Good Wheels to roll out charter service
BY MICHELLE L. START Florida Weekly Correspondent

PHOTO MICHELLE START One of three new buses local charity Good Wheels has purchased to use in a for-hire charter business. Good Wheels hopes to generate income from the venture to supplement grants used for charitable services.

Good Wheels is hoping to offset financial losses in its charitable service by branching out more extensively into chartering.

"We ordered three vehicles," said Gary Bryant, president of Good Wheels. "We've been using some of our older vehicles on an elementary level."

The vehicles, which are being financed, cost between $80,000 and $85,000 each. They will be used exclusively for chartering services. Previously the same buses used to transport passengers did double duty as charter vehicles. The buses can transport 33 to 55 people.

The company's primary mission is to transport the disabled and disadvantaged to doctor's appointments, pharmacies and shopping. The program is governmentally funded through Medicaid, the Florida Department of Children and Families and the Department of Elder Affairs.

"The problem is that they do not provide enough funding to meet the demands," Bryant said. "We're planning to use money from the charter service to provide more direct service to the disabled and disadvantaged in the community."

Annually, Good Wheels receives about $5 million. Residents in need of services have to call two to three weeks in advance to reserve a spot. With additional funding, Bryant hopes to reduce that to two to three days.

Good Wheels provides service to about 500 passengers a day and makes roughly 130,000 trips a year.

Bryant said officials are expected to provide services to local schools, the Boys and Girls Club, nonprofit organizations and nursing homes. The cost of using the service runs $225 for the first three hours and $62.50 for each additional hour. A discount is given to government agencies, schools and nonprofits.

"We're very excited about earning a little money of our own," he said. "It appears that there will be quite a demand for our services."

The three charter buses are top-of-theline luxury vehicles, Bryant said.

Good Wheels has been in business since 1991. It has more than 50 vehicles, of which 35 operate in Lee County. Good Wheels also provides services in Hendry and Glades counties. ¦