ARLINGTON ON-DEMAND CELEBRATES 2 MILLION
TRIPS ✅
To celebrate 2 million trips on Arlington ’ s On-Demand rideshare service , all rides on City transportation services - Handitran , RAPID , and On-Demand were free on Monday , June 26 , 2023 .
The City offers a variety of services to assist residents and visitors who need transportation out of convenience or necessity . Arlington ’ s citywide On-Demand rideshare is available from 6 a . m . to 9 p . m . Monday through Friday and from 9 a . m . to 9 p . m on Saturdays . The service can also connect passengers to the CentrePort TRE Station and the Meadowbrook area of east Fort Worth .
RAPID , an autonomous public transportation service , operates from 8 a . m . to 8 p . m . Monday through Friday in Downtown and on The University of Texas at Arlington campus .
Handitran , which is available for residents 65 and older as well as persons with disabilities , operates from 7 a . m . to 10 p . m . Monday through Friday and from 8 a . m . to 9 p . m . Saturday .
WHO ’ S ON THE MOVE : CHINAEMERE
Currently a project manager at a web development firm , and with a strong STEM educational background , Chinaemere is looking to break into the sustainable transit and clean energy industries — a career move that is all the more notable in light of the transit environment in which she grew up .
“ Arlington was a transit desert ,” Chinaemere explains of her hometown . “ But seeing the potential as to what it can be in the future makes me really happy .”
When Arlington On-Demand launched in late 2017 , Arlington became the largest U . S . city to rely on microtransit alone for its transit network . As the service grew to serve the whole City — and introduced hybrid electric and autonomous vehicles into the mix — the benefits to residents became obvious to Chinaemere , and inspired her to learn more about the systems delivering sustainable , affordable mobility to her Texas hometown .
“ Honestly , Arlington On-Demand played a role in my interest in sustainable transportation [ through ] being able to interact and talk with drivers , understand the hybrid vehicles , understand how to charge them , just really getting to pick their brain and learn more about it ,” Chinaemere says . And she thinks that the affordability of the service , making it accessible to all , has helped broaden the conversation on sustainability in her community . “ Arlington On-Demand is opening the door for people who don ’ t have the financial means ,” she says , removing “ the barrier to entry ” for people interested in sustainable technology .
Chinaemere notes that in addition to inspiring thought and conversation , Arlington On-Demand has had a concrete impact on her ability to get around the City , particularly for short trips when she doesn ’ t have access to a vehicle . After seeing a neighbor getting into a an Arlington On-Demand van two years ago , Chinaemere started using the service for her commute — an option that has grown more critical as her household was temporarily reduced to one car . Without Arlington On-Demand , she estimates that she ’ d have spent $ 40-80 per week on private rideshare services during that period .
“ Arlington On-Demand is expanding transportation access , as another alternative that ’ s more affordable for people , which ends up giving more people more access to transportation to get around the City ,” Chinaemere explains . “ I ’ ll see high school students , moms with their babies ,” she adds . “ I ’ m really big on reaching out to underserved communities and getting them access to everything .”
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