbia, MD 21045

The check’s memo section should have the passenger’s name and ride date, or “Account,” if the check is for the passenger’s transportation account.  Drivers do not accept payment.

 How will passengers be able to identify their Neighbor Ride drivers?

Drivers have magnetized Neighbor Ride signs on the passenger side of their vehicles.

 What if a passenger is running late or wants to make an unscheduled stop?

Drivers are not permitted to make unscheduled stops.  Because drivers may be scheduled for multiple rides, it is important that passengers meet them at the prearranged time and place for pick-up as well as for return trips.  Medical appointments vary in length; please try to estimate for the longest possible visit time.

 One additional stop between the pickup and destination can be requested at the time the ride is requested.  If an additional stop is needed in another zone, there will be an additional fee.

 What if a passenger needs to cancel a scheduled trip?

Please cancel a scheduled trip as early as possible so the volunteer driver can be notified.  Payments will be refunded by crediting the passenger’s transportation account.

 What is Neighbor Ride’s inclement weather policy?

To ensure the safety of our drivers and passengers, either the driver or the passenger may cancel a ride by calling the office.

 If possible, the Neighbor Ride office will remain open to handle notification of cancellations.

 In questionable weather, even if the driver is willing to drive, the driver will contact the passenger to confirm that he/she still wants the ride.  If the ride is cancelled, the driver will contact the Neighbor Ride office.

 Payments for cancelled rides are refunded by crediting the passenger’s account.

 How can passengers comment on their experiences with Neighbor Ride?

Feedback is given on Neighbor Ride service post cards.  These post cards will be mailed to passengers after their first ride and approximately every three months thereafter.

 May I donate to Neighbor Ride to help ensure services will always be available?

Absolutely!  Donations are gratefully accepted; your tax-deductible contribution may be mailed to the office.  You may also consider a Legacy Gift to Neighbor Ride.  Contact our Executive Director, Brad Closs, at 410-884-7433 for more information on donating to Neighbor Ride.

  Copyright ©2008 Neighbor Ride, Inc.
All rights reserved