Village to discuss Ride-Beck, ride-sharing program in Rhinebeck
On Tuesday, August 12, the Village of Rhinebeck Board of Trustees will hold a public workshop to discuss their proposal for a “free ride share micro-transit system to serve village residents.”
The program, dubbed Ride-Beck, would operate as an on-call car service to serve key community destinations such as Northern Dutchess Hospital, senior living communities, the Starr Library, and local shops.
Ride-Beck would operate weekdays, from 9am to 5pm, and is intended to serve seniors, people with mobility issues, and those needing accessible transportation for shopping, appointments, and community programs. Local officials expect the service to accommodate an estimated 10-15 round-trip riders per day, with expansion opportunities in the future.
Drivers for Ride-Beck would receive both CPR and customer service training.
According to Mayor Gary Bassett, initial funding for Ride-Beck is estimated at $100,000 annually per vehicle, with costs to be shared by the village and private partners. Officials are hoping to launch the service through a contractor by October.
Currently, Rhinebeck at Home, a volunteer service operated by the town, only runs Tuesdays and Thursdays, to the Tops grocery store and the library. Community outreach conducted through organizations like Rhinebeck at Home, Wells Manor, Arbor Ridge and Village Green shows strong support and demand for Ride-Beck service, according to Bassett, with an estimated 60–70 rides needed per week.
“Overall, Ride-Beck aims to improve accessibility, reduce isolation, and strengthen the social and economic fabric of Rhinebeck by offering dependable local transportation.”
The Ride-Beck public workshop will take place on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 5pm at the Village hall in Rhinebeck.
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