{"id":408334,"date":"2026-09-23T15:28:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T15:28:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/408334\/"},"modified":"2026-09-23T15:28:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T15:28:15","slug":"tallahassee-residents-with-disabilities-lose-ride-service-after-desantis-veto-struggle-to-get-to-work-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/408334\/","title":{"rendered":"Tallahassee residents with disabilities lose ride service after DeSantis veto, struggle to get to work"},"content":{"rendered":"

For some Tallahassee residents with disabilities, getting to work has become significantly more difficult after the shuttering of i-Enable, a ride service for the Florida capital that offered a low-cost, door-to-door option with pickups within 15 minutes.<\/p>\n

Here’s what to know<\/p>\n

According to WTXL<\/a>, after Gov. Ron DeSantis cut $6 million in state support for the Innovative Service Development Grant Program, i-Enable ended its transportation program on July 1.<\/p>\n

A 15-minute pickup window had made commuting more predictable for riders with disabilities who used i-Enable.<\/p>\n

Rider Matt Blair said the service’s loss hit him hard.<\/p>\n

“I was really upset. I was really mad,” Blair said.<\/p>\n

Blair said the replacement options have been less dependable for getting him to work on time.<\/p>\n

“With Dial-A-Ride or StarMetro they’re always late, and I can’t be late for work. Like for example, one day I was late for work on a Sunday. I almost got in trouble with my boss out that Sunday,” he said.<\/p>\n

Another rider, Walker Bullington, said the closure has left him paying more out of pocket at times, especially when public transit is not available.<\/p>\n

“Especially on a Sunday morning when StarMetro doesn’t run till 10:30, and it’s like my Uber ride yesterday was like $37,” Bullington said.<\/p>\n

“That’s the issue. Ubers are really expensive. Why so expensive? Like for people, especially people with disabilities like us, like they should be for free,” Blair said.<\/p>\n

More background<\/p>\n

According to Amanda Lewis, a co-owner of Future Pathways, the loss of i-Enable has added transportation difficulties for some clients, WTXL reported. Future Pathways is a Tallahassee organization that helps people with disabilities find jobs and build independence.<\/p>\n

“Some of the difficulties have been just learning a new program like Dial-A-Ride. So they had to go through an application, that took a while. So some of them had a gap in transportation, and I mean they have jobs in the community. So if their parents are working all day every day, how are they going to get to and from work?” Lewis said.<\/p>\n

In a written statement, i-Enable said in part: “Through our experience with the Innovation and Service Development Grant, i-Enable has seen firsthand that Florida and some of its most vulnerable residents would benefit from a secondary transportation option specifically designed to meet the unique transportation needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”<\/p>\n

Where can I learn more?<\/p>\n

These stories explore transportation access issues similar to the ones Tallahassee riders are dealing with now that i-Enable has shut down. They cover transit design problems, car dependence, and lower-cost fare programs.<\/p>\n

\u2022 In Los Angeles, riders say rail lines remain too disconnected<\/a> for transit to work well.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Across the U.S., rankings show unwalkable neighborhoods leave residents<\/a> dependent on cars for everyday trips.<\/p>\n

\u2022 In Seoul, the new Climate Pass lets residents<\/a> commute more cheaply on public transit.<\/p>\n

Get TCD’s free newsletters<\/a> for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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