Home › Getting around without driving

Transportation · West Valley 55+ · Updated October 2026

Dial-a-ride and senior rides in the West Valley

Dial-a-ride alternatives and senior ride programs city by city, Valley Metro Paratransit and RideChoice, volunteer drivers, golf cart rules in 55+ communities, and how to get to Sky Harbor without a car.

See 55+ homes for sale Find rides in your city

The short version

Four of the five West Valley cities in our guide now run a low-cost shared ride you can book by phone or app, with senior fares of $1 to $2. Peoria, Glendale and Goodyear run on-demand rides open to the public, and Buckeye runs BOLD for residents 60 and older. If a disability keeps you from using the bus, Valley Metro Paratransit and RideChoice cover the whole region.

In Sun City, Sun City West, El Mirage, Youngtown and parts of Peoria and Surprise, volunteer drivers from Northwest Valley Connect take riders 65 and older to appointments and errands.

Every service below has its own rules on who can ride, where it goes and how far ahead to book. Register before you need a ride. Several programs take a few days to set up an account.

Senior rides by city

Peoria: Peoria Transit On-Demand

Since April 1, 2026, Peoria Transit offers same-day shared rides throughout the city, open to the public, seniors and people with disabilities. Seniors 65+ pay $1.50 each way (exact fare). It runs Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and also reaches select medical and essential sites in places like Glendale and Sun City. Register once at 623-773-7433, then book by app, online, or at 623-773-7435 (City of Peoria).

Peoria city guide · Trilogy at Vistancia · Westbrook Village · Ventana Lakes

Glendale: Glendale OnBoard

A curb-to-curb shared ride within Glendale, weekdays 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The reduced fare for seniors 65+ is $2 (cash, exact fare, or card in the app). You can book the same day, or up to 7 days ahead for medical appointments. Book in the app or at 623-930-3500 (City of Glendale).

Glendale's Taxi Voucher Program helps residents getting repeated, doctor-ordered treatments such as dialysis or cancer care: the city pays 75% of the fare, up to $15 a trip. Call 623-930-2940.

Glendale city guide

Buckeye: BOLD and the Senior Center

BOLD (Buckeye On-Demand Local Dispatch) is a curb-to-curb shared ride within Buckeye for residents 60 or older, people with a disability and veterans. It's a flat $2 each way, weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Apply first (allow 2 business days), then book at least one business day ahead in the GO BOLD app or at 623-349-6317 (City of Buckeye).

The Buckeye Senior Center offers rides to the center for registered participants 60+, plus limited medical rides: 623-349-6600. Valley Metro Route 685 costs $2 one way at the reduced fare (65+ or Medicare card).

Buckeye city guide · Sun City Festival · Victory at Verrado

Goodyear: WeRIDE

WeRIDE is a shared, on-demand ride within set zones in Goodyear and Avondale, weekdays only. Riders over 60 pay $1 a ride. It also goes to Banner Estrella Medical Center and the Avondale Resource Center. Book in the WeRIDE Micro app or call 623-777-4330, and check the city's map to see whether your address is inside the zone (City of Goodyear).

Goodyear city guide · PebbleCreek · CantaMia at Estrella

Surprise

Surprise has no city bus or dial-a-ride for all seniors. For residents with an ADA certification, and for eligible veterans, Valley Metro Paratransit ($4 one way, daily 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., book 1 to 14 days ahead, no same-day trips) and RideChoice are available. A city pilot through Human Services & Community Vitality may give participants rides to the Surprise Senior Center and Resource Center: 623-222-1623. Northwest Valley Connect and Benevilla (below) serve parts of Surprise (City of Surprise).

Surprise city guide · Sun City Grand (now The Grand) · Arizona Traditions · Sun Village

Sun City and Sun City West

These are unincorporated Maricopa County, so there's no city ride program. Your main options are the volunteer drivers below, Valley Metro Paratransit for ADA-certified riders (call 602-716-2200 to confirm your address is in the service area), and RideChoice, which in Sun City and Sun City West is for ADA-certified riders only (Valley Metro).

Sun City · Sun City West · Corte Bella

Valley Metro Paratransit and RideChoice

These regional programs are for people who can't use the bus because of a disability. You apply once through the Valley Metro Mobility Center at 602-716-2100, and the application forms are free.

Paratransit (Dial-a-Ride): a shared ride in an accessible van, at a minimum anywhere within 3/4 mile of a local bus route or light rail station. Glendale and Peoria run their own (Glendale 623-930-3515, Peoria 623-773-7435). Everywhere else in the West Valley, call Valley Metro Paratransit at 602-716-2200 (Valley Metro).
RideChoice: rides by taxi, rideshare or wheelchair-accessible van. $3 for a trip up to 8 miles, then $2 a mile, up to 20 trips a month, with no need to share. Book any time, day or night, at 602-716-2111. Trips must start and end in Maricopa County (Valley Metro).
Who qualifies for RideChoice: in Glendale, Goodyear, Peoria, Surprise and unincorporated Maricopa County (including Sun City and Sun City West), only ADA-certified riders, plus eligible veterans in Surprise. Seniors 65+ without a disability qualify only in Litchfield Park, Phoenix and Tempe (Valley Metro).
Book online if you like: the Valley Metro Connect app and website let you book, track and cancel paratransit and RideChoice trips. Phone booking still works (Valley Metro).

