From transportation assistance and travel training to grocery access and technology education, the Denver Regional Mobility & Access Council offers resources that help Colorado residents maintain independence and stay connected to their communities.
For older adults, maintaining independence often means having reliable transportation to medical appointments, grocery stores, community activities, and other essential destinations. When driving is no longer an option, finding convenient and affordable transportation can make a significant difference in quality of life.
The Denver Regional Mobility & Access Council (DRMAC) helps individuals navigate transportation options throughout the Denver metropolitan area. Its programs serve older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, low-income residents, and others who face transportation challenges.
Through free transportation assistance, educational programs, and community partnerships, DRMAC helps residents discover alternatives to driving and develop the confidence to use them.
Finding Transportation Options: DRMAC's Information & Assistance Center
Understanding available transportation services can be challenging, particularly for individuals unfamiliar with public transit, paratransit, or community transportation programs.
DRMAC's Information & Assistance Center provides free, personalized guidance to help residents identify transportation options that meet their needs.
Services include:
- Live telephone and text assistance at 303-243-3113.
- Online chat support.
- Direct connections to transportation providers.
- Language interpretation services.
- Information about public transit, specialized transportation, and community mobility resources.
Whether someone needs transportation to a medical appointment, assistance finding an accessible ride, or information about alternatives to driving, DRMAC can help identify available resources.
Getting There Guide and App: Transportation Resources in One Place
DRMAC's Getting There Guide is a free transportation resource covering nine counties in the Denver metropolitan region.
Available through a printed guide, interactive online resource, and mobile app, Getting There helps residents explore transportation services, including public transit, private transportation providers, volunteer driver programs, paratransit, and rideshare options.
The guide also connects users with information about housing assistance, food resources, and other community services.
For older adults considering reducing or giving up driving, the Getting There Guide can be a valuable starting point for exploring transportation alternatives before making that transition.
Getting There Travel Training: Building Confidence Beyond the Driver's Seat
Learning to use public transportation can feel overwhelming, especially for someone who has relied on a personal vehicle for most of their life.
DRMAC's Getting There Travel Training program helps participants become more comfortable navigating regional transportation systems.
The free, three-session program includes:
- A one-hour virtual introduction to transportation options.
- A 90-minute in-person training session.
- A free group field trip to Denver's Union Station.
Participants learn how to navigate buses, trains, and alternative transportation services while gaining practical experience in a supportive environment.
The program can be particularly helpful for older adults who want to remain active and independent after they stop driving.
Technology Training: Making Transportation and Everyday Life More Accessible
Technology increasingly plays an important role in transportation, from checking bus schedules to arranging rides through smartphone applications.
DRMAC offers hands-on technology training to help participants use smartphones more safely and confidently.
Classes cover practical topics such as smartphone security and privacy settings, safe internet browsing, QR codes, online payments, app management, notifications, and digital storage.
These skills can help older adults access transportation services while also making it easier to communicate with family members, manage appointments, and use other online resources.
Advocacy, Education, and Community Outreach
Beyond individual transportation assistance, DRMAC works to improve regional mobility through education, advocacy, and community partnerships.
Its workshops and outreach programs address disability etiquette, compassion fatigue, service animals, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, and transportation accessibility.
These efforts support a more inclusive transportation network that recognizes the needs of older adults and individuals with disabilities.
New Program: Transit to Table Connects Residents with Food Resources
Transportation barriers can make accessing nutritious food difficult, especially for older adults who no longer drive or individuals with limited financial resources.
DRMAC's Transit to Table program addresses this challenge by helping eligible residents reach grocery and food assistance resources.
The program provides free Uber rideshare vouchers and transportation connections to a network of nearly 20 regional food banks.
Transit to Table is designed for individuals experiencing financial or mobility barriers that make accessing groceries and food assistance difficult.
By connecting transportation with food security, the program helps residents obtain essential supplies while supporting their health and independence.
Individuals interested in participating should contact DRMAC to learn about current eligibility requirements and voucher availability.
New Program: Next Ride Forward Supports Community Reentry
DRMAC's Next Ride Forward program helps individuals returning to their communities after incarceration overcome transportation barriers.
Reliable transportation is often essential for attending job interviews, maintaining employment, accessing healthcare, and participating in community services.
Next Ride Forward provides specialized public transportation guidance, free customized travel training, and free or subsidized regional transit passes.
The program is designed to help participants develop the transportation skills and independence needed to successfully reconnect with their communities.
Transportation Planning Is an Important Part of Aging Well
For many older adults, the decision to stop driving is one of life's most significant transitions. However, giving up the keys does not have to mean giving up independence.
Planning ahead can make that transition easier.
Learning about transportation services, practicing public transit routes, becoming comfortable with rideshare technology, and identifying community transportation providers can help older adults maintain access to the people, places, and activities that matter most.
DRMAC's programs demonstrate how transportation education and community partnerships can help residents remain mobile, engaged, and independent.
Older Wiser encourages older drivers and their families to explore transportation alternatives before driving becomes difficult or unsafe. Understanding available options can help individuals make informed decisions about their driving future while maintaining an active and connected lifestyle.
Learn More About DRMAC
Residents, caregivers, and community organizations interested in DRMAC's transportation programs can contact the organization directly.
Denver Regional Mobility & Access Council (DRMAC)
Phone: 303-243-3113
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://drmac-co.org
For information about transportation alternatives, planning for driving retirement, and maintaining independence as we age, visit https://OlderWiser.org.