[Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions

Tue Oct 12 13:03:20 UTC 2010

Hi Carrie,

For the purpose of the call Dave suggests, you will want to be sure that they know you have a disability. You may have already done this, and if so, I apologize, but it is important. Paratransit is only available to those with disabilities. If you just called about a dial-a-ride service, and they don't realize that you have a disability, they may not have had what they needed to provide accurate information. My experience with customer service workers is that the majority of them are overworked, underpaid, and don't go out of their way to be helpful. This is particularly true if they work for the city or the  state.  There are some exceptions to this of course, but when I come across one of those quality customer service workers, it is a--very pleasant--surprise.

Diane Graves
Civil Rights Specialist
Indiana Civil Rights Commission
Alternative Dispute Resolutions Unit
317-232-2647

"It is service that measures success."
George Washington Carver

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-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David Evans
Sent: Sunday, October 10, 2010 6:44 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions

Dear Kerri,

If there is a fixed bus route system in the town, they must by Law, have a 
Para-transit service that goes right along with it.  It is federal Law.
Call them again and ask about it.
The service is usually provided with the use of wheel chair lift equipped 
van and buses, but some areas also use a mix of cars and taxies too.
Ask again, it has to be there.
You also need to live , or be able to get yourself, within 3/4 TH miles of a 
bus route, as the crow flies, to get a pick up.
You have to fill out an application and state the things that prevent you 
from being able to use the fixed route bus for all of your trips.  You maybe 
able to use both , but may need the Para-transit service for some of your 
trips.
They may even have a special deal with the local cab company to provide 
these trips, at a reduced cost to people like you.  You can, under the ADA, 
use the service for any kind of trip you want, even to just get your hair 
done.  There can be no restrictions on trip purpose under the ADA.
If I can help further, please ask your question.

David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.

MV Transit Consumer Advocate
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kerri Kosten" <kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 8:33 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions

> Hi All!
>
> I wanted to reply to answer a few questions.
>
> Thanks for the suggestions...I'll have to look into either one of
> those carts or a reusable bag.
>
> But, I just checked on both Peapod.com and Safeway.com and neither
> delivers to my area. I will call Kroger and ask them but I kind of
> doubt it as I didn't see anything on their website about it. We also
> have Walmart and Giant Eagle but I don't think either of those
> delivers either.
>
> I keep meaning to call the bus about paratransit or dial a ride
> service but something tells me that if they had it I would've known
> about it already as I've made contact with the bus before about other
> matters and they never mentioned it.
>
> I understand cabs go by mile and time you are in the cab...I just
> don't know whether I should just not be concerned and take cabs all
> the time to get around or whether I need to be really concerned and
> make an effort to take the bus. The cabs here don't have an exact
> flat-rate but the town is small enough that $5-6 each way is what it
> usually comes to. Of course if I make an extra stop or something it
> goes up but that is usually for the most part what it is. I just don't
> know whether I should be concerned or not that's all.
>
> I use an NFB fiberglass cane and was taught how t use it at
> convention. I have also read tons of articles about structured
> discovery so know how to ask assistance/directions when need be. I
> also try not to use human/sighted guide much and it has improved my
> walking speed and cane travel skills significantly. I just want to go
> and do more but don't know whether I need to make a real effort to
> learn the bus or whether to just take cabs all the time and not worry
> about it. The sighted people tell me not to worry about it but I
> notice many blind people don't like to take cabs.
>
> I've been told before that we don't have paratransit but I don't want
> to say anything until I call. I wish Safeway or Peapod delivered here
> but they don't...at least that's what the website said when I entered
> my zipcode. There is a Kroger right across that 6 lane highway with no
> pedestrian light so I could easily cab there but my problem is how
> much to get in one trip and how to carry it all.
>
> Kerri
>
> On 10/8/10, Cindy Handel <cindy425 at verizon.net> wrote:
>> Kerri,
>>
>> As far as the cost of cabs, in most places, cab companies charge a fare
>> based on the distance they take you, as well as the time.  So, if you're
>> going five miles and it takes 20 minutes, you might pay, let's say $10.
>> But, another day, if you go five miles and run into traffic and it takes 
>> 30
>> minutes, they might charge $15.  These are just examples.  So, if the 
>> cabs
>> have a flat rate, it sounds pretty good.
>>
>> You could learn to take the busses.  But, it would probably be wise to 
>> get
>> some instruction before you venture out there on your own.  Do you use a
>> cane, and have you had cane travel instruction?
>>
>> Some towns/cities have paratransit.  Often the bus company is somehow
>> involved in operating it.  You could ask about that.  It is more
>> inconvenient, because you have to schedule rides ahead of time.  But, it
>> might work to go shopping.
>>
>> When I go grocery shopping I buy what I'll need for the week.  If I need
>> something else during the week, I have to walk to a shopping center, 
>> about
>> 15 or 20 minutes away.  As far as carrying bags in, if there's a secure
>> place to put your bags, so no one takes them while you're going upstairs,
>> that would be fine.  I wouldn't get any kind of a bag, though, that would 
>> be
>> strong enough to load down with more than you can safely carry without
>> hurting yourself.
>>
>> Cindy
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>> From: "Kerri Kosten" <kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
>> Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 6:43 PM
>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>; "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>> 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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>
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