By Dorothy Willman, Progress Correspondent
November 9, 2008 — Claremore does have public transportation. It’s called Pelivan Transit.
Contrary to what some citizens believe, riding the Pelivan is not restricted by age, physical ability or income range.
Dispatcher Blaine Riddles takes calls at the front desk in the Senior Citizen Center downtown on Missouri Street. His job is to dispatch drivers to pick up and deliver passengers. The five full-time and three part-time drivers keep at least four buses, each with 7- to 12-passenger capacity, running in the city. Each of the buses is equipped with a wheelchair lift and area to secure the chair for safe transport. Two smaller vans are used for transportation needs outside the city limits.
Riddles is assisted by part-time dispatcher Barbara Rorabaugh. She also fills in part time as driver on the smaller vans. A newcomer to the Pelivan staff, she recently moved from California, where she drove a school bus for 15 years.
The vehicles are on the move from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Fees went up Oct. 1, to $2.50 per ride within the city limits and to $2 for seniors over 60. The price goes up, to $3.50 and $3, for traveling in the two-mile radius outside the city limits. Those who need to go greater distances are charged by the mile. Passengers are encouraged to have the correct change, or to purchase a 10-ride Pelivan pass.
Pelivan drivers keep travel records, or logs, updated. The logs show the address of pick-up and drop-off, trip purpose and mileage, plus the time of pick-up and drop-off.
Driver Steve Cooper said the vehicles are "always busy." He estimates driving an average of 100 miles daily and says busiest times every month are when clients on fixed incomes receive their Social Security checks. That’s when they do their main shopping. Most frequent destinations include Wal-Mart, Reasor’s and Warehouse Market.
Cooper said about half his passengers are regulars. In the four years he has driven for Pelivan, he has become acquainted with the people who ride with him. He knows where they live, where they like to shop, and even the favorite lunch spots of his passengers from the Veterans Center.
He said the job is great for a "people person." He was an educator for 30 years, and loved teaching and coaching. The last 19 years of that career was spent in Chelsea. When he retired there, he tried substituting in Tulsa and it was not to his liking.
A friend who was driving school buses and Pelivans part time told him about Pelivan Transit, which operates in Owasso, Pryor, Miami, Vinita and Grove, as well as Claremore. He said the job "was a perfect fit" for him.
The Pelivan communications system makes it possible for Cooper and the other Pelivan drivers keep in touch with the dispatcher, and with each other. He said they are a "bunch of good guys" who try to assist each other in picking up passengers so nobody has to wait too long. They try for a maximum of 10 to 15 minutes, but sometimes on a busy day, it may be 30 minutes or longer.
Dispatchers encourage calling early to schedule a ride for medical appointments so patients arrive on time.
Cooper helps his senior riders on and off the bus and with their packages. He enjoys the interaction, keeps his radio tuned to 1570 AM and talks about the hits of the ‘60s with his passengers. "You gotta like people," he said.
Need a ride? Call Pelivan, 341-7300.
