VIP Senior Wheels

The Bloom Township VIP Senior Wheels program operates curb-to-curb transportation service to Bloom Township residents age 60 and older or mobility limited disabled persons. Transportation to stores, restaurants, medical appointments and township activities, as well as other destinations are available. Vehicles are equipped with handicap accessible lifts and are air-conditioned. Drivers are safe, friendly and dependable. Call us to inquire if we go where you need to go!

Registration

You must pre-register to ride VIP Senior Wheels. You may do so by calling Senior Services at 708-754-9400 extension 7276. You must provide information such as emergency contact. You may be contacted periodically to keep this information up-to-date.

Hours of Operation

Transportation service is available Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Appointments should not be scheduled earlier than 9 a.m. and return time is no later than 3:30 p.m. When making a reservation, the dispatch office will give you a window of time for pick up. The bus may arrive 15 minutes before or after that time. Dispatch office hours are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and can be reached directly at 708-754-8200.

Holidays

There is not service available on the following holidays:

  • New Year's Day
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • Presidents Day
  • Good Friday
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Columbus Day
  • Veterans Day
  • Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after Thanksgiving
  • Christmas Eve
  • Christmas Day
  • New Year's Eve

Reservations

Reservations for rides must be made at least 1 business day in advance by 2 p.m. Rides are limited to one round trip per day to the destination for which you have the reservation. If you change your destination, the change must be called into the dispatch office by 2 p.m. the day before your scheduled trip. You will not be allowed to change destinations the same day of service. 

If you cannot make your scheduled trip, please notify the dispatch office as soon as possible. Should you not cancel your trip, you will me marked a no-show. Continuous no-shows may result in suspension of services.

Donations

The VIP Senior Wheels program is funded in part through a grant from AgeOptions and Title IIIB of the Older Americans Act. There is a suggested donation of $2 per round trip ride if you are traveling within the Bloom Township boundaries. Suggested donation for trips outside of Bloom Township is $4. 

Donations to service assist the program in expansion of services. The actual cost to provide your ride is approximately $17 each way. Drivers are not allowed to make change.

Boundaries

  • North:183rd Street
  • South: 34th Street
  • East: Indiana State line
  • West: Western Avenue

Where We Go!

  • Medical Appointments: within the township and up to 5 miles beyond township border including:
    • Ingalls
    • South Suburban Advocate
    • St. James Olympia Fields Hospitals
  • Dialysis
    • Chicago Heights Renal Care-Chicago Heights
    • Fresenius Medical Care-Steger
    • Renal Care Group-Olympia Fields
    • Kidney Care Center - Olympia Fields
  • Shopping
    • Aldi (Glenwood and Chicago Heights)
    • All stores located in Washington Square Plaza (Halsted Street Corridor in Homewood)
    • Cherry Creek Plaza
    • Country Squire
    • Food-For-Less
    • Jewel (South Chicago Heights and Homewood)
    • Meijer (last Friday of the month)
    • Save-A-Lot
    • Target
    • Wal-Mart
    • Walt's
  • Senior Centers:
    • Bloom Township
    • Chicago Heights
    • Glenwood
    • Marie Irwin Center
    • Sauk Village
    • South Chicago Heights
    • Steger
  • And more:
    • Banks
    • Marcus Theatre, pharmacies...
    • Nursing homes
    • Restaurants
    • Salons

Contact Senior Services today for a complete bus schedule. Other guidelines may apply.