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

Mon May 2 20:17:27 UTC 2011

Same here!

On 5/2/11, Michael <bonsai1b at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> ditto Cindy....I have the same experience.
> Michael
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Cindy Handel" <cindy425 at verizon.net>
> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 2:43 PM
> 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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>>>
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>>
>>
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>
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-- 
"Now I'll take the blame,
So forget my name.
Just close the blinds,
So I can come down. . .
I'm naked and shamed,
Moth to the flame.
Just take my hand,
So we can both drown. . ."
SHAUN MORGAN - "FORSAKEN" Copyright 2011