Modes of Service Transportation modes include demand-response service, subscription service, and deviated fixed-route service. Demand response and subscription services are shared rides, so a customer may travel with other customers and may not go directly from origin to destination. Coordinating trips allows the system to operate efficiently and provide more transportation service at lower cost.
Demand Response Service Demand response service describes trips scheduled on an as-needed basis. Mountain Mobility is best able to accommodate trips scheduled during the off-peak hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Grocery, other shopping, and multipurpose trips (banking, personal business, etc.), must be scheduled according to days, times and stores on our existing routes within the customer’s community. Mountain Mobility does not provide same-day transportation. If you need emergency services, please call 9-1-1.
Subscription Service Subscription service describes trips scheduled to the same destination at the same time, two (2) or more times within the same week. Customers requesting subscription service may be placed on a waiting list if capacity on an existing route is full, if a route is not available in the area, and/or if a route is not available at the times service is requested. City of Asheville Complementary Paratransit Service customers should consult the City of Asheville’s Paratransit Rider’s Guide regarding subscription service policies.
Community Transportation Service Public transportation services are provided by demand response and subscription modes to residents outside the City of Asheville. Mountain Mobility also provides deviated fixed-route public transit service with Trailblazer Routes.
Senior Dining Program Transportation Mountain Mobility transports seniors to identified dining sites in cooperation with the Council on Aging and Asheville Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Department. The Senior Dining Program promotes independence of people 60 and older by providing a safe, friendly environment where seniors may enjoy crafts, games, exercise, and learn information about local happenings and services. In addition, participants in the Senior Dining Program are transported to a nearby grocery store for shopping each week. To sign up for a Senior Dining Program, please contact the Council on Aging at (828) 277-8288.
Senior Bus Pass Mountain Mobility offers seniors at least 65 or older a free monthly bus pass that can be used throughout the City of Asheville’s ART bus system. Because advance reservations are not required, ART bus services allow more flexible travel. For more eligibility information call (828) 250-6750, Option 5, or TDD/TTY Relay 7-1-1 or Toll free 1-800-735-2962.
RIDE is a voucher program that allows disabled and elderly residents to purchase transportation services at a significant discount. Once enrolled as a RIDE participant, you are eligible to purchase vouchers that can be used with local providers at 25% of the regular rate. To qualify for the RIDE program, individuals must live in Buncombe County and be elderly or disabled. How the RIDE Program works: Customers purchase vouchers for providers. Vouchers are $2.50 each and are sold in books of 10 ($25). When transportation is needed, the customer contacts one of the RIDE providers for service. Each voucher is good for $10 off the cost of a one-way trip provided by the service. A maximum of three (3) vouchers can be used for a one-way trip. If the cost of the trip is more than $30, the customer must pay the difference at the time the service is provided. Once enrolled in the RIDE Program, customers are sent a list of providers who accept program vouchers and the program guidelines. For more information, please contact the RIDE Program Coordinator with Mountain Mobility at (828) 250-6750, Option 5, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Medicaid Transportation Service Mountain Mobility is one of many transportation services that provide non-emergency medical trips to Medicaid recipients. All trips must be scheduled through Buncombe County’s Non-Emergency Medicaid Transportation Services. If you have Medicaid, please call (828) 552-5486 to determine eligibility and schedule your medical trips.
Mountain Mobility is administered through a contract with Land-of-Sky Regional Council and operated through a contract with McDonald Transit Associates, Inc.