LCTA CONNECTS vs Mapping With Melanin

LCTA CONNECTS is a new way to get around Luzerne County. We’re an on demand transit service operated by Luzerne County Transportation Authority (LCTA) that’s smart, easy, and reliable. With a few taps, book a ride in the app (for now or later) and our technology will pair you with other people headed your way. HOW IT WORKS: - Book a ride by setting your pickup and dropoff addresses and indicating if you’re riding with any additional passengers. - You will be given an estimated time when the vehicle will arrive upon booking your trip and let you know where you should meet your driver. The estimated arrival time of the driver will be automatically updated as your vehicle makes its way to meet you. - When your driver arrives, please promptly board the vehicle. You’ll pay your fare when boarding. You can use cash, LCTA passes, SmartPay - just like the bus! - There may be others on board, or you may make a few additional stops along the way! You can track your ride and share your status in real-time from the app. SHARING YOUR TRIP: Our algorithm matches people headed in the same direction. This means you’re getting the convenience of a private ride with the efficiency and reliability of a public one. AFFORDABLE. Rides are priced comparably to other transit services in your area. Your wallet will thank you! RELIABLE: Track your ride as the driver is on their way to you, and while you’re on the vehicle too. OUR VEHICLES: All LCTA CONNECTS vehicles are wheelchair accessible! If you require a wheelchair, simply toggle on “Wheelchair accessibility” in the “Account” tab of your app! When you request a ride, you’ll be matched with a wheelchair accessible vehicle. Questions? Reach out at contactus@lctabus.com. Loving your experience so far? Give us a 5-star rating.

DISCOVER • Find culturally relevant businesses, services, spaces, events, and resources across the diaspora • Discover Black, African, Caribbean, Afro-Latin, Latino and other minority-owned businesses • Search everything from restaurants, beauty, and nightlife to doctors, childcare, contractors, professional services, and more • Filter by what matters to you — location, category, price, community feedback, ownership, and more • Go beyond travel: discover what you need to live, work, move, visit, build, and thrive SAFETY INTEL • Make more informed decisions with community-powered safety insights • Learn from the lived experiences of people navigating businesses, neighborhoods, workplaces, and other spaces • Report discrimination, concerning experiences, or safety issues — including anonymously where available • Contribute your own experiences so the next person doesn't have to walk in without information • Your preferences are personal. Our safety intelligence helps protect the whole community. KINFOLKAI™ • Meet an AI guide built with the diaspora and everyday life in mind • Ask regular AI questions — then go further with recommendations informed by your preferences, needs, location, and community intelligence where available • Tell Kinfolk what you're trying to accomplish instead of knowing exactly what to search for • Get help with everyday decisions, travel, relocation, businesses, services, events, and major life moments • Kinfolk can understand the journey and help surface what makes sense next, including businesses and resources you may not have thought to search for • The more Kinfolk understands your preferences—with your permission—the more useful your experience can become COMMUNITY • Connect with local events, businesses, resources, and people across the diaspora • Share experiences that help others make more informed decisions • Support minority-owned businesses and discover new ways to circulate dollars within our communities • Build connections at home, while traveling, or when starting over somewhere new • Help create a community where our collective knowledge becomes collective power FOR BUSINESSES • Reach supporters who may not even know they were looking for what you provide • Let Kinfolk connect your business to relevant needs, conversations, and life journeys — not just direct searches • Understand what existing supporters and people searching for businesses like yours want • Turn community insights into better services, experiences, offers, and marketing • Create more relevant content, engage supporters, and connect people directly to your existing social platforms and website • Build relationships with creators and other minority-owned businesses while helping keep economic activity circulating throughout the community MORE THAN THE GREEN BOOK. MORE THAN A DIRECTORY. Mapping with Melanin™ brings the idea of community-powered knowledge into the AI era. We're building one ecosystem for discovery + safety + community + conscious consumerism + economic connection — across everyday life, not just travel. More of us participating means more experiences shared. More experiences mean better community intelligence. Better intelligence means better decisions. Better decisions can mean safer communities and stronger businesses. Built by us. Built for the diaspora. Powered by community. Map Your Life. Connect Deeper.™