[Blindtlk] Paratransit vs. Fixed Route.

Fri May 6 01:49:16 UTC 2011

Dear Sir,

If that is true, they need to be sued and have the DOJ and DOT brought down 
on their heads.  I did this here in Palm Beach County some years ago and I 
even got two executive directors of Palm Tran fired and replaced.
They lied to us in the first few years after the ADA was passed.
They were able to get away with this because , WE did not know the ADA and 
neither did the county Commissioners.  They relied upon the directors to 
know and just hid behind their shield of professionalism.
I, and some others, educated ourselves about the ADA and what was required.
We then began calling their bluff and even filed charges with the DOT.  We 
were right and changes began to happen.
If your local fixed route bus system can serve the Public every day, then 
the Para-transit service should be able to provide next day services too. 
You should not have to make all of your trips 3 or 4 days in advance.  That 
is outrages.
There are rules for Para-transit also as to service delivery too.
I know how it works and what I can expect from my service.  They
have "on time" requirement just the same as one would expect from the fixed 
route system.  The fixed route has time transfers because people must meet 
other bus and forms of transport on a timely basis.  So must the 
Para-transit service.

You make your trip arrangements based on when you must be some where.  They 
are in a sense making a verbal contract with you to pick you up and get you 
to a place at or before a certain time.  If they are not doing this 
consistently, they are in violation and must correct this a very timely 
manner or face loss of federal funds.
That is why the county gets a little nervous when I an other transit 
advocates begin showing up at county commission meetings.  They have learned 
to respect us and listen to us.
We do not always get everything we want, but we get heard and they know what 
we want.We know that there are limits on funding, but we work with them to 
get the most bang for the buck we can and we have their respect.
My NFB chapter took on transportation as a cause back in the 1990's and we 
have made a difference in our service.

David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Roberthansen1970 at gmail.com" <roberthansen1970 at gmail.com>
To: <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 3:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Paratransit vs. Fixed Route.

> In the chicago area paratransit will most likely get you fired.
> -----Original Message-----
> Date: Monday, May 02, 2011 1:39:37 pm
> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> From: "Mary Mc Gee" <mmcatitude at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Paratransit vs. Fixed Route.
>
> Hi, All;
>
>            I wouldn't take Paratransit for anything!  I've heard too many
> bad stories about it, e.g. you don't get where you're going on time. 
> That's
> not the reason I won't use it, however.  I don't believe blind people need
> it, pure and simple.  We are physically capable of riding the fixed route
> transit, even if we have to walk a ways to a bus stop.  We're capable of
> using cabs or paying private drivers if we don't want to take the bus.
>
>            I use the fixed route bus a lot.  If I have to carry things or
> have to do something at a certain time, I hire a private driver.  All of 
> the
> DART busses are now wheelchair accessible, so I, in ways, don't see the
> point of Paratransit anymore, unless it's for people who can't get to a
> fixed route stop.
>
>            I live in downtown Des Moines and, believe me, I've seen some
> characters on and off the bus!  Now one has ever caused me a problem or 
> put
> me in fear.  I assume the "characters" exist in all cities, so I can kind 
> of
> understand the fear factor.  However, I'm willing to take the risk and 
> deal
> with anything that might arise and be able to demonstrate that I'm a
> competent blind person.
>
>            I spent over a year in Chicago and rode the fixed route transit
> all the time.  I just wish Des Moines had the system Chicago had then!  I
> could go wherever I wanted whenever on the CTA and never hired a driver.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Mary
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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