C.A.R.S.S. (Call a Ride Sausalito Seniors) is a free transportation program for residents of Sausalito and the Floating Homes ages 60+ or younger with a disability. The rides are provided by trained volunteers who drive their own cars in Sausalito. This service is available Monday through Friday between 10am-2pm.
Founded in 2015, C.A.R.S.S. is the result of volunteer's hard work on Sausalito's Age Friendly Task Force. After surveying the community, they developed a plan prioritizing the needs of aging residents and local transportation was at the top of the list. Around the same time, one of the Task Force members visited her mom who had just lost her license and the ability to drive. Her mother said something very important to the team in developing this unique program.
About C.A.R.S.S.
“How can I reserve a ride days in advance.....when I don’t know how I will feel that morning?” With those words, the option of calling for a “Same Day Ride” was born. This option sets C.A.R.S.S. apart from other volunteer ride programs that require several days advance notice.
The Sausalito City Council unanimously voted to support C.A.R.S.S. and contracted with Sausalito Village to manage the program, since the Village has a rich history of running a volunteer transportation program for its members.
We are Mentioned in:
C.A.R.S.S. and the W.H.O.
In March 2014, Sausalito became part of the World Health Organization's (W.H.O.) network of age friendly cities, the first city in Marin County and the third city in the state of California to receive the designation. As part of the city's Age Friendly Task Force's planning process, a survey of the community was completed and revealed the top needs of residents as they age, falling into three categories - affordable housing, accessible housing and transportation.
Upon further review, it was clear that there was a glaring gap in public transportation in Sausalito with bus service running only along Bridgeway and Highway 101, and no transportation running throughout the hills.
Thanks to a start up grant from Marin Transit, and the hard work of the Age Friendly Task Force and Sausalito Village, C.A.R.S.S. started in 2015. Thanks to the City Council's on-going financial commitment to keeping our town 'age friendly', C.A.R.S.S. continues to grow and thrive.
In 2017, C.A.R.S.S. drivers provided 1500 door to door rides!
To learn more about Sausalito's Age Friendly Plan, Click Here.