Ambulatory transportation is for riders who can walk, or walk with a cane or walker, and do not need a wheelchair or stretcher to travel safely. It sits between a standard rideshare and a wheelchair van, offering a driver who understands medical appointments and provides more hands-on help than a typical taxi trip.
Who ambulatory transportation is for
This service fits riders who can get in and out of a regular vehicle with a little assistance, such as older adults who are steady on their feet but appreciate help with a car door and seatbelt, or people recovering from a minor procedure who should not be driving themselves home. It also works well for riders using a cane or walker who need a driver willing to wait while they move at their own pace.
Many riders start with ambulatory transportation and later transition to wheelchair transportation if their mobility changes, and our dispatch team can adjust the vehicle type as those needs evolve over time.
What the vehicle and drop-off look like
Ambulatory trips typically use a sedan or a smaller van, chosen for a comfortable ride rather than for wheelchair equipment. Drivers assist with opening doors, offering an arm for balance if needed, and walking with the rider from the vehicle to the building entrance rather than just dropping them at the curb.
For riders who use a folding walker or cane, the driver will typically stow the walker in the trunk or cargo area and have it ready again at drop-off, so the rider is not left managing it alone while getting settled.
Common appointment types
Ambulatory transportation covers a wide range of trips, including primary care visits, specialist appointments, lab work, physical therapy, and some dialysis or infusion appointments for riders who do not need a wheelchair. It also covers hospital discharges for patients who are steady enough to walk to the vehicle with assistance.
Because these trips are common and often recurring, many riders set up a standing schedule for weekly or biweekly appointments so the same pickup time is booked automatically going forward.
Booking, timing, and pricing
Booking an ambulatory ride works the same way as other trip types: provide your pickup address, destination, and appointment time, and our dispatch team confirms a pickup window with enough buffer to avoid rushing. A quote is given up front based on the base fare plus mileage for the trip.
We serve ambulatory riders throughout Jacksonville, including the beaches and Arlington, as well as Orange Park, St. Augustine, and Fernandina Beach, so trips that cross county lines for a specialist visit are common and well within normal coverage.