Meet our riders…
The TriTown Connector is helping people get around in South Berkshire county — making a real difference in their lives.
Louisa Ng
Louisa has lived in Berkshire County for eighteen years. She grew up in China and currently lives in Stockbridge. Louisa is on a waitlist for housing in Great Barrington, which would allow her to move closer to her job at Big Y. She does not drive and relies on public transportation. Before the TriTown Connector service began in May 2023, Louisa would catch the bus on a busy stretch of Route 102 to get to work. She frequently would need to leave an hour and half before her shift started. Now Louisa uses the TriTown service to get to work and it usually takes twenty minutes, door to door. She also uses the service for personal shopping and errands on her days off. The TriTown service makes getting around a lot more convenient for Louisa, and she enjoys talking to the drivers. Louisa is such a good listener and conversationalist that the Tritown drivers often find out new things about each other when they give Louisa a ride!
Ed Chastain
Before Ed Chastain retired, he worked as a clinical social worker. Approximately ten years ago he broke his hip and underwent multiple surgeries to regain mobility. Ed also has arthritis in his lower back. As a result, he experienced a lot of pain, became very weak and led a pretty sedentary lifestyle, especially during the pandemic. When the TriTown Connector service opened in May 2023 it provided Ed with a wonderful opportunity to get out more and do more walking. He can’t walk long distances, but he can take a van to the grocery store and walk inside while he does his shopping or downtown to visit shops and meet with friends. He has also used the service to get to physical therapy appointments, which are helping him regain his strength. Ed is a big advocate for the TriTown Connector because it has really helped him to get out and about and not stay inside so much. Ed enjoys talking with the drivers too, it is like a social event!
Judy Oates
“Part of good health, part of happiness, is getting to where you want to go.”
Judy has lived in south county for more than 35 years. She no longer drives a car because she recognizes that her reflexes are not as fast as they used to be and she worries about her ability to respond to aggressive drivers and poor weather conditions. She is also blind in one eye. Judy feels assured that the TriTown drivers are well trained and therefore capable and cautious drivers. She appreciates the respect and courtesy the TriTown drivers show her on each and every ride, noting that sometimes she enjoys chatting and other times she feels perfectly comfortable just being quiet. Judy uses the service to go to doctor appointments and shopping on a regular basis. Seasonally she and her daughter use the service to take her grandchildren hiking, shopping, out to Chinese food, or over to Lake Mansfield. Judy is also keenly aware of other members in the community who depend on the TriTown Connector to get to work and stay socially connected. She has nothing but praise for the program, even calling it “valiant”.
Kenny Stanley
“Without the ride service I would be in a pickle.”
Kenny was born and raised in Great Barrington and currently lives with his girlfriend, Kayleana, near the Great Barrington and South Egremont border. Both depend on the TriTown Connector to get to their jobs. Kenny works on the north side of Great Barrington at Price Chopper, several miles from his home. He doesn’t have family in the area, so having reliable access to affordable and dependable public transportation is a lifesaver. Before the TriTown Connector service began in May 2023, Kenny biked from Egremont to Price Chopper, pushed carts all day, and then biked home. It was exhausting. Now Kenny gets picked up at his home and dropped off at his job and he can also work weekend and evening shifts when needed. Without the TriTown service Kenny would not be able to do what he does.
Nancy Coleman
Nancy Coleman, a California native, moved to Great Barrington several years ago to be closer to her family. She recently decided to give up driving and sometimes uses the TriTown Connector to attend her favorite exercise class at the Berkshire South Regional Community Center. Nancy also used the TriTown service last May to attend the annual town meeting at Monument Mountain Regional High School. Otherwise, she said, “I probably wouldn’t have bothered to ask someone to bring me.” Nancy feels the convenience of the service is absolutely essential to keep older people like her active, independent and connected to the community. She also appreciates the relaxed good nature of the drivers and other passengers — it’s especially nice for someone not used to public transit.