Laketran is offering free rides to Veterans during the week of November 7-12, and all year for medical appointments

Laketran October
Laketran passenger Ralph Carter, pictured at right with driver Ashley Gmitra, uses Laketran’s Veterans Medical Transportation to go to all of his medical appointments.

By Patricia Nugent

Though Veterans Day only comes around once a year (Friday, November 11), Laketran recognizes our local heroes every day.

For the past 25 years, the regional public transit system has honored them through the Veterans Medical Transportation service. Veterans and their spouses and attendants receive free Dial-a-Ride transportation to medical appointments or adult day care within Laketran’s service area, the county’s VA outpatient clinic, administration offices and the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center in University Circle.

In addition to the complimentary medical transportation, the week of Veterans Day, Monday through Saturday, November 7-12, all veterans ride all services for free, including Laketran’s local routes and park-n-ride services.

“It is the least we can do for the sacrifice that veterans have given to our country,” says Laketran CEO Ben Capelle. “We would like to continue to show our support and appreciation by offering free rides to veterans on all of our services.”

Laketran partnered with the Lake County Veterans Service Commission and Lake County Commissioners to make the program happen.

Laketran’s Veterans Medical Transportation is a door-to-door service, with convenient home pick-ups scheduled for 6:15 a.m., 9:15 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.

On an annual basis, Laketran provides nearly 5,000 trips to Lake County veterans to access healthcare appointments.

Ralph Carter is a passenger of many of those trips. This 20-year resident of Eastlake served in the U.S. Army from 1969-1971. He’s been riding Laketran for nearly 20 years, taking Dial-a-Ride trips to his Cleveland and Lake County medical appointments. Like many veterans, to Ralph the service is integral to his well-being.

“I wouldn’t be able to get to my medical appointments, especially downtown, without Laketran,” he says. “I don’t drive. I use Laketran to get to all my appointments.”

For more information about Laketran’s Veterans Medical Transportation program, call 1-888-LAKETRAN (1-888-525-3872) or visit Laketran.com. Reservations for this program can be made 2-12 days in advance. Veterans must register with Lake County Veterans Service Commission to be eligible for free medical transportation.