BY GERRY NOLAN

Oh, the places we can all now go!

People across DeLand can now get picked up at the curb in front of their residence and delivered curbside in the city for a flat $2 fee using Volusia County’s new on-demand shuttle service, VoRide. VoRide is offered by Volusia County Transit Services Division, Votran.

DeLand Assistant City Manager Mike Grebosz said DeLand has been working with Votran for years to find solutions to many neighborhoods and constituencies, underserved by the existing system. 

“VoRide is a win for citizens, including seniors, and areas that had limited fixed bus route service prior like Spring Hill and southwest DeLand,” Grebosz said. “And, while not perfect, it will be an initial way to access SunRail with the arrival of service midyear.”

And that route can expand even beyond DeLand thanks to the county offering one free ride transfer to downtown Daytona Beach via Votran fixed route 60 (which operates along U.S. Highway 92), or southwest Volusia/Orange City via Votran fixed route 20 (which operates generally along U.S. Highway 17-92). 

The service also allows someone to access Sanford, Winter Park, Orlando and Kissimmee, via a Votran route directly to DeBary’s SunRail station. Multimodal trips are encouraged, too — passengers who book a trip with both a VoRide and bus element get a free VoRide trip.

 Volusia County is considering expanding the ride service around the West Volusia area, but in the meantime, county officials hope the service changes the face of traveling around DeLand.

“VoRide signifies a transformative leap in public transportation,” Votran Executive Director Bobbie King said, “delivering an affordable and convenient option that significantly benefits our community.”

Accessibility is also top of mind for the service. Riders traveling with a wheelchair can select the option for a wheelchair-accessible vehicle when booking a trip, and individuals with disabilities, senior citizens and young people ages 7-18 qualify for a rate of just $1 per ride.

This reporter took three separate rides, and each had a response time of less than 10 minutes. The VoRide vehicles were clean, and the drivers were personable and professional. There was some confusion with how to handle riders whose VoRide was a part of a multistep route, including a transfer. And while this may not always be the case, I did not have to share the ride with other riders. 

The VoRide app is available for free via the Apple Store and Google Play.

Free transfers are available to or from a fixed-route Votran bus. If your trip begins on a Votran bus, riders can ask the operator for a VoRide transfer. Just show the transfer ticket to the VoRide driver when boarding. If your trip begins on VoRide, show the Votran bus operator your VoRide receipt. VoRide operates from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays. 

Like Votran, the service does not operate on Sundays or holidays. At this time, bicycles are not permitted on VoRide vehicles.

— Nolan is a former staff VP of the Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission of Mid-Florida. He also served as the executive director of Central Florida Citizens for Public Transportation. He has experience with real estate development and private/equity/venture capital.

Options, options

Volusia County’s VoRide operates similar to other ride-booking services like the popular Uber. But the government-operated program’s flat $2 fee for transportation is hard to beat. 

For example, around 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 12, Uber’s cheapest option to ride the approximately five minutes from The West Volusia Beacon’s office at 110 W. New York Ave. in Downtown DeLand to the DeLand Station, where SunRail will soon operate, is $15. 

Uber offers a range of options from larger, more costly vehicles that can fit luggage, many people and animals, as well as single-rider options. VoRide’s options may be more limited, but the vans are roomier by default, and VoRide also options by-request vehicles that are wheelchair-accessible.

Plus, $2 is hard to beat, and young people ages 7-18, senior citizens and individuals with disabilities qualify for an even-cheaper rate of just $1 per ride.

However, the services differ. VoRide does not operate on Sundays, while Uber and other transit platforms do.

Pickup for VoRide riders is also the nearest intersection or cross street to where they select, while services like Uber and Lyft allow for drivers to pick riders up from specific addresses.

— Noah Hertz