[Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions

Sun Oct 10 20:16:36 UTC 2010

Dear All,

Let me comment here on the use of fixed route bus and Para-transit verses a 
cab.
Para-transit is suppose to be equal to fixed route bus service under the 
ADA.  It is not superior service to the fixed route bus as many people 
believe it should be.
Most Para-transit software scheduling programs are designed to take where 
you are at and where you want to go and compare it to the fixed route bus 
system and schedule and then generate a pick up time and "window" for your 
Para-transit trip.
If it would take you 3 buses and 1.5 hours to get there, then the 
Para-transit systems has the same amount of time to get you there also and 
they are allowed to use that time to multi load other passengers on to the 
van for that shared ride to save money and to prevent making Para-transit a 
more attractive ride than the fixed route bus.
This is also why Para-transit fares can be twice the amount of the fixed 
route bus for the same trip.
They want you to use the fixe route bus instead of the more expensive 
Para-transit service.
Some blind people use the Para-transit system because they have poor O and M 
skills and are afraid or unable to cross busy streets safely.  Some use both 
the Para-transit and the fixed route systems as to which ever suits their 
needs and the time.
I use both depending upon the situation.
I also use commuter rail services too.  I have only used cabs when out of 
town where time and unfamiliarity have prevented me from making use of the 
Public Transit system there.
There are just times and places where you will need to use a cab, but the 
cost can be steep.  You just have to do what you have to do to get the job 
done.
I have made use of people who live near me before, who shop at the same 
places and worked out a deal to ride with them, when they normally go 
shopping.  I just pay them something for gas and it has given me a shopping 
buddy too.
The canvas bags and a wire basket with wheels can sure help in carrying the 
goods and takes a load off your back and arms.  They can even be pulled up 
stairs without unloading them too.
I even used a bike and a three wheel trike to take myself shopping in the 
past, but I still had some useful vision then.  I am total now, but still go 
every where even if it is not with the ease that I once did.
Keep looking for a solution, it's out there.  You might even think about 
moving to a location where you can access transportation services or to 
where you can be with in easy walking distance of the shopping you need to 
do most often.
If you have any questions about transit and how it works, let me know.

David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
MV Transit Consumer Advocate
Palm Tran Services West Palm Beach Florida----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bryan Schulz" <b.schulz at sbcglobal.net>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2010 6:37 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions

> if a place is at least a 20 minute drive and by cab would cost about $25 
> each way and the dor-door or para trans bus is $4, why throw away the 
> extra money?
>
> Bryan Schulz
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Steve P. Deeley" <stevep.deeley at insightbb.com>
> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2010 5:02 PM
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions
>
>
>> Get a cab!
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Kerri Kosten" <kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>; "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 6:43 PM
>> Subject: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions
>>
>>
>>> Hi All:
>>>
>>> I have some more questions about grocery shopping and transportation.
>>> Instead of making two separate posts, I figured I'd just put all my
>>> questions in one post...they are somewhat related to each other.
>>>
>>> I'll start with the grocery shopping questions.
>>>
>>> In the apartment building I live in, there is no elevator.
>>> Unfortunately I live on the third floor, which is up four flights of
>>> steps. What is the best way to carry lots of groceries up the steps?
>>> Would it be okay, when having lots of groceries to set some of the
>>> bags on the floor in the hallway by the door, go up with as much as I
>>> can carry, then come back for the rest? Is there any better way to
>>> carry groceries than in the plastic bags the grocery bagger puts them
>>> in? I've been told about burlap sacks that you can carry on your
>>> shoulder...does this reduce the load much? I want to make this as easy
>>> as possible.
>>>
>>> How often do you usually go grocery shopping? When you go, do you just
>>> get the things you absolutely need, and keep the load as little as
>>> possible or do you usually take advantage of the fact you are at the
>>> store and get lots of stuff?
>>>
>>> My next questions are about transportation. I live in a college town.
>>> I guess it's your typical college town. It's big enough to be
>>> considered a small city or large town...we have five Krogers, four or
>>> more Walmarts...tons of restaurants and bars, two malls...two movie
>>> theaters. It isn't a major city though.
>>>
>>> We do have a bus system but I've never been encouraged to use it. I've
>>> just been expected to take cabs everywhere.
>>>
>>> One of the problems though is that the town is not really a walking
>>> town...there are parts of it you can walk in but not very many. When
>>> things/places are built, often pedestrian accessibility is left out.
>>>
>>> There doesn't seem to be any blind people; there is no NFB chapter.
>>> So, naturally the majority of the people, including most of the
>>> students drive. From what I've read on their website, the bus covers
>>> many areas, but usually until only 6 o'clock, unless it's downtown
>>> where the students are. I don't live downtown though. Because of this,
>>> I find myself having to take cabs almost everywhere. Cabs here are
>>> about $5-6 each way. Is this normal for a college town? Is this
>>> expensive for a cab?
>>>
>>> Are my only options to either take the bus when it is available or take
>>> cabs?
>>>
>>> Should I just not worry about the expense and take cabs when and 
>>> wherever?
>>>
>>> Is learning to use the bus hard or is it as simple as calling and
>>> asking the right questions?
>>>
>>>>From what I can tell, from where I live, in order to take the bus
>>> again since I'm not in the downtown student area I will have to take
>>> two buses to get anywhere and it usually takes about two hours. Is
>>> this normal for a large town/small city?
>>>
>>> The closest major city to me is Pittsburgh. There is a bus that goes
>>> there twice. In order to take a grayhound bus, or AM track train you
>>> have to somehow get to Pittsburgh. Is the bus going twice daily
>>> reasonable?
>>>
>>> For those of you who live in college towns similar to this how do you
>>> find a balance between taking cabs, using family and friends, and
>>> taking the bus?
>>>
>>> What is the cost monthly of owning a vehicle compared to taking cabs
>>> all the time? I'm sorry to ask this...I've never been told.
>>>
>>> I guess I am just asking these questions because I want to make sure
>>> I'm not getting screwed so to speak. I don't mind taking cabs, but
>>> sometimes I feel like I'm just automatically expected to spend the
>>> money just because...if you know what I mean by that! I've been told
>>> owning a vehicle is several hundreds of dollars a month when the cost
>>> of maintaenance, car payments, insurance, and gas is added up but
>>> again these have just been from sighted people who don't take cabs. It
>>> seems like most other blind people I know don't take cabs unless they
>>> absolutely have to and I hate having to do it all the time. In one
>>> sense I feel like I'm being told to go ahead, don't worry about it,
>>> owning a vehicle is expensive too...but then on the other hand so many
>>> blind people don't seem to like doing it. I know each town is
>>> different...but if I want to go somewhere and it's after 6 and the bus
>>> doesn't go are cabs or family/friends my only options? I've never gone
>>> completely broke or run out of money by taking cabs but again...I feel
>>> as if I'm getting mixed messages and I want to make sure I'm doing the
>>> right/best thing. From where I live you can't walk anywhere as there
>>> are several things across the street but it's not actually a street
>>> but a major six-lane highway...so walking is out. I'm not married and
>>> live alone. Do those of you who live in towns like this find
>>> yourselves having to also take cabs more frequently than other blind
>>> people? I know my questions seem a little crazy but I thought I'd ask
>>> them all in one post.
>>>
>>> Thanks so much!
>>>
>>> Kerri
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
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