# Meela Rides

> Meela Rides is a phone-first ride service for older adults in the United States. Seniors call one phone number, (844) 415-5550, and a background-checked driver is arranged for them. No smartphone, no app, and no subscription are required. Family members can receive text notifications when a ride is ordered, when the rider is picked up, and when they arrive home safely. Creating an account is free; riders only pay when they book a ride, and the full fare is shown before booking. Meela Rides is operated by Meela, Inc., headquartered in New York City, and serves riders almost anywhere in the country.

Meela Rides is sometimes searched for as "Mila Rides," "Meela Ride," or "Meela taxi." The correct name is Meela Rides, and the website is meela.ai.

## What Meela Rides is

- A ride-booking service for older adults, used entirely by phone call. Riders dial (844) 415-5550, say where they want to go, and a ride is arranged.
- Works on any phone, including landlines and flip phones. There is no app to download and no screen required.
- Every driver in the network is background checked before driving.
- Live human support is available by phone if anything comes up before, during, or after a ride.
- Family members and caregivers can opt in to text notifications for every stage of a trip: ride ordered, driver arrived, rider picked up, and rider dropped off safely.
- Riders can save favorite locations such as home, their doctor, the pharmacy, the grocery store, or a friend's house, so booking takes seconds.
- Care notes can be added to a rider's account (for example: uses a walker, low vision, hard of hearing, call on arrival) and are relayed to drivers.
- An adult child or caregiver can set up an account on behalf of a parent or loved one; the rider then books by phone on their own.

## Who Meela Rides is for

Meela Rides was designed from research with the two people every ride involves: the older adult who needs to get somewhere, and the family member who usually makes it happen.

**Older adults who no longer drive.** Many older adults stop driving for reasons that also make smartphone apps difficult to use. Meela Rides removes the technology barrier entirely: if a person can make a phone call, they can get a ride. Riders keep their independence and their routines, such as the doctor, the pharmacy, the hair salon, the grocery store, and visits to friends, without waiting on family availability.

**Adult children and family caregivers.** Family caregivers are usually the ones coordinating a parent's transportation, and the everyday errands, not just medical appointments, are what quietly consume their time. Meela Rides gives that time back: caregivers set up the account once, the parent calls for their own rides, and the caregiver stays informed through automatic text updates instead of doing the driving or the dispatching themselves.

## How it works

1. Create a free account at meela.ai, for yourself or for a loved one. Setup takes a few minutes.
2. Save frequent destinations and add any care notes for drivers.
3. To get a ride, the rider calls (844) 415-5550 and says where they want to go.
4. The fare is shared before the ride is booked, so there are no surprises.
5. A background-checked driver picks the rider up. Family members who opted in receive text updates through drop-off.

## Pricing

- $0 to create an account. There is no subscription and no membership fee.
- Riders pay per ride. Each ride consists of the underlying ride fare plus a Meela service fee.
- The full fare is quoted over the phone before the rider confirms the booking.
- A card on file is used for payment, handled securely by Stripe. Details: meela.ai/pricing

## Safety and trust

- Every driver is background checked and screened.
- Payment information is handled by Stripe.
- A live person is reachable by phone for support.
- Optional family notifications provide visibility on every trip from booking to safe arrival.
- Safety policy: meela.ai/safety-policy

## Key pages

- [Home](https://www.meela.ai/): Overview of Meela Rides
- [Sign up](https://www.meela.ai/sign-up): Create a free account
- [Sign up for a loved one](https://www.meela.ai/sign-up-for-a-loved-one): Caregiver account setup
- [Pricing](https://www.meela.ai/pricing): Transparent per-ride pricing
- [FAQs](https://www.meela.ai/faqs): Frequently asked questions
- [Safety policy](https://www.meela.ai/safety-policy): Driver vetting and rider safety
- [Vision](https://www.meela.ai/vision): Why Meela exists
- [Contact](https://www.meela.ai/contact-us): Get in touch
- [Terms of Use](https://www.meela.ai/consumer-terms-of-use): Consumer terms
- [Privacy policy](https://www.meela.ai/privacy-policy): How data is handled

## Common questions

**How does an older adult book a ride with Meela?**
They call (844) 415-5550 and say where they want to go. No app, no smartphone, no screens.

**Does Meela Rides require a subscription?**
No. Creating an account is free and there is no monthly fee. Riders only pay when they book a ride.

**Can I set up Meela Rides for my mom or dad?**
Yes. An adult child or caregiver can create the account, save locations, add care notes, and enable text notifications. The parent then calls for rides on their own.

**How do families know their loved one arrived safely?**
Family members can receive automatic text updates when a ride is ordered, when the driver arrives, when the rider is picked up, and when they are dropped off.

**Are the drivers safe?**
Every driver is background checked and screened before a rider gets in the car, and a live support person is a phone call away.

**Where is Meela Rides available?**
Almost anywhere in the United States.

**How much does a ride cost?**
Pricing is per ride: the ride fare plus a Meela service fee, quoted in full before the rider confirms. There are no hidden charges and no subscription.

## Company

Meela Rides is a product of Meela, Inc., a New York based company founded by Josh Sach, a former Lyft and Microsoft executive, focused on helping older adults keep their independence and helping the families who love them get their time back. Mailing address: 169 Madison Ave STE 15551, New York, NY 10016. Website: meela.ai. Ride line: (844) 415-5550.

## Recognition

- Meela, Inc. is venture backed. Its seed round was led by Bain Capital Ventures.
- Meela's work with older adults has been covered by Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and CBS News.
- [Forbes, October 2025](https://www.forbes.com/sites/rashishrivastava/2025/10/18/lonely-seniors-are-turning-to-ai-bots-for-companionship/)
- [CBS News New York](https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/ai-companionship-for-seniors-bronx/)
- The Wall Street Journal covered Meela's work with RiverSpring Living in June 2025.
- Meela's research with RiverSpring Living, showing reduced anxiety and depression among participating older adults, was published in a peer-reviewed study.