LAMORINDA WEEKLY | HopSkipDrive is a Driving Force in Lamorinda for Kids and Youth


HopSkipDrive driver Amy Morosini. Photo Cathy Dausman

Lamorinda parents of young children have their driving work cut out for them, and Amy Morosini is no exception. But the Moraga mother of three has made local pickups and delivery of other people's children her job, working as one of the first area drivers for HopSkipDrive, an app-based ride company service designed for children age 6 and up.

To help her family stay within budget, Morosini began to consider what kind of part time work she could get "with my crazy schedule." This job allowed her the flexibility to begin after her sons left for school and decide for herself how late she would accept her last fare.

"I won't drive at night after the sun goes down," Morosini said.

The field of technology-based ride company programs designed for children is growing rapidly. A quick online search revealed companies with names like Ridezum, Kangadoapp, Kidzjet, Zemcar and Pogorides scattered throughout the Bay Area and across the country. HopSkipDrive requires their drivers to be finger printed and pass TrustLine certification, which Morosini did through the Moraga Police Department.

After obtaining additional insurance Morosini donned the company's distinctive orange shirt this past summer and began delivering her young clients to summer camps, day care and tutoring sessions. Unlike adult ride companies HopSkipDrive requires parents to book their child's transportation 12 hours in advance and select a code word the driver shares with the child at pickup.

Morosini says school staff and volunteers have begun to recognize her, and the children she picks up "know me now.

"I don't just drop off and zoom away (either)," she adds. Although the driver's children are not allowed to accompany her, Morosini says her sons think her job is "cool," adding that this is a service she would definitely use "for my own kids."

For now her workload is light but regular; she averages one pickup per day about three days per week. Demand for the service lessens on weekends so Morosini switches to adult fares. "My husband watches college football, and I really enjoy driving," she said with a smile.

For details, go to www.hopskipdrive.com.

Other child-specific ride-sharing service apps and their base of operation. Some of these will be expanding to the East Bay:

www.ridezum.com/ (LA/San Bernardino County)

www.kangadoapp.com/ (San Francisco area)

www.kidzjet.com/ (San Francisco-south bay)

www.zemcar.com/ (Massachusetts)

www.pogorides.com (Seattle)