Google Maps, but for public transportation, expands in the midstate
Photo by Wikkimedia Commons user Justin N
(Harrisburg) — A program called Find My Ride, which has already served York County for more than 10 years, is expanding in the midstate.
Think of it as Google Maps, but for public transportation.
By going to findmyridepa.com, you can get step-by-step directions for taking public transportation, including bus schedules, fares and walking distance.
York County’s Rabbittransit has been using the system for more than a decade, and PennDOT just launched the service in six other counties: Adams, Cumberland, Cambria, Dauphin, Franklin and Lebanon.
“The six county area that this is being expanded to has a potential population of 1.4 million residents and also more than 120,000 veterans,” says PennDOT’s Rich Kirkpatrick.
He adds it will be especially valuable for veterans trying to get to medical appointments.
“It’s taking advantage of technology to help people find my ride to make increased use of transit, which is a very viable option in the state of Pennsylvania,” says Kirkpatrick.
Anyone can use the system.
But veterans who don’t have a mobile phone will have access to PennDOT kiosks at the VA Medical Center in Lebanon and at a VA clinic in Camp Hill, Cumberland County.
PennDOT plans to add regional bus schedules, plus Amtrak and taxi information at some point.
Federal money paid for the cost of creating the program in 2004.
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