Volunteer drivers and volunteer senior help

Northwest Valley Connect (AllThrive 365)

Free or low-cost rides for people 65 and older in Sun City, Sun City West, El Mirage, Youngtown and parts of Peoria and Surprise. Volunteer-driver trips are donation-based. Ask at least 7 days ahead. Rides aren't guaranteed, but the program says it finds a driver for about 90% of requests. Riders must be able to get in and out of the car on their own, or bring a caregiver. Enroll at 623-282-9300 (AllThrive 365).

Find Your Ride (Sun City West Foundation)

A free referral service for Sun City West residents. It does not provide rides. Staff help you choose among options such as Valley Metro RideChoice, Dial-a-Ride, Uber, Lyft and nonprofit driver programs, and explain eligibility and next steps. A free class runs monthly. Call the Find Your Ride line at 602-662-4260, Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to noon. The foundation's main number is 623-584-6851. Find Your Ride (Sun City West Foundation).

Benevilla Bridges

For qualifying lower-income older adults in Sun City, Sun City West, Surprise, Peoria, El Mirage and Youngtown. Volunteers drive enrolled members to medical appointments (up to two a week) and grocery shopping (up to two trips a month), as volunteers are available. Call 623-526-4404 (Benevilla).

Area Agency on Aging, Region One: AmeriCorps (Caring Circles)

The Area Agency on Aging, Region One serves Maricopa County. Its AmeriCorps program, Caring Circles, uses national service members to give older adults social support, including transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping, friendly visits and help with technology. To ask about help, call the agency's 24-Hour Senior HELP LINE, which it describes as the central intake for its services, at 602-264-HELP (4357) or toll-free 888-783-7500. The program page doesn't list fees, service areas by city or how soon a ride can be scheduled, so ask when you call. People 55 and older who have reliable transportation and an Arizona Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card can also apply to serve as AmeriCorps members, with a monthly stipend and an education award. AmeriCorps program page (Area Agency on Aging, Region One, checked October 26, 2026).

Still driving? Ask these programs about volunteering. It's a good way to meet neighbors.

Rideshare, taxis and private services

Uber and Lyft are on the City of Surprise's list of outside transportation options. RideChoice also uses rideshare and taxi companies, at a set price, if you qualify (Valley Metro).
Prefer to call instead of using an app? The City of Surprise lists GoGoGrandparent, which books rides by phone, along with ComTrans, Quality Transport Services, UZURV and To My Surprise Airport Service. The city says its list isn't an endorsement, so call each company for prices.
Medical rides: ask your health plan whether it offers rides to appointments. Benefits vary, so call the number on your card.

Golf carts as everyday transportation

In some 55+ communities, a golf cart is how people get to the rec center, the pool and the store. The rules come from the state, the county or city, and each community's HOA. Here's what the communities themselves publish.

Sun City

The Sun City Home Owners Association says a large share of residents use golf carts as their main transportation. Carts must follow the same traffic rules as cars and be registered with the state, and drivers need a valid driver's license. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office recommends staying on roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less, and the HOA names Bell Road, Grand Avenue and 99th Avenue as roads considered unsafe for carts (SCHOA).

Sun City Festival

All streets in Sun City Festival are public and fall under Buckeye and Arizona law. Golf cars may use streets, parking lots, concrete driveways and designated cart paths, but not sidewalks. They must be registered with Arizona's Motor Vehicle Department, drivers need a valid driver's license, and carts aren't allowed on streets where the speed limit is over 35 mph (Sun City Festival).

The Grand

The Grand's rules set aside parking spaces for golf carts and bar motorized vehicles, including golf carts, from sidewalks. Carts used on its golf courses must meet the community's golf car specifications (The Grand).

Before you buy a cart or a home: ask the HOA for its current golf cart rules, where carts can be parked and charged, and which nearby roads carts can legally use. Rules differ from one community to the next. See Arizona summer heat safety at 55+ before you plan errands on a July afternoon.

Getting to Phoenix Sky Harbor without driving

Light rail: take the A Line to the 44th St/Washington station, then the free PHX Sky Train to every terminal. The Sky Train runs every 3 to 4 minutes, 24/7 (Valley Metro).
Bus: Valley Metro routes 1, 13, 44 and 70 connect to the airport (Valley Metro).
Don't leave your car at a light rail park-and-ride. Valley Metro doesn't allow overnight parking at its light rail park-and-ride lots. Get dropped off at the station instead.
Door to door: rideshare, taxis and shuttle companies serve Sky Harbor. The City of Surprise's list of outside providers includes an airport shuttle. RideChoice riders can book airport trips too, since Sky Harbor is in Maricopa County.

