No Wheels? No Problem

Seniors, and others in need of a ride to (TPSCC) can take advantage of a shuttle van provided by the City of Belmont. 

The wheelchair-accessible eight-seat van runs to and from the center Mondays through Thursdays 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

Andrea De Lara, the city's new Senior Recreation Coordinator, explained that the van is provided to give Belmont residents easier access to the events and activities held specifically at Twin Pines.

"Although most of the people we service are seniors, we do get occasional non-seniors who need transportation to Twin Pines," said De Lara.

"On the first and third Fridays of the month, our Senior Club hosts Bingo, and we get about 100 people from all over the Bay Area who start coming in at 10:30 a.m. to be ready for their Bingo game at 1:00 p.m. Because we have so many people still at the center at 3:00 p.m., our van driver comes in on those days to do pick-ups and returns within the Belmont area." she added.

There is a suggested donation of one dollar per way, or two dollars round-trip. 

De Lara said van driver, Jerry Schwerzler, also leads monthly expeditions called “Jerry’s Journeys,” taking passengers to senior-friendly tourist sites (such as Filoli Gardens, Año Nuevo, etc.) followed by lunch at a nearby restaurant.

These excursions, said De Lara, are advertised a month or two in advance. Schwerzler typically charges a small fee for the gas expense and the participants are pay for their own meal.

For more information on van transportation, "Jerry's Journeys," or senior programs and services, call the Twin Pines Senior & Community Center at (650) 637-2976 or go to www.belmont.gov.  

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