13°
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. A new public transit education program will help New Rochelle senior citizens become comfortable with Westchester Countys bus system.
County officials launched the $20,000 Senior B.E.A.T. (Be Educated About Transit) program Wednesday to inform senior citizens how to navigate the countys Bee-Line bus system, including such tips as using the accessibility features on the bus, how to ride at a reduced rate and how to plan a trip.
The one-hour orientation program is taught at senior centers, clubs, libraries, houses of worship and other locations by Mary Ellen Burns of the county Department of Transportation.
The New York State Department of Transportation funded brochures and instructional videos for the program after a survey found that seniors wanted to know how they could use public transportation to go exploring.
There are ways to become a part in the community, Burns said.
Seniors can ask the driver to provide lifts and ramps so they can get on and off the bus when it stops at their location. Seniors can also press the yellow stop next to every bus window when the bus reaches where they need to go.
The program is an extension to the countys SMART Community program, which focuses on students safety on school and county buses.
More information on the Bee-Line bus system is available on the countys website.
Click here to follow Daily Voice New Rochelle and receive free news updates.
