How to use Ozaukee County Shared Ride taxi service and the app (without the headache)
For people with disabilities, transportation is essential because not everyone can drive. Ozaukee County Shared Ride is a great resource for transportation. It transports people all over Ozaukee County. They also have an app- MobilityByEcolane. The app isn’t very user-friendly as it is still somewhat in its infancy and can be a bit of a headache so hopefully this blogpost will make it as stress-free as possible. Of course, friends and family are great resources too so this isn’t the only option.
It is important to note first that Ozaukee Shared Ride recommends you book your ride at least 24 hours in advance. However, I would recommend booking it several days in advance in case you need to make any changes. The app has the Ozaukee County Shared Ride number so you can call if needed. You will need to set up an account first. They strongly recommend you set it up in person at the Ozaukee County Transit System building in Port Washington.
When you first book your ride you need to select a purpose. This includes social, medical, employment, shopping, etc. For pick-up, type in the address or the name of the location you’re being picked up from. Same thing with drop-off. Then, select the date and time you need to arrive at the location. For pick-up and drop-off, there is a window of time in which your driver will arrive. For example, if you get to work at 9:25 AM, your ride may pick you up between 8:33 and 9:03 AM.
Once you book your ride, you will be asked if you want to do a return trip. If you do, you will select yes. It will swap the addresses and you select what time you want to be dropped off at home or wherever you need to be. For this, there is also a window of time so you may be waiting a little bit. I recommend bringing something to read or something to fill your time so you’re not bored to tears. You should check your phone every few minutes so you know the status of your ride.
Earlier this fall, I did a 4-week class at my church, and on the first day the class ended early because the pastor leading it had just gotten back from a trip the previous weekend and he had no time to prepare so I had to wait a while for the taxi. I had brought a book and a journal so the wait wasn’t as long or boring. If anything, the wait seemed shorter than it was.
For grocery shopping, you are limited to two grocery bags per trip. This is in case there is another passenger in the vehicle or if another person is joining you. It is also for when you get to your home or apartment you aren’t holding up the driver and the other people in the vehicle and causing a delay by unloading many bags of groceries.
If you need to cancel a ride for any reason, do it as early as possible. If you don’t cancel it and the driver shows up, you will still be charged as a “no-show”. If you schedule a ride the same day you intend to go somewhere, it may or may not pan out due to availability or lack thereof. This is why it is important to schedule a ride days in advance.
I hope that this post has helped navigate the Ozaukee County Shared Ride Taxi system and the app MobilityByEcolane. The app is by no means perfect, but it is a great resource to use, especially for people with disabilities.
