Coming Soon! The SPHERE Loop Bus! Thanks to the efforts of the SPHERE Community & the Town of Ridgefield, there will be a bus available on Wednesdays (date to be determined) for Ridgefield seniors and the Mobility Impaired.
Lack of transportation has been limiting the lives of too many Ridgefield senior citizens for too long. Shopping, going to the library, strolling in Ballard Park, meeting friends in town— seniors and the disabled without transportation have had to give up the many pleasures that Ridgefield offers.
Now, the situation has been solved, thanks to the determined efforts of SPIF (Senior Positive Initiative Forum) whose members include the leaders of Ridgefield's senior citizen services. They are pleased to introduce SPHERE, a new, comfortable bus that will make regular trips, looping around Ridgefield, with convenient, popular stops along the way. Town Hall, Bissells, the library, Halpin Lane area, Casagmo, Fox Hill, Kohls, Stop 'n Shop are some of the planned stops. The entire loop is about an hour with stops. Some people may want to stay on the bus for a nice ride around Ridgefield! The SPHERE bus seats 20 with wheelchair lifts. It will run every weekday for Ridgefield residents and the trips are free.
Many people have made this happen. Mayor Rudy Marconi, Don Ciota, Chairman of the Commission for the Disabled, Eloise Barron, Director of Community Health and Wellness at the Ridgefield Visiting Nurses Association (RVNA) and members of SPIF. Valerie Jensen helped write the grant for state funding. With private contributions, SPHERE's free rides won't be of any cost to the town.
SPHERE's regular schedule starts in September. There will be two loops in the morning and two loops in the afternoon. Eloise Barron of RVNA says there will be free blood pressure screenings on Wednesdays at Bissell's, to be followed by flu-clinics, when needed.
Look for more news about SPHERE's upcoming schedule!