[Blindtlk] Paratransit Vs. fixed Routes

Mon May 9 17:56:28 UTC 2011

Hi Guys,

You know, I have been thinking about this paratransit v. fixed route discussion, and a question has occurred to me.  Why is it a requirement that the blind are any different from the sighted? I'll explain.

Of course, as federationists, we believe--we know-- that the blind are just as capable as the sighted and should strive to be productive, independent citizens. This is a very good and necessary thing. But should our methods of doing so be dictated?

As I said last week, I know some sighted people who would stay home from work and other family activities while their car was in the shop, rather than get on a city "fixed route" bus. This is true.  I do know these people. However, I also know some sighted people who are perfectly capable of driving, some of whom actually own cars, who choose not to drive. They don't want to drive, so they make the choice to suffer all of the inconveniences and in climate weather that the fixed route has to offer. To me, this is absolutely 100% ludicrous! I cannot imagine having the physical, mental, and financial ability to drive, and choosing not to do so. That makes no sense at all to me. But some sighted people make that choice. So why should we as blind people be any different? 

I remember years ago there was a debate about the topic of dog v. cane, in so much that, I believe, there was an entire issue of the Monitor dedicated to the topic. I think this boils down to pretty much the same thing.

If I choose to use a dog and you choose to use a cane, does that make you more competent or independent than I or vice versa? By the same token, if you choose to ride paratransit and I choose to ride fixed route, yet we are both going to work, to church, to NFB meetings, or any number of other community activities, who is to say that one of us is more independent than the other? Do you know what I mean? We all make choices in our lives depending on our own needs, wants and comfort levels whether we are blind or sighted, and if someone can and would rather use paratransit should they not have the right to make that choice? Is it really any different than accepting a ride from a friend who offers you one? Why is it any different from paying a driver? You aren't riding paratransit for free, and you aren't the one who set the rates.

As I said, though I do use paratransit from time to time, I'm not a major fan of the paratransit in my area myself, so please don't misunderstand. But if this is what a fellow blind person chooses to do, who are we to say he's wrong? I don't know, am I off base here? Tell me what  you all think.

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 09, 2011 12:26 PM
To: davidb521 at gmail.com; Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Paratransit Vs. fixed Routes

Dear David,

Para-transit is there mostly for those who can not  or sometimes can not use 
the fixed route bus system for all of their trips.
Your use of Para-transit can be based upon your physical condition and 
disability or even barriers in the environment that prevent you from being 
able to  access and use the fixed route bus.
I say, that you should use the fixed route service first , if you can, but 
if you can not, take the Para-transit.
Under the ADA, the Para-transit service can serve no less than 3/4 miles, 
either side of a fixed bus route, as a crow flies, nor more than 1.5 miles 
either side, with the support of the local government.
Most everywhere it is held to the 3/4 mile rule, but the local government 
can exceed this if they want to.
Here in Palm Beach County Florida, we have a ADA "core area" that is bonded 
on the east by the ocean, on the west by the Florida Turnpike, on the North 
by RCA blvd and on the south by the Palm Beach/Broward County line.
There are several fixed bus routes that stick out of the west side and in 
these areas we follow the 3/4 mile rule around the bus routes.
We have a core area to prevent making "islands" of isolation with in areas 
that are mostly or surrounded by fixed route services.  This is caused 
mostly by "walled communities" where the fixed route bus is fenced out and 
the riders are fenced in with poor access to the fixed bus system.  We have 
lots of these in my county and this makes using the fixed route system very 
hard for many people, even the non-disabled.
Only the disable can access the Para-transit in this case.
IF there are barriers in the environment that you can not get around, such 
as a major highway, a river or the lack of safe pathways for you to follow 
to get there, you may be a person who needs to use the Para-transit for most 
or all of your trips.
If you have a physical or medical condition that makes it very hard or 
impossible to use the fixed route system then you might use the Para-transit 
service instead.
You must go through a application process to get Para-transit service and 
then that service can have conditions placed upon it depending on your 
physical or medical conditions, your ability to access and navigate the 
fixed route system and its availability in the areas you want to go to.
Conditions such as severe diabetic neuropathy, poor balance or the inability 
to walk or stand for more than 30 minutes,  Certain medications that make 
you vulnerable to sun or heat stroke, have  seizures or you have bad 
arthritis or a heart condition.
  There is also the busy streets you can not get across to access the bus 
both ways.
We are very lucky here in Palm Beach County in that our County Commissioners 
have funded our service very well, but there is still lots of room for 
improvement.  We also have a State of Florida program that serves Seniors, 
the Disabled, Children at Risk and even the able bodied poor who do not have 
a car or who can not drive.  It is called the Transportation Disadvantaged 
Program and the funding comes from a $1.50 auto tag fee and goes to all 67 
counties in the state.  In most areas, there are only about 13 places in the 
state where there is ADA service because there is a fixed bus route system. 
The TD program is the transit service of last resort.

If you want to know more, please write me back and be specific and I will 
try to answer
I am able to use the Para-transit as I have medical conditions that can make 
it hard or even dangerous for me to have to use the fixed route system by 
itself.  I do use the fixed route service as much as I can and even teach 
others how to use it, the Para-transit and the Tri-Rail system too as a 
travel instructor.  I sometimes push myself and use it even when it can be 
dangerous for me because I think it is important for others.
I never ask anyone to do anything that I will not do myself.

David Evans, and GD Jack
MV Transit  Consumer Advocate.

----- 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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