People will be able to utilize a new ride share service starting Aug. 15.
The Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday for Ride Rescue.
Ride Rescue is a ride share service similar to Uber and Lyft for small towns, said Leilanni “Elle” Deveraux, owner of Ride Rescue. Uber and Lyft are usually available in largely populated areas, and Ride Rescue is focusing on small towns.
People are able to start asking for services as of Aug. 15. Ride Rescue will serve Warsaw, Columbia City and Kendalville, Deveraux said. The goal is to start there and spread out.
“Our mission at Ride Rescue is to assist and offer small populated communities the same type of amenities offered in a large city. Lack of transportation can affect an individual’s ability to maintain steady employment, get to healthcare appointments and simply be able to provide for themselves and their families. Ride Rescue was developed to offer some sort of relief and dependability in small towns where these issues are a constant hindrance,” according to Ride Rescue’s website.
Deveraux said prices for Ride Rescue will be cheaper than Uber or Lyft, with a $5 onboarding charge, but the customer gets the first 4 miles free with that charge. After that, Deveraux said there is a $1.25 charge per mile. If a second person boards the vehicle, there will be an extra $2.50 onboarding charge.
An app will be available starting Aug. 15 for people to use Ride Rescue. Those who are interested in being a passenger using the service can download the passenger app. Ride Rescue also can be reached by phone at 260-475-0078 or through email at Info@RideRescueMe.com.
When asked if there were any limitations on how far people can go, Deveraux said there’s a 30-mile radius. For a longer drive, that would probably be for the shuttle service she is trying to get implemented.
Deveraux said Ride Rescue is trying to help and encourage employers to fill their positions and get reliable employees.
“We will be providing transportation to groups of people to and from work,” she said. “So we’re just interested right now in trying to do a survey of what companies are interested in that and how many people they need transportation for, what shifts, things of that nature, so we can help them. And help people in the community who don’t have a car because just because you don’t have a car doesn’t mean you don’t deserve the opportunity to have a good-paying job. Some of these jobs around here are good paying, but if you can’t get there, you know, it just creates confusion,” Deveraux said.
Deveraux said she hopes Ride Rescue provides relief to those who don’t have transportation to be able to do what they want to do.
“I don’t want people to feel left out,” Deveraux said.
For anyone interested in applying to be a driver, people can submit their resume through Ride Rescue’s website at https://www.riderescueme.com/. Deveraux said she will review the resumes and reach out to people and send people applications.
