[Blindtlk] Paratransit Vs. fixed Routes

Mon May 2 19:16:07 UTC 2011

Very well said David. You are absolutely correct in my opinion and right on target with Dr. Jernigan's speech.  If people want to get into the stereotypes set forth by the use of paratransit, let me just point out another. There are sighted people who have never taken a fixed route bus, and never would, because they believe that public transit is for low-lifes and others who they deem to be beneath them.  Is this fair or true? Absolutely not, but you couldn't convince them of that. I've known some of these people. If there weren't a car available, either theirs or someone else's, they just simply wouldn't go. They believe they are too good to use the bus. 
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: Monday, May 02, 2011 2:53 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List; davidb521 at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Paratransit Vs. fixed Routes

Dear All,

All I am advocating is that we all must use the tools and materials we are 
given to get around.
If you can use the fixed route bus for your needs, use it.
If Para-transit is there and there are barriers that prevent you from using 
the fixed route bus for all of your trips, use the Para-transit.
There should be no shame either way.
In some cases there are no options.  We just need to get the job done of 
getting ourselves where and when that we need to go to live our lives the 
best we can.
If you could hold a job,by taking Para-transit, but not the fixed route 
buses, would you choose to hold the job or sit home and let your live pass 
you by?
Reverse that an ask yourself if you could hold a job, using the fixed route 
bus and not the Para-transit service, would you hold that job?
Holding the job would likely change your life for the better, so why does it 
matter how you get there to do the job
Having a job could let you move closer to the job and maybe walk to work or 
ride some other form of Public Transportation to work and all of the other 
places you need to go.
Accessing Public Transportation, in any form, adds to your independence and 
advances your life.
I must commute 43 miles one way, 5 days a week to work at my job.
It takes me , and my guide dog Jack, about 2 to 2.5 hours one way each day 
to do this.
I have 3 ways to get to my job.
I can take the Para-transit, which takes just as long as the Fixed route 
bus.  I can take the fixed route bus which means taking 3 buses and a 3 hour 
each way trip or I can take 3 buses and the Tri-rail train that cuts 45 
minutes off the fixed route time as long as the train and the buses are on 
time.
I can access the fixed route bus at two different points by walking, but 
need to cross some busy streets to do it.
One of these is the intersections of two 6 lanes roads that have meridians 
in the middle, duel left hand turn lanes and all 4 corners and right on red 
lanes at all four corners too.  I have to cross both roads to get to the 
stop.
The other way , I have to walk out of my way , which is over a mile and need 
to cross two busy streets at the corner of a adult living complex, Century 
Village, and a shopping center.
With the risk of crossing these streets, which I do if I must, and the time 
it takes to walk there, with a back pack full of computer equipment, lunch 
and raincoat, dog treats and toys, and you can see why taking the 
Para-transit looks to be the best way for me to do the trip.
I have also been hit twice right outside Century Village in the past so 
forgive me if I am a little gun shy now.  Both times were hit and run and 
they were never caught.  .
I can even work in my computer as I go while we are picking up and dropping 
off other people.  I am more productive verses the bus and train options.
I do what works for me.  I think that you should do the same.
My job and my travels can range over 3 counties and 130 miles sometimes just 
to attend meetings of boards and committees I serve on.
I use all available forms of transit in my area at least once or twice a 
month.
I serve on the Palm Tran Service Board, the Palm Tran Para-transit 
Sub-Committee, the Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board and 
the South Florida Regional Transit Authority/Tri-Rail Advisory Committee.
At my job, I run the window dispatch and get the manifests out to the 
drivers, log them in and out, answer the switchboard and route the calls, 
handle the lost and found and do some driver training.  I am totally blind 
at this point in my life.  I also do public outreach and public relations 
and handle legislative affairs too.

David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "nikki Wunderlich" <nikki0222 at gmail.com>
To: <davidb521 at gmail.com>; "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 1:36 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Paratransit Vs. fixed Routes

> Hello David,
>
> I think if you don't have to use parra transit because you can use fixed
> routes with confidence, then I would use the fixed routes. But as I said 
> in
> my last email to the list I do not live with in walking distance of a bus
> stop, and have no way to get to it. Also even if I did live with in 
> walking
> distance of the bus stop there's a busy high way between where I live and
> the bus stop. I believe it's 4 laines either direction. SSo in total I'd
> have to cross 8 lanes of traffic, some of which are turning lanes. 
> Crossing
> 2 or four lanes of traffic doesn't bother me, but any more than that is
> really daunting to me. I mean I could probably do it if I had to, but if I
> don't have to I'm not going to. I used to live with my sister in the same
> apartment complex that I'm living in now, and back then I qualified for
> Metro Mobility, so I don't see why I wouldn't qualify for it now, but 
> we'll
> have to see. Personally if I could use fixed routes I would, because it's
> less expencive, but I can't. It's not because of my travel skills either.
> They're pretty good. My vision is my only disability too. Well I think 
> this
> email is long enough, so I will end it and say to all I hope you have a
> great day!
>
> Nikki
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of David
> Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 12:17 PM
> To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
> Subject: [Blindtlk] Paratransit Vs. fixed Routes
>
> Hello. I was reading the thread discussing the pros and cons of blind
> driving, and noticed some discussion regarding paratransit versus fixed
> routes. What I am wondering is this. Does paratransit in most cities 
> closely
> follow fixed routes within a certain radius as I assume it does in Palm
> Beach County? From what I read from the list, paratransit is neither
> superior or inferior to fixed routes, hence it's name. Therefore, if
> blindness is your only disability, and your travel skills enable you to
> travel anywhere you please with confidence, as is the case with me, what 
> are
> the advantages of paratransit, if any? I am interested in hearing your
> thoughts on this.
>
> David
>
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