Montana Driver Launches 24/7 Taxi Service for Seniors

When Daniel Foley lost his elderly friend in a tragic car accident last year, he knew something had to change. His friend, who'd been told not to drive due to disability, got behind the wheel anyway and died in a head-on collision that also killed a 32-year-old woman.

"My theory is that he was so desperate to get where he needed to go," Foley said. The Hamilton, Montana resident couldn't shake the thought that his friend simply needed reliable help.

So Foley, a former school bus and truck driver with over 12 years of professional driving experience, turned his grief into action. He launched Giddy-Up Rides, a 24/7 taxi service focused on disabled and elderly neighbors who need safe, dependable transportation.

"We don't have a transportation problem here," Foley explained. "We have a compassion problem."

While ride services exist in the area, Foley said reliability remains a major issue. Drivers sometimes don't show up at all, leaving vulnerable people stranded. One driver even reportedly arrived drunk to pick up a passenger.

For about a year now, Foley has been driving regular clients, many of them veterans living in retirement homes. He handles everything himself, from early morning medical appointments to late-night emergencies.

Why This Inspires

The joy Foley brings his passengers goes beyond simple transportation. Some riders tear up when they climb into his vehicle because they haven't had the freedom to leave their homes in months, or even years.

"It's giving them their freedom back," Foley said. "They live in retirement homes, and some of them, it brings tears because they haven't been out in a long time."

Right now, Foley is selling his own possessions to keep the operation running. He recently launched a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of raising $10,000 to hire help and purchase a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.

"I can give people rides on short notice, but it's getting harder because more people want a ride," he said. "But I'm only one man."

Hamilton residents can call (406) 493-7779 for a ride, and anyone can support Foley's mission through his GoFundMe fundraiser. One driver's compassion is proving that sometimes the best way to honor a loss is by making sure it never happens again.