[Blindtlk] Para transit Vs. fixed Routes

[Hyde, David W. (ESC)]

Sometimes, you can get a paid driver. Now before you say "I don't have the money", let's be a little creative. What can you trade? You may have a skill that someone needs, and you may be able to barter what you need. I use this when I want to attend a play in the evening when busses don't run. I'll buy the ticket for the person driving. If they don't let me do that, I buy their dinner. If I can't do that, I send them a gas card. Whatever I use though, I do get to see the play.

It doesn't always need to be money. Find someone who can drive and needs help with their computer. They pick you up and you do a computer lesson. Then they pick you up and you do the guitar lesson. 

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michael
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 2:02 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Paratransit Vs. fixed Routes

I would like to take guitar lessons from a jazz guitarist eight miles from my home but have pretty much given up.  I checked with paratransit and they want to pick me up, drive me twenty miles to the central office, transfer me to another bus, and then drive me back twenty miles to get to the guitar store, a four hour adventure....all of this for a trip eight miles from my home.  And then they have no way to get me home after the lesson.  I have checked with every nonprofit and volunteer group I can think of to no avail. 
Taxi service is $40 round trip, so that makes a pretty pricey lesson.  I've given up.  There is no regular bus service in my county.

Michael
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cindy Handel" <cindy425 at verizon.net>
To: <davidb521 at gmail.com>; "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 1:14 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Paratransit Vs. fixed Routes


>I use paratransit, in some instances.  We have fixed route transportation.
> But, there is one bus an hour, in the morning; nothing for about three 
> hours
> in the middle of the day, and then one bus an hour until 6:00pm.  If I 
> were
> to take fixed route transportation to my piano lesson, I'd have to get a 
> bus
> from my home into town; transfer and then walk a distance to get to my
> lesson.  I'd have to do the same for the return.  So, for a one hour 
> lesson,
> I'd be traveling at least four hours.
>
> I don't know if this is the case everywhere, but here, I can only take
> paratransit in the area where there is fixed route transportation.  If 
> they
> should discontinue it in my area, paratransit would also be discontinued,
> for me.  I don't know why this is.  But, it seems we have either all or
> nothing!
>
> Cindy
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "David" <davidb521 at gmail.com>
> To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 1:17 PM
> 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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