Ca4 Innovation Charities

CAROLINA RIDES+ LEARNED SOME VALUABLE LESSONS IN A RECENT MOBILITY FOR ALL (M4A) PILOT IN GREENVILLE. USING PRIVATE FUNDS RAISED IN LATE 2021, RIDES+ BEGAN IN JULY 2022 TO SUPPORT DOOR-TO-DOOR, DEMAND-RESPONSE TRIPS FROM HOMES TO VITAL ACTIVITIES FOR RESIDENTS IN LOW-INCOME AREAS. NEEDS WERE IDENTIFIED FOR US BY LOCAL EXPERTS TRYING TO SOLVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT NEEDS. BRANDON BAUGHN, DIRECTOR OF WORLD RELIEF UPSTATE, WROTE ABOUT REFUGEES SEEKING A NEW START IN THE AREA. HE TOLD US HIS CLIENTS HAVE THREE KEY NEEDS: AFFORDABLE HOUSING, STABLE JOBS, AND RELIABLE RIDES. PRESENTLY THE BUS SYSTEM DOES NOT PICK UP WHERE HIS CLIENTS LIVE, OR DELIVER THEM TO THEIR WORKPLACES.THE CAROLINA RIDES+ SHARE PROGRAM IS A "GREAT ASSET TO THEIR BECOMING POSITIVE PRODUCTIVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS," HE SAID.THIS STATEMENT FITS MANY PEOPLE IN TRANSITION: DISCHARGED VETERANS, RETURNING CITIZENS, JUVENILES COMPLETING SC DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE REQUIREMENTS, GRADUATES OF HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGES, AND OTHERS.THE RIDES+ PILOT HAS HAD IMPRESSIVE RESULTS. IN 4.5 INITIAL OPERATIONAL MONTHS (MID-JULY THROUGH DEC, 3), RIDES+ PROVIDED 1,275 TRIPS TOTALING 9,305 MILES TRAVELED, AND AVERAGE MILES/TRIP ROSE FROM 2.57 TO 8.38 MILES/TRIP. TOTAL RIDES COST $16,499. THE ESTIMATED PRE-PILOT COST PER TRIP OF 3 MILES OR LESS WAS $10 EACH. BUT AS LONGER TRIP DISTANCES WERE APPROVED, MILES INCREASED TO 8.38 ON AVERAGE, AND COSTS ROSE TO $12.90 AVERAGE/TRIP. SIGNIFICANTLY, MORE THAN 90% OF ALL RIDES WERE TO JOBS.SEVERAL LESSONS WERE NOTED IN THE RIDES+ PILOT DATA THAT RELATE TO FOUR ISSUES/ CHALLENGES.HUMAN BEHAVIOR: GROWTH OF RIDER USAGE VALIDATES HIGH NEEDS FOR DEMAND-RESPONSE RIDES. TRANSPORT PROVIDERS ADAPT CARS AND DRIVERS AND SCALE QUICKLY TO MEET RIDER DEMANDS. ALSO, THE MOST IMPORTANT NEED WAS THAT MORE THAN 90% OF ALL RIDES+ PILOT TRIPS WERE FROM HOUSING TO WORK. THE RIDES PROVIDED REDUCED ABSENTEEISM AND TURNOVERS FOR EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS. WE ALSO LEARNED THAT COMMUNICATION IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT; WE NEED A BETTER INFORMATION EXCHANGE WITH HUMAN SERVICES AGENCIES ABOUT THEIR CLIENTS/ RIDERS.REGULATORY/ LEGISLATIVE/PLANNED PROJECT LIMITS: INITIAL PROJECT LIMITS OF 3 MILES PER TRIP WERE INCREASED TO HELP MORE RIDERS, BUT STILL WERE BELOW 10 MILES. TARGETED FUNDING CREATES 'SILOS'/BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF M4A RIDES. REGIONAL COORDINATION AND CONSORTIA PROMOTING ACCESS AND MOBILITY ARE NEEDED. HUMAN SERVICE AND EMPLOYMENT SPONSORS COULD HELP TO IDENTIFY/AGGREGATE RIDERS. WE ALSO NOTED THAT NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL RIDERS ALSO NEED RIDES TO VITAL ACTIVITIES LIKE SHOPPING.TECHNOLOGIES: APPROPRIATE MOBILITY SOFTWARE HELPS TO INCREASE RIDESHARING AND REDUCES TRIP COSTS. WE PROJECT THAT INNOVATIVE ELECTRIC AND AUTOMATED TECHNOLOGIES WILL IMPROVE MOBILITY OVER TIME.FUNDING: RIDES+ FUNDING SUPPORT MUST BE SUSTAINABLE, FINANCIALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY. FUNDING SHOULD INCLUDE BOTH RIDERS AND SPONSORS (EMPLOYERS, AGENCIES, AND CHARITIES). "FREE" RIDES IS NOT A SOUND BUSINESS MODEL; A SUSTAINABLE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE RIDES NEEDS FUNDSTHE CAROLINA RIDES+ TEAM WORKED HARD TO COORDINATE, MANAGE, FUND AND IMPROVE TRANSPORT OPTIONS FOR ALL, ESPECIALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS.RIDES+ TEAM SUPPORT HAS INCLUDED: VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING BOARD MEMBERS, INTERNS, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCY OFFICIALS. ALSO, RIDES+ PROVIDER SOUTHEAST TRANSPORTATION SUPPLIES EXCELLENT VEHICLES AND DRIVERS. SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY INCLUDES SET DATA ANALYSIS/ROUTING SOFTWARE FROM CTS/ TRIPMASTER, AND FUNDRAISING SOFTWARE FROM MIGHTY CAUSE. VALIDATION OF CLIENT RIDER NEEDS MUST BE PROVIDED BY EITHER CORPORATE AND HR AGENCIES OR HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES (SUCH AS UNITED WAY AND WORLD RELIEF).THANKS TO ALL WHO GAVE TIME AND FUNDS TO HELP CAROLINA RIDES+ PILOT OPERATIONS THAT PRIMARILY SERVED HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY CLIENTS NEEDING RELIABLE RIDES TO JOBS. NOW, MOST FUNDS ARE USED UP.RIDES+ MUST "PIVOT" TO IMPROVE "MOBILITY FOR ALL." WE SEE BOTH NEED AND INTEREST TO SCALE OUR OPERATIONS TO ENGAGE EMPLOYERS. LONG-TERM SUCCESS REQUIRES IMPROVED COLLABORATION AND INCREASED FUNDRAISING.READERS CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT HELPING CAROLINA RIDES+ DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE RIDES FOR ALL IN GREENVILLE AND BEYOND. VISIT HTTPS://ACOMMUNITYTHRIVES.MIGHTYCAUSE.COM/ORGANIZATION/CAROLINARIDESPLUS TO SEE HOW YOU CAN HELP.BE ALERT FOR NEXT STEPS TO IMPROVE INDIVIDUAL MOBILITY. WE BELIEVE THERE IS AN INNOVATIVE SHARED MOBILITY SOLUTION THAT WILL ADDRESS WORKFORCE CHALLENGES AND TRANSFORM OUR COMMUNITIES. WE WILL SHARE OUR IDEAS IN EARLY 2023.