RabbitTransit highlights rural transit’s role in care, work and independence

A ride to WellSpan Evangelical Community Hospital in Lewisburg can be the difference between making dialysis, picking up a prescription or missing care that turns into a bigger emergency later. RabbitTransit used its stop near the 131-bed hospital to show how much rural transportation still shapes health care, work and independence in Union County and across Central Pennsylvania.

RabbitTransit says nearly 9,200 people depend on the system each day for work, school, medical appointments, pharmacy trips and other essential errands. The agency serves Adams, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Harrisburg City, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, Union and York counties, making the issue larger than a local bus schedule and closer to a regional lifeline for people who cannot drive, have lost the ability to drive or do not have family nearby to help.

Kristin Paradise, RabbitTransit’s community relations director, said the service can determine whether patients get to dialysis consistently, reach the pharmacy or miss an appointment that could prevent a serious medical emergency later. Allen Fasnacht, vice president for WellSpan Health and president of WellSpan Evangelical Community Hospital, said virtual care can help in some cases, but many patients still need to be seen in person. Fasnacht was appointed to his role effective Dec. 15, 2025.

RabbitTransit also pointed to the range of transportation options it uses to fill those gaps. Fixed routes, vans, smaller buses and the Stop Hopper on-demand shared-ride program all serve different needs, including trips that are too complicated or too infrequent for a traditional bus line. Stop Hopper costs $2 per one-way trip, includes app-based ride requests, real-time tracking and arrival alerts, and is free for seniors with a registered Free Fare ID card.

Union County’s own transportation information directs residents to RabbitTransit, and says paratransit and Stop Hopper operate in the county. The county says paratransit is geared toward seniors, veterans, people receiving Medical Assistance and people with disabilities, with rides available by app or by phone in eligible zones.

The broader state picture shows why that matters. Pennsylvania officials said in 2025 that more than one million people rely on public transit every day, and rural shared-ride services alone provide 2.6 million trips per year. For Union County, the practical effect is straightforward: when rural transportation works, more residents can actually use the hospitals, jobs, pharmacies and services already in place.