[Blindtlk] Hiring Drivers Re: Paratransit Vs. fixed Routes

Mon May 2 19:57:59 UTC 2011

You also have to be careful nowadays about just hiring someone off the street with whom you are going to have such personal and secluded contact.

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 Cindy Handel
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 3:44 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: [Blindtlk] Hiring Drivers Re: Paratransit Vs. fixed Routes

Diane, Your comments made me think about trying to hire drivers.  I thought,
in a relatively small city, that it wouldn't be hard to hire drivers.  Not
So!  I've posted notices at my local grocery store and attempted to put the
request in a newsletter for a rather large retirement community near me.
The store notice brought no results.  The person in charge of posting in the
newsletter at the retirement community wouldn't even put it in.  She said
something about a no soliciting policy in the community and she made the
decision that their residents wouldn't be interested.  So, I never got to
ask.

We've also requested transportation from the local Lions Club, of which my
husband is a member.  But, that's also very difficult.  We have gotten
rides, on a couple of occasions.  But, for the most part, when my husband
asks, there is no response.

I don't know what the explanation is, for the Lions Club.  But, finding
someone to hire isn't always as easy as it would seem.

Cindy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Graves, Diane" <dgraves at icrc.IN.gov>
To: "'Jeanette Fortin'" <jeanette at fortin-home.com>; "'Blind Talk Mailing
List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 3:31 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Paratransit Vs. fixed Routes

Oh yes. This is why fixed route is as limited as it is in Indianapolis and
other areas. The well-to-do and upper middle class do not want the busses
bringing the inner city folks into their areas. So those who look down on
others who choose to use paratransit, should know that there are others
towering above the fixed route riders looking down their noses as well.

If you live someplace like Chicago or New York and have their quality of
fixed rout service in terms of regularity and parameter, you are lucky. The
majority of us don't.

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 Jeanette Fortin
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 3:21 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Paratransit Vs. fixed Routes

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
>
> Confidentiality Notice: This E-mail transmission may contain confidential
> and/or legally privileged information intended only for the individual or
> entity(ies)
> named in the E-mail address. If you are not the intended recipient, be
> advised that any unauthorized disclosure, copying, distribution, or acting
> in reliance
> upon the contents of this E-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have
> received this E-mail transmission in error, please reply to sender to
> arrange for the return and proper delivery of the transmission.
> Subsequently, delete the message from your system immediately.
>
> -----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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