Detroit, Michigan – Since it started in November 2024, Detroit’s Rides to Care program has already reached an amazing milestone: it has given more than 10,000 free rides to pregnant women and caregivers of infants across the city. The Detroit Health Department runs the program, which has quickly become a lifeline for families, allowing them get to important prenatal, postpartum, and pediatric visits without the burden of transportation challenges.
According to the City of Detroit, the Rides to Care service was created to make sure that pregnant women and people who take care of babies up to a year old can always get to their doctor’s appointments. The program helps Detroit’s youngest people have healthier pregnancies and better outcomes by getting rid of a major barrier to care.
The rides are available within five miles of a patient’s house and are given through a partnership with Uber Health. This provides for safe, non-emergency medical transportation on a HIPAA-compliant platform.
“This milestone reflects our deep commitment to ensuring that every mother and every baby in Detroit has access to the care they need to thrive,” said Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair Razo.
“Rides to Care is more than just transportation, it’s about breaking down barriers, building trust, and creating healthier futures for our families. The service helps more patients get to their appointments by providing the reliable transportation they need to protect and support their family’s health. We’re proud of this progress and will continue advancing our efforts to ensure every Detroiter, no matter their zip code, has access to the care they deserve.”
“New mothers who live in Detroit have a special advantage,” said Mayor Mike Duggan. “They have guaranteed free transportation to all their prenatal and well-baby visits up to one year after their child is born. Thanks to the Rides to Care service, we are giving thousands of Detroit children their best chance for a healthy start to life.”
Cayla Hooks, a SisterFriends Detroit client who uses Rides to Care, said, “Rides to Care has helped me tremendously. Sometimes I have been down and out and not able to get to my medical appointments, and I really needed this support behind me. It’s really boosted my spirits knowing that someone is here to help me and that this group of people and organization has my back.”
Detroit residents who are pregnant or taking care of a baby may call 313-876-0000 to set up a free ride to use the program. You can arrange rides up to an hour before the appointment or a week in advance. The pickup times will be set based on the visit time.
Rides to Care has shown to be an important strategy for improving mother and child health outcomes and closing health gaps in Detroit by providing more than 10,000 trips in just eight months. The program’s success shows how effective practical, community-based solutions can be in making families healthier in the future.