[Blindtlk] Paratransit Vs. fixed Routes

Mon May 2 19:21:19 UTC 2011

you are so right about sighted people and public transit, they are 
alsosometimes offended when t it is suggested they carpool, the idea of not 
having thier own wheels at their disposal is unheard of to them. jeanette
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Graves, Diane" <dgraves at icrc.IN.gov>
To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 1:16 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Paratransit Vs. fixed Routes


> 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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>
>
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