Transportation Is More Than a Ride. It's the Key to Independence.
- stbarnabasseniorse
- Jul 16
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 17
Marta's Story: Finding Independence Again
For 70-year-old Marta Escobar, transportation became a daily challenge after an accident left her needing a cane to walk. Experiences like these made simple trips stressful and discouraging. Like many older adults, Marta found herself relying on others just to get where she needed to go.
After seeing the challenges Marta faced, an SBSS staff member introduced her to the SBSS Transportation Program. That one connection replaced uncertainty with reliability, allowing Marta to travel on her own schedule instead of depending on others.
Today, instead of wondering how she'll get to the grocery store or a doctor's appointment, she simply schedules a ride through the SBSS Transportation Program. For Marta, the greatest benefit isn't simply having a ride.
It's knowing she no longer has to ask.
"I don't have to bother my children, my family, or my friends. I just make one phone call, and they provide transportation to and from where I need to go."
Whether it's a medical appointment, grocery shopping, or running errands, reliable transportation has given Marta something many people take for granted: the freedom to decide where she wants to go.
Her story reflects what transportation can mean for so many older adults, not convenience, but independence.
Preparing Older Adults for the Future of Transportation
Reliable transportation isn't only about providing rides today. It's also about helping older adults feel confident using the transportation options available tomorrow.
That's why SBSS has expanded its transportation education efforts through workshops that introduce participants to emerging mobility options.
These sessions include hands-on demonstrations of services such as Waymo, Google's autonomous ride-hailing service, as well as education on navigating LA Metro buses and rail lines safely and confidently.
Many participants have heard about these services but have never had the opportunity to explore them in a supportive environment. By walking through how to request rides, understand safety features, pay for trips, and plan routes, SBSS helps reduce the fear and uncertainty that often accompany new technology.
Transportation innovation should be accessible to everyone—not just those who are already comfortable with smartphones and apps.
By combining direct transportation services with technology education, SBSS equips older adults with more choices and greater confidence to travel throughout Los Angeles.
Independence Starts with Access
Transportation is often viewed as a logistical problem. In reality, it is a public health issue, an accessibility issue, and a quality-of-life issue.
When older adults have reliable ways to get where they need to go, they are more likely to stay healthy, remain socially connected, access essential services, and continue living independently in their own homes.
For Marta, transportation meant reclaiming her freedom after an accident.
For countless others across Los Angeles, it could mean the difference between staying connected to the community or becoming isolated at home.
At SBSS, every ride, resource, and workshop is another step toward ensuring older adults have the tools, confidence, and support they need to continue living independently for years to come. Help us keep older adults moving by supporting SBSS's transportation programs and expanding access to independence across Los Angeles.
Interested in Supporting Accessible Transportation for Older Adults in Los Angeles?For many people, getting to the grocery store, a doctor's appointment, or visiting family is something they rarely think twice about. But for thousands of older adults across Los Angeles, transportation is one of the greatest barriers to living independently.
As we age, driving may no longer be a safe option. Physical disabilities, vision changes, financial limitations, and the complexity of navigating public transit can make even routine errands feel overwhelming. Without reliable transportation, older adults are more likely to miss medical appointments, experience food insecurity, become socially isolated, and lose the independence they have worked their entire lives to maintain.
At St. Barnabas Senior Services (SBSS), we believe no one should have to choose between their safety and their independence. Transportation isn't simply about getting from one place to another. It's about maintaining dignity, staying connected to the community, and continuing to live life on your own terms.
The Transportation Challenge Facing Older Adults
Transportation is consistently identified as one of the greatest unmet needs among older adults. In a city as large and spread out as Los Angeles, the challenge is even greater.
Many older adults face barriers such as:
No longer being able to drive safely.
Limited accessible transportation.
Physical mobility challenges that make public transit difficult.
The cost of ride-share services.
Depending on family members whose schedules may not always allow them to provide rides.
Anxiety about learning new transportation technologies.
When transportation becomes difficult, everything else becomes more difficult.
Healthcare appointments are postponed. Grocery trips become less frequent. Social activities disappear from the calendar. Over time, mobility limitations can lead to isolation, declining health, and a loss of confidence.
Preparing Older Adults for the Future of Transportation
Reliable transportation isn't only about providing rides today. It's also about helping older adults feel confident using the transportation options available tomorrow.
That's why SBSS has expanded its transportation education efforts through workshops that introduce participants to emerging mobility options.
These sessions include hands-on demonstrations of services such as Waymo, Google's autonomous ride-hailing service, as well as education on navigating LA Metro buses and rail lines safely and confidently.
Many participants have heard about these services but have never had the opportunity to explore them in a supportive environment. By walking through how to request rides, understand safety features, pay for trips, and plan routes, SBSS helps reduce the fear and uncertainty that often accompany new technology.
Transportation innovation should be accessible to everyone—not just those who are already comfortable with smartphones and apps.
By combining direct transportation services with technology education, SBSS equips older adults with more choices and greater confidence to travel throughout Los Angeles.
Independence Starts with Access
Transportation is often viewed as a logistical problem. In reality, it is a public health issue, an accessibility issue, and a quality-of-life issue.
When older adults have reliable ways to get where they need to go, they are more likely to stay healthy, remain socially connected, access essential services, and continue living independently in their own homes.
For Marta, transportation meant reclaiming her freedom after an accident.
For countless others across Los Angeles, it could mean the difference between staying connected to the community or becoming isolated at home.
At SBSS, every ride, resource, and workshop is another step toward ensuring older adults have the tools, confidence, and support they need to continue living independently for years to come. Help us keep older adults moving by supporting SBSS's transportation programs and expanding access to independence across Los Angeles.
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