ELKHORN — The newly rebranded Walworth County Connect is the county's only option for public transportation. The accessible ride service is now catching on with riders of all ages.
Walworth County Connect reported 4,410 rides in February alone. It is a new monthly record for the service, which launched as Wal-To-Wal Dial-a-Ride in 2017 and changed its name to Walworth County Connect last October.
County mobility director Gene Bobich anticipates even more people will use the service when they find out about it.
"There are people here who can't afford a vehicle," Bobich said. "The insurance, the upkeep, the fuel costs. There are even some who don't want to drive."
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Samantha Fibish takes the service every day to get between her home and her job.
"I've been taking this since I was 18, since I started working, actually," Fibish said. "I don't have my license because driving gives me anxiety, so it's nice to have this option."
Sandy Remy mostly uses Walworth County Connect for groceries and medical appointments.
"I don't drive, I've never had a license," said Remy, who estimates she has taken hundreds of rides with the service. "I wasn't too happy trying to get around Walworth County with no license."
Walworth County Connect driver Steve Hess said he is seeing a lot more new passengers in his back seat since the name change and public awareness campaign.
""The need is not going down, I can tell you that," Hess said. Even in the two and a half years I've done this, I've noticed."
Bobich said children have also used Walworth County Connect to get to class. He hopes even more people turn to the service as an option if they do not feel comfortable driving.
"This fills that need because it's on demand and it works, and the riders are telling us it works."
If you want to book a ride with Walworth County yourself, you can visit their website, send an email to transportation@vipservices-inc.org, or call 262-723-4402. Rides are as much as $6 each way and must be booked in advance.
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