Court proceedings are not just necessary to be attended when you’re charged with a crime, but also when you’re acquiring a property, for instance. According to the Connecticut Bail Bonds Group, some reasons people fail to appear in court are oversleeping, forgetting the date, or attending to personal tasks.
However, there is another reason that’s becoming worse day by day, and that is road traffic. Miss a scheduled court proceeding because you are late means you’d have to wait for a new schedule.
The answer: choosing to hail a ridesharing car over a taxi.
This is precisely what WeGo Public Transit has in mind. WeGo Public Transit refers to a public transportation agency based in Nashville, Tennessee. Consisting of city buses and paratransit, this system primarily serves the Nashville and Davidson County. Last year, the system had a ridership of around 8.1 million, or about 29,000 on a weekday as of 2024’s last quarter.
Recently, WeGo Public Transit has tied up with the Davidson County Office of the District Attorney to launch WeGoAccess, a division of WeGo Public Transit that will seek to provide free transportation for those attending court proceedings via the rideshare partner, zTrip.
Nashville’s district attorney general, Glenn Funk, spoke about this partnership, saying, “Accessibility to our courts is critical to our criminal justice system. All too often, our elderly or vulnerable adults are unable to make it to court, diminishing the likelihood of a successful prosecution that holds the offenders accountable. This partnership closes that gap and supports victims by providing the access they need, making our community safer.”
Sure, both taxi rides and ridesharing must combat traffic, but the time you need to wait and the travel time in taxis are longer.
Founded in Colorado, zTrip brands itself as “the new face of taxi.” It is a ride-hailing and taxi service platform that merges the convenience of booking services like Lyft and Uber with the traditional aspects of a taxi service.
Through zTrip, passengers can book black cars, taxis, and other vehicles via the app. Features offered include pre-booking, cash payments, and the ability to select your driver.
This new program, along with the partnership, will cater to witnesses connected to the Vulnerable Adult Protective Investigative Team and Victim Witness or Prosecution Support Divisions.
“WeGo Access provides an important service for riders in Davidson County who can’t use our fixed-route buses. We appreciate the partnership with the Office of the District Attorney to support this part of the criminal justice system,” Steve Bland, WeGo’s CEO, stated.
The District Attorney’s Office will initiate, or technically, “book trip requests” on WeGo, just like a security guard calling a taxi for you when you need to go home already from the office building.
There are no co-pay charges for participating riders. Instead, WeGo Access will provide transport for individuals who cannot navigate the regular bus servce safely due to disability.
“It’s a true honor to use our platform to give back to the Nashville community in such a meaningful way,” stated zTrip’s General Manager Hunter Thompson. “We take great pride in being part of a sustainable effort that’s making a real difference in the lives of those who need it most. This city means so much to us, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to serve the people who make it so special.”