RideBuzz.org Rideshare

Find Rides, Share Rides, Save on Gas, & Reduce Emissions

For Immediate Release

 

12/14 - North Adams, MA, forty Three (43) community leaders convened at Mass MoCA to address significant gaps in transportation with statewide implications.

 

 

Even as the snow fell Monday morning with school delays, 43 community leaders convened at Mass MoCA to address gaps in transportation, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and help save community members money in Berkshire County.  The transportation stakeholder meeting was a huge success and confirmed an unprecedented partnership to resolve transportation needs with local innovation and collaboration to share resources.

 

 Photo (for use): Transportation Stakeholder Meeting for Berkshrie County Mass MoCA (Dec 14, 2010). Photos and PDF press release can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.

 

The Stakeholder Meetingwas the formal launch of a rapidly growing partnership initiated by BerkshireRides & Ridebuzz.org -  to cost-effectively expand ride options in Berkshire County with key stakeholder groups.  Working together, the group identified opportunities and aligned around a solution to advance a unique ridesharing program for Berkshire County.  The partnership will expand Ridebuzz’s web-based ridesharing service (www.Ridebuzz.org) into Berkshire County.  Ridebuzz provides ridesharing technology and adoption strategies to match ride offers and requests for organizations and individuals with instant notifications to share rides.  BerkshireRides is playing an instrumental role in catalyzing the effort that will benefit the western part of the state.  Expanding ride options with technology and partnership will help community members access jobs, reach medical and other appointments, buy groceries, and connect with family and friends.

 

Stakeholder groups include:Government, University (& Educational), Business, Human Service and Non-profit entities. 

 

Congressman Olver is a strong supporter, and had staff present to collaborate with growing this regional partnership.  Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (NBCC) has joined as a strong supporter and partner organization, along with the Berkshire Mobility Team, as a Sponsoring Partner of the event.  Beverly Ward, the FTA’s United We Ride Ambassador for Region 1 helped facilitate the meeting.  Others present included: Gailanne Cariddi, newly elected State Representative for the Berkshire First District.  Mayor Alcombright (North Adams) and City Councilors, The Berkshire Community Action Council, Berkshire Works, Williams College, MCLA, Mohawk Forest, The Caleb Foundation, The Williamstown COA, United Cerebral Palsy, MassRehab, Berkshire Community Action and many more.

 

The support for the partnership was overwhelming, and many partnership letters were signed on the spot, which catalyzed plans to move forward to the next phase of the project,.  “We wanted to make sure there was significant community support before advancing the partnership program to the next level,” said Jana Hunkler Brule’, Project Manager for BerkshireRides and a leading partner of the effort.   The Executive Director of Ridebuzz.org, Jeffrey D. Brown said, “I was very pleased with the turnout and commitment from leadership to advance innovation and solutions, especially in areas where it’s needed most.”

 

Many of the organizations are committed to working together to launch collaborative ridesharing services, which is especially important becauseof the inter-dependency of the community, economy, and environment that is dependent on transportation.  The surveys collected at the event were unanimously in support of the effort.  The ridesharing program will serve as a model for many communities across the state.

 

 The next steps:  Using the positive momentum the growing partnership will be working to sign up more organizations now that want access to new services for a public launch in spring 2011.  Organizations from northern, middle and southern Berkshire County are encouraged to participate and can fill out a survey here: www.ridebuzz.org/berkshiremeeting or call Becky McAllister @ BerkshireRides, 413-664-0300. There will be a follow up meeting in the New Year.  Organizations should respond to the survey for more meeting details.

 

 

BerkshireRides, Inc.,a not-for-profit community transportation agency augments the public fixed-route bus by providing employment related rides to residents of the northern Berkshires when and where the bus is not in service.  Since incorporation in 2002, BerkshireRides has served over 5,000 individuals, 27% of the employable population in the service area, with rides to and from 400 businesses and training sites.

Ridebuzz, Inc.,is a non-profit organization based in Amherst, MA that provides ridesharing technology and services (locally and nationally) to help people and organizations share transportation resources.  Ridebuzz Services have been launched for over 200 organizations and events that include: universities, municipalities, non-profits, business and member groups.  Ridebuzz provides innovative web technology and support for adoption campaigns to cost-effectively bridge critical gaps in transportation with new community-based shared ride options.