Choosing a home if you might stop driving

Check the ride zone first. On-demand services in Goodyear and Buckeye only serve set areas, and paratransit follows the bus routes. Ask the provider about the exact address before you buy.
Look at what's walkable or cart-able: the rec center, a grocery store, a pharmacy, and your doctor.
Know where the nearest hospital and ER are. See our hospitals & healthcare guide.
Ask the rec center or HOA about community shuttles, clubs that organize rides, and neighbor volunteer groups.
Set up accounts now. Registration for Peoria Transit, BOLD and Northwest Valley Connect takes a few days, and ADA certification takes longer.

Greg can show you homes near the services you'd use most. See all West Valley 55+ communities or browse 55+ living by city.

Frequently asked questions

Is dial-a-ride free for seniors in the West Valley?

Usually not, but it is low cost. The city on-demand rides charge seniors $1 to $2 a trip: Goodyear's WeRIDE is $1 for riders over 60, Peoria Transit On-Demand is $1.50 for seniors 65+, and Glendale OnBoard and Buckeye's BOLD are $2 (city websites). The main free or low-cost option is Northwest Valley Connect, part of AllThrive 365, which offers volunteer-driver rides for people 65 and older in Sun City, Sun City West, El Mirage, Youngtown and parts of Peoria and Surprise.

Is there an AmeriCorps program that gives seniors rides in Maricopa County?

Yes. The Area Agency on Aging, Region One runs an AmeriCorps program called Caring Circles. Its members give older adults social support such as transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping, friendly visits and help with technology. To ask about help, call the agency's 24-Hour Senior HELP LINE at 602-264-4357 or toll-free 888-783-7500 (Area Agency on Aging, Region One, checked October 26, 2026). The program page doesn't say which cities are covered, so ask when you call.

Is there a senior dial-a-ride in the West Valley?

Most cities now run on-demand shared rides instead. Peoria Transit On-Demand costs $1.50 each way for seniors 65+, Glendale OnBoard is $2 at the reduced fare, Buckeye's BOLD is $2 for residents 60+, and Goodyear's WeRIDE is $1 for riders over 60 (city websites). Valley Metro Paratransit serves people who can't use the bus because of a disability.

How do seniors in Sun City and Sun City West get rides?

Northwest Valley Connect, part of AllThrive 365, gives free or low-cost volunteer rides to people 65 and older in Sun City, Sun City West, El Mirage, Youngtown and parts of Peoria and Surprise. Call 623-282-9300 and ask at least 7 days ahead. Benevilla Bridges also drives qualifying lower-income members to medical appointments and grocery shopping (623-526-4404).

Can I use RideChoice just because I'm over 65?

Only if you live in Litchfield Park, Phoenix or Tempe. In Glendale, Goodyear, Peoria, Surprise and unincorporated Maricopa County, including Sun City and Sun City West, RideChoice is for ADA-certified riders (plus eligible veterans in Surprise), according to Valley Metro.

Does Surprise have a bus or dial-a-ride for seniors?

Not for all seniors. The City of Surprise offers Valley Metro Paratransit and RideChoice to ADA-certified residents and eligible veterans, a Park & Ride at 13327 W. Bell Road for Valley Metro buses, and a pilot that may give program participants rides to the Senior Center and Resource Center.

Can I drive a golf cart on the street in Sun City?

The Sun City Home Owners Association says golf carts must be registered with the state, follow the same traffic rules as cars, and be driven by someone with a valid driver's license. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office recommends roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less, and the HOA names Bell Road, Grand Avenue and 99th Avenue as roads considered unsafe for carts.

How do I get to Sky Harbor without driving?

Take light rail (the A Line) to the 44th St/Washington station and ride the free PHX Sky Train, which runs every 3 to 4 minutes, 24/7. Bus routes 1, 13, 44 and 70 also serve the airport. Valley Metro doesn't allow overnight parking at light rail park-and-rides.

Related guides

55+ community guides by area

55+ communities in Peoria AZ · 55+ communities in Buckeye AZ · Ventana Lakes reviews, pros and cons · PebbleCreek pros and cons

Want a home close to everything you need?

Greg can show you 55+ homes near the rec center, shopping and doctors, and explain each community's golf cart rules. No pressure.

See homes for sale Get a Free Home Value Contact Greg Free Buyer's Guide (PDF)

Prefer the phone? Call or text 623-523-1557

Sources (checked October 2026)

Every fact on this page comes from Valley Metro, the cities of Surprise, Peoria, Glendale, Buckeye and Goodyear, the nonprofits that run each program, or each community's own published rules, checked October 8, 2026 (the Area Agency on Aging, Region One AmeriCorps listing was added after checking its official pages on October 26, 2026). We left out communities whose golf cart rules we couldn't confirm from an official source. Programs, phone numbers, hours and dollar amounts change, so confirm with the agency or company before you rely on them. This page is general information, not legal, tax, insurance or medical advice.

Greg Slaughter, AZ License #SA665093000, Loving Phoenix Team, brokered by Real Broker AZ, LLC (AZ License #LC696641000). Equal Housing Opportunity.