Brian Burton, travel trainer for Via, is peppered with questions as he and eight “trainees” walk from the Longmont Senior Center  to the nearby RTD bus station for a learn-as-you-go experience on a cloudy Wednesday morning. While clearly ready for an adventure, most of these seniors have not ridden the bus in recent years and want to know how it all works.

They are participating in one of Via’s Seniors on the Move classes, half-day outings designed to be both fun and educational. Typically offered by Via in collaboration with a local senior center, the free classes provide an overview of the public transportation system through an actual ride on the bus with an instructor to answer questions along the way.

This group is headed to the Boulder RTD transit station for a tour, since it’s a central transfer point in the local transit system, and then a walk to Pearl Street Mall for coffee or tea before heading back to Longmont on the bus.

Patricia Bergstrom, a transit veteran who doesn’t have a car and uses the local Longmont bus frequently, wants to expand her travel options. She’s thinking about a trip from Longmont to Flatirons Mall.

“There’s always more to learn about using the bus, and this seemed like a good way to do it,” she said.

Leah Wilson and Elaine Nave are newbies to the bus. They still drive locally but like the idea of being able to go to Denver or Fort Collins without worrying about traffic. They’re thinking about the future and learning to use the bus fits their independent lifestyle.

Via has upcoming Seniors on the Move classes scheduled at the Boulder, Erie and Lafayette Senior Centers. Learn more.

See Facebook photo album of class.

On Tuesday, May 14, Via is partnering with Harold’s Restaurant and Lounge in Longmont to receive a portion of the day’s sales. Owned by Susan Pratt, the Pratt family and James Unger, Harold’s offers fine family dining made with locally-sourced ingredients. The Pratt family has a long history of supporting nonprofit organizations and continues that support through the monthly nonprofit day at Harold’s.

Harold’s recently received a three-star review from the Daily Camera’s dining critic, who had this to say about the restaurant: “With moderately priced, locally sourced and thoughtfully prepared entrees, Harold’s is certainly contributing positively to the Longmont culinary landscape with quality, integrity and, well, just some damn good food.”

Join Via at Harold’s from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14 to enjoy lunch, happy hour or dinner and contribute to a great cause – us!

Via is recruiting members for its Longmont Service Advisory Committee (SAC). The first meeting is scheduled 1:30-3 p.m., Thursday, April 25 at the Longmont Senior Center, 910 Longs Peak Ave.

The purpose of the SAC is to provide an opportunity for community members, professional supporting staff, clients and potential clients to identify and discuss mobility needs and barriers in their community. In addition, Via’s staff will provide updates relating to schedules, routes and other service or policy changes.

Nicole Cavalino, director of customer and community services, said of the advisory group: “We hope to use these meetings to get feedback from individuals with different perspectives on our service – from a client or a client’s family member or from an organization whose clients use our service – because diverse viewpoints will help us better meet the mobility needs of each community.”

Individuals who are interested in joining the Longmont Service Advisory Committee should attend the first meeting to learn more and fill out an application for membership. For questions in advance of the meeting, please contact Barb Borg, 303-447-2848 x1047 or bborg@viacolorado.org.

Via has received grants totaling $154,000. The funds will be used to provide accessible transportation, travel training, and information and referral for individuals with mobility limitations.

The funds were awarded by Rose Community Foundation ($110,000), Longmont United Hospital ($30,000), Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center ($10,000), Collins Foundation Trust ($2,000) and the Community Foundation Serving Boulder County ($2,000).

A portion of the funding from Rose Community Foundation will support the mobility specialist at Via, who provides information and referral for individuals who don’t drive, including those who are considering or have recently given up their car.

Elsa Gallegos, Via’s bilingual mobility specialist, said she often talks with adult children who need assistance in starting a conversation with their parents about giving up the keys. “Making the decision to give up driving can be huge and for some, emotionally charged,” she said. “Via has developed some guidelines and resources on how to best handle this major life transition, and I can help individuals keep that conversation constructive.”

In 2012, Via’s mobility specialist provided information about mobility options in Boulder County and the Denver metro area to nearly 500 individuals. In addition, Via’s paratransit service provided more than 130,000 trips and served 2,270 individuals living with mobility limitations.

At its annual employee celebration, Via recognized numerous employees for their valuable contributions to making Via a safe, productive and effective nonprofit organization.

With the safety of Via’s clients, employees and the public being one of the organization’s top priorities, safe drivers receive special recognition at the celebration. In 2012, drivers in Via’s four divisions drove 3.3 million miles!  A total of 133 drivers were recognized for driving at least 1,000 hours behind the wheel (or 500 hours for part-time employees) with no infractions and no preventable accidents. Seven employees were recognized for maintaining a safe driving record for 10 years or more and 34 for five to 10 years.

Each of Via’s four driving divisions and its Boulder and Denver administrative offices recognize an employee who exemplifies the organization’s mission of providing caring, customer-focused transportation options for people with limited mobility. Those recognized this year included:

Drivers of the Year
Miquel Santos, Access-a-Ride
Gary Inouye, Call-n-Ride
Charles Bodah, HOP
Maggie Burrall, Via Paratransit

Non-Driving Employees of the Year
Jenny Bux, dispatcher, Boulder
John Horlick, lead mechanic, Denver

Thank you to the local businesses who contributed prizes for the employee recognition celebration.