Chesco Pilot Ride-to-Court Program Begins Saturday

WEST CHESTER, PA —The Chester County Department of Adult Probation, Parole & Pretrial Services is partnering with the non-profit Danny’s Ride in a pilot program to provide transportation services for individuals required to attend problem-solving court appointments.

Danny’s Ride will help those on court-mandated appointments overcome transportation obstacles.

The service will benefit those who are required to attend Chester County Drug Court, Recovery Court, Mental Health Court, and Veterans Court.

The program is set to begin Saturday, July 1.

One of the most significant issues for people in recovery programs– especially in Chester County – is transportation to court-mandated appointments that are essential to recovery, according to Chief of Chester County Probation, Parole & Pretrial Services Chris Pawlowski.

“Our Problem-Solving Courts hold individuals accountable in the justice system while assisting them through their recoveries," Pawlowski said. "People are more likely to fail without reliable transportation to meet with their probation officer, the court, or drug or alcohol treatment appointments. This program with Danny’s Ride is lifesaving.”

Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell, and Michelle Kichline said in a joint statement that lack of public transportation and high gas costs are reasons people cannot complete court-required programs.

“The partnership with Danny’s Ride helps to prevent transportation from impeding someone’s road to recovery," the commissioners said,

Danny’s Ride was started in 2020 by Nancy Knoebel to honor her son Danny Teichman who died in 2016 after taking kratom to manage withdrawal symptoms.

Teichman grew up in Northampton County and was ready to obtain a master's degree in computer science when the addiction took his life, according to his obituary.

The non-profit was founded as a form of non-emergency edical transportation that will serve as the infrastructure for ride scheduling through Uber Health and Lyft Concierge.

Danny’s Ride was awarded a $100,000 grant by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to support this pilot program in Chester County.