The Saskatchewan Transportation Company (STC) will take its final rides in May, and Saskatchewan residents are looking for ways to fill the gap. One Yorkton man thinks his website might be the answer.

Dick DeRyk, a local web developer, launched SaskRideShare last week. The site is designed to help fill the transportation gap – and it’s free.

“If I’m driving from Yorkton to Regina, or somebody is driving from Swift Current to Saskatoon, and somebody else needs a ride, let’s put it somewhere where people can find each other,” DeRyk said.

Riders can decide if they want to ride for free or pitch in for gas. The same option is available for drivers.

“People can look for people that are offering free rides. People that are going somewhere can look for people that are seeking a ride and are going in the same direction,” DeRyk explained. “Then they can contact each other.”

The website offers a list of tips to make sure drivers and riders stay safe. The site encourages people to connect before heading out on the road to make sure they feel comfortable riding with a stranger.

“In many small towns, people know each other,” DeRyk said. “So, if I’m looking for a ride and somebody else in my town is going that way, it’s not all that difficult to check people out.”

DeRyk says he knows larger companies will take over the larger bus routes, but hopes this service will be useful for people in smaller communities.

Betty Chatfield lives in Prince Albert and was one of the first people to post on the site. She’s hoping it will take off.

“I’m just finding that people are going to need an option,” she said. “Sometimes the most vulnerable people are going to need to get from point a to point b, and they’re going to have to have an option.”