Residents warn cuts to accessible rides will ‘really hurt’ as service shifts to Mondays and Fridays

Residents and council members on Monday pressed the Perry City Council to act after a contractorservice change will reduce accessible rides to Mondays and Fridays and shorten daily operating hours beginning July 1.

At the public forum, a written statement from Erica Ritter of 23 Willis Avenue described the effect in personal terms: "Hello, my name is Erica Ritter. I'm a resident of Perry, Iowa, and I rely on her to maintain the little I have left. I am a disabled wheelchair ... I cannot ride in anyone else's vehicle." The letter asked the city and residents to "join me in trying to understand what services are being on Perry" and to raise awareness about how the cutback will affect neighbors.

Resident Nick Aton told the council he uses the accessible ride program two or more times a week for appointments and daily needs and warned that reducing service days "isn't going to cut it" for many riders. "It's going to really hurt," he said, and suggested short-term fundraising and partnerships with civic groups to bridge funding gaps until longer-term solutions are found.

City staff and councilors discussed the operational change in more detail during administrator reports. Staff said the contractor will move service days to Mondays and Fridays in Perry and surrounding counties and that many counties are cutting an hour a day; the shift stems from a broader change in contract schedules across jurisdictions. Council members asked whether incremental options (for example, a three-day interim schedule or small municipal contributions) could reduce the immediate impact.

The council did not adopt a new funding commitment at the meeting but directed staff to continue discussions with neighboring communities and the contractor to clarify the schedule and explore ways to maintain service for riders who depend on accessible transportation. The city will continue outreach to affected residents and report back at a future meeting.