I always stay downtown when I come to Las Vegas. I would love to try the prime rib and BBQ at Ellis Island. But I don't have a car and it's ridiculously expensive to rent one just to go to EI. I don't really want to pay a bundle for a combined taxi ride down and back. And I'm disinclined to take buses. Is there a low-cost city or private ride service geared toward disabled or senior citizens, or even just the general public? Here in southern California, Metro has a van service that will take you from one bus stop to any other bus stop when they're not on the same route and it only costs $1. My city has its own ride service that will take you from any address in the city to any other address in the city for $1.50. Does Vegas have something like either of these?
When we first read your question, we suspected we’d have nothing happy to report, given Nevada’s aversion to taxpayer-funded services.
But there’s good news.
City of Las Vegas Communications Director David Riggleman writes, “Downtown, we have the Downtown Loop, a free service for everyone. That Loop runs on a fixed route and can accommodate seniors, as well as the disabled.” The Loop runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays and weekdays and from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the peak days of Friday and Saturday.
It encompasses only one downtown casino stop (Circa), though it also stops very close to the El Cortez. And it encompasses just about everything else urban, including the Mob Museum and Brewery Row. Its southernmost point is The Strat, so that still leaves you well short of Ellis Island, but it’s a start. Best of all, it’s free.
Outside the city limits, the Regional Transit Commission offers paratransit services, “an on-demand transportation service available to a select group of RTC Paratransit customers. This program allows customers to schedule a ride within minutes, without having to wait for a pick-up time.” Fees start at $3 a ride. Rides can be booked round the clock, seven days a week, “by using the Lyft or RTC On-Demand Apps,” or by calling 702-676-1801.
“If the total ride fare exceeds the RTC’s subsidy or goes beyond a 10-mile radius, it is the responsibility of the client to cover any additional costs. The client’s portion of the fare will always be provided to the client prior to confirming the trip booking.”
Hopefully, RTC can get you to Ellis Island in time for the barbecue.
And we appreciate the question. We learned something, thanks to you.
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Larryk
Oct-22-2022
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