MENTOR, Ohio — Lake County's public transportation system is offering free rides to any Lake County resident in need of transportation to a COVID-19 vaccination appointment.
Laketran's local route buses or door-to-door Dial-A-Ride service are available for all Lake County residents to use.
For the door-to-door service, residents must make a reservation by calling 440-354-6100. It's best to make an appointment for bus service as soon as a vaccination appointment is scheduled. Reservations can be made at least one day before or up to 12 days in advance.
If a vaccination appointment is at a drive-thru site, Laketran riders will remain on the same bus for the entire trip. Laketran will transport residents through the entire vaccine process and return them to their home.
Kirtland resident, Jean Harvey, received her first vaccination last Friday at the Coulby Park distribution site using Laketran.
“The whole process went very smoothly. My bus was on time, the line wasn’t very long, and I didn’t even have to get off the bus – I couldn’t ask for anything better,” shared Harvey. “I usually ride Laketran about twice a week. During the pandemic I have continued to ride when necessary, like doctor’s appointments or shopping, and have always felt safe.”
“We are here to help in any way we can to get our community through this pandemic and move forward,” said Laketran CEO Ben Capelle. “We’ve responded with our mobile food pantry bus and now we want to make sure every resident has the opportunity to get vaccinated.”
Residents who prefer to take Laketran's Local Routes 1-9 can call Laketran Customer Service at 440-354-6100 and request four bus passes be added to their EZfare account or mailed to them. The four passes are for round-trip travel for both first and second doses of the COVID-19 vacination.
Lake County residents who need transportation assistance to get a COVID-19 vaccine can call Laketran at 440-354-6100 to schedule a Dial-a-Ride or get route information.
