East Lansing seniors can sign up for four remaining classes on getting around without a car, part of a speaker series running through Nov. 6 at the Hannah Community Center.
Prime Time Senior Programs, a division of East Lansing's city government, is hosting the Transportation and Mobility Speaker Series at the center, 819 Abbot Road. Sessions are held Fridays at 1:30 p.m., according to the city's program page.
The remaining schedule:
- Friday, Oct. 16 — CATA Services, presented by the Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA). Staff will explain fixed routes and how to use the CATA mobile app.
- Friday, Oct. 23 — Uber and Lyft 101, presented by Arthur Slabosky. Participants should bring their own smartphone or download the apps before class.
- Friday, Oct. 30 — Driving and Aging, presented by Patricia Heiler, aging driver specialist with the Michigan Secretary of State. The session covers how aging affects driving, strategies for adapting and resources for those considering reducing or retiring from driving.
- Friday, Nov. 6 — Understanding Mobility in the Community, presented by Somalata Dev Sharma, a PhD student at Michigan State University.
No class is scheduled for Oct. 9.
Registration is required. Each session costs $3 for Prime Time members and $5 for non-members. The full series is $15 for members and $27 for non-members. Register by calling Prime Time at (517) 337-1113.
The series grew out of a real concern. Prime Time Director Alesha Williams said the program exists because seniors need a plan before a crisis hits.
"It might be that they have a sudden fall and can't drive anymore, and I don't want people to not be prepared," Williams told WLNS.
Prime Time held a Transportation and Mobility Fair at the center on Friday, Oct. 2, drawing more than 20 exhibitors. Attendees could tour a CATA bus and receive a CarFit assessment from AARP, a program that checks whether a driver's seat position, line of sight, head restraints and seatbelt fit correctly for safety.
The Oct. 16 CATA session is next on the calendar.
