For Immediate Release - October 1, 2019

The County of Wellington officially launched their rural transit service RIDE WELL today on the Wellington Place campus. 

RIDE WELL is a five-year pilot project funded by the Government of Ontario that uses demand-based ridesharing to offer door-to-door transportation throughout Wellington County and two transfer points in the City of Guelph.

The service’s ridesharing model groups passengers travelling to similar pick-up and/or drop-off locations in a shared vehicle. This model allows RIDE WELL to offer affordable fares (set at $0.60 per kilometer, with a minimum cost of $5.00) and ensure the maximum number of passengers are being served at any given time. At the time of booking, passengers are given an approximate pick-up window, details about their driver and vehicle, and an estimate of how long their journey is expected to take.

To deliver the service the County has partnered with RideCo to employ a team of dedicated drivers and develop a mobile app and website that allows customers to book, pay, and track their ride in real-time. As of October 1, the service is available from Monday to Friday between the hours of 6:00am to 7:00pm.

Passengers are able to book RIDE WELL trips in three ways:

• RIDE WELL app - Available for download on all iOS and Android devices through the Apple Store or the Google Play Store. Allows passengers to book, pay, and track their rides.

• Website - Registration, booking, tracking, and payment can also be completed by visiting www.ridewell.ca.

• By Phone – Passengers can also book rides by calling 1.833.900.RIDE (7433) from Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:30am – 4:00pm.

“The RIDE WELL service is providing our residents with an affordable and accessible option to travel throughout Wellington County’s expansive urban and rural landscapes”, said Warden Kelly Linton. “The need for rural transit has been identified as a priority across the County, and I am confident that this service will suit the needs of our diverse communities.”

“We’re so excited to be piloting this innovative rural transportation solution,” commented Economic Development Chair, George Bridge. “RIDE WELL has the ability to significantly enhance the lives of our residents and help them engage in our communities, and we look forward to evaluating the success of this service over the next five years.”

To register for RIDE WELL and learn more about the service visit www.ridewell.ca.

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