The Importance of Reliable Transportation

(Columbia, Missouri, October 15, 2021) – Safety, accessibility, and reliability are critical considerations no matter if you are traveling by car, train, or bus. This is especially true if you or a loved one is aged or disabled. Luckily, there are more and more opportunities for aged and disabled individuals to enjoy access to advanced public transportation solutions and new technologies.

Reliable transportation is a vital lifeline to healthcare, education, community life, and employment, particularly to the aged and those with disabilities. Reliable and safe transportation is necessary for these people to enjoy such activities and programs. From non-emergency medical transportation to adaptive car seats, you can explore various accessibility options.

At OATS Transit, our mission is to enhance the quality of life for individuals throughout Missouri by providing safe, caring, and reliable transportation services. We safely transport passengers to their destinations, treat them with respect and compassion, as well as achieving and maintaining maximum standards of performance. This article will explain just how important the reliable transportation we provide is.

The Importance of Reliable Transportation Opportunities

The need for reliable transportation in our daily lives cannot be overstated. Not only does it boost community growth, but it also provides numerous opportunities to improve our lives. Let's explore the main benefits.

Educational and Employment Opportunities

Commuting to your places of work is a vital benefit of reliable transportation services. Economic stability for most people in rural and urban areas depends on seamless movements to sites of trade.

In rural areas, fewer transport options and longer commute times are barriers to education and employment. Older adults and those incapacitated find it even harder to access reliable transport, leading to higher costs per rider due to lower population densities and longer travel distances.

Reliable transportation can expand communities' access to employment and educational opportunities, making them livable and economically competitive. At OATS Transit, we help people in both rural and urban areas get to where they need to be safely and reliably.

Connecting People

The coronavirus epidemic has highlighted the need for reliable and safe transportation, especially for those who have no other way of getting around. During the pandemic, people all around the world stayed inside and started working from home. However, certain individuals still needed to be close to their loved ones, especially if they required medical care or other help. When everything else shut down, many transportation services, like OATS Transit, stayed running and helped to keep these people connected when it mattered most.

Healthcare Services

Reliable and safe transportation means improved health and well-being for everyone. Transportation aids access to healthcare services. Most people rely on non-emergency medical transport, public transport, and personal vehicles to meet their health needs.

When these options are difficult to access, unaffordable, or unavailable, some community members may not receive the essential services they require. Such barriers can cause healthcare intervention delays and late or missed medications.

Reliable transportation makes it easier to manage health conditions and impacts how people make healthcare decisions. OATS Transit helps individuals all across Missouri access the healthcare services they need so they can live a healthy, fulfilling life.

Access to Community Activities and Social Services

Limited, unreliable transport options limit people from accessing consumer needs and social services. In remote locations, transportation is crucial to civic engagement and other community life engagements. Voting for statewide, local, and national elections can be difficult in most remote setups, and it becomes even more challenging for the older adults and handicapped.

It’s also difficult to get to community centers and events when you don’t have reliable transportation. OATS Transit ensures that our riders get exactly where they need to, on time and safely—whether it’s an event at the community center, town hall, or anywhere else.

Transportation Challenges Among Older Adults and the Disabled

Older adults face a greater likelihood of experiencing transportation challenges. These individuals tend to drive less frequently, and some don't drive at all. They may not have a personal vehicle and are forced to rely on caregivers and family members or use public transport.

Furthermore, most older adults experience physical hurdles, like mobility and visual impairments. With more than 25% of those beyond 65 years living in rural areas and far from social contacts, shopping amenities, community resources, and healthcare providers, there's a crucial need to link this age group to reliable transport solutions.

People with disabilities also struggle with transportation barriers. American Community data between 2015 and 2019 notes a 15% disability rate in rural areas. That percentage is significantly higher than in metropolitan communities. This group faces hardships accessing and utilizing various transportation modes, which can impact their quality of life and health.

For both groups, reliable transport can be the best solution to their specific challenges, and specialized transportation services play a key role in reversing the situation.

Why Should You Opt for Specialized Transportation Services?

Specialized transportation isn't a new concept and offers various benefits that enhance mobility access by older adults or individuals with disabilities. Let's explore:

Relief from Physical Hardship

Traditional forms of transportation can be even more of a struggle than they are worth. Older adults and disabled individuals face hardships entering and leaving vehicles. Important medical equipment also might not be able to fit inside certain cars, making it a struggle for these individuals whenever they need to go somewhere. Even some buses pose problems, as some don't have height adjustment, which can make it harder to get onboard or settled into a seat.

Door-to-Door Service

This service entails picking someone up at their residence, driving to their destination, then back to their house. This ensures individuals don’t have to leave the comfort of their home until their ride is there, saving them time and energy.

Most OATS Transit service is door-to-door, but there are some exceptions in cities which have designated bus stops. In those cities, we can still deviate off the route a set distance to pick up individuals who are unable to make it to the bus stop due to a disability.

The Utmost Reliability

Public transportation is relatively undependable. You don't want to miss your next doctor's appointment, right? Then you should probably steer clear of city buses and trains. Even family members may not always be available to offer rides. A reliable specialized transport agency, like Oats Transit, can be your best decision in such circumstances, coming through as a safer, quicker, and more convenient option.

Professional Assistance

Specialized vehicle users are confident they're not just traveling to their destination, but also receiving professional assistance. These services feature specifically trained personnel and drivers experienced in operating unique vehicles and equipment.

Contact a Top-Rated Missouri Specialized Transport Agency

Reliable transportation is a central part of a functioning society. Economies flourish on deploying proper transport infrastructure, and people depend on reliable and safe transportation solutions to get to where they need to be.

Every day, the need for reliable transport becomes more apparent. The entire economic, social, and political well-being of a country depends on people being where they need to be, and this depends on an organized transportation system. However, older adults and those with disabilities experience unique challenges that call for specialized transport systems.

These service providers have custom vehicles and tools to offer relief from physical limitations and have the additional benefit of door-to-door service. These transport companies also provide professional assistance and are dependable.

At OATS Transit, we’re a leading specialized transportation agency serving 87 counties in Missouri. We serve thousands of Missourians, including senior citizens, people with disabilities, rural citizens, and more, regardless of their sex, age, sexual orientation, national origin, color, or religion. If you or someone you know needs help with transportation services, contact us today and we’ll help you get where you need to go safely and reliably! If you’d like to learn more about what we do, find out how to ride, make a donation to support our work, or apply for one of our available driving positions!

“Enhancing quality of life by providing safe, caring & reliable transportation services.”