[Blindtlk] Paratransit Vs. fixed Routes

Tue May 10 14:39:10 UTC 2011

dear Dianna,

I agree with you,  It is a very personal choice and one that we sometimes 
have very little, short of staying home, to use or not.
We should not judge less thee be judged.
Different strokes for difference folks.
There is more than one way to skin a cat.
Some say potatoes and some say potatoes.
In a hundred years who will give a darn anyway.
Just get her done as Larry the cable guy would say.
Just do it till your satisfied, but do it.
As long as you get there safe and in one piece , who care's.

David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Graves, Diane" <dgraves at icrc.IN.gov>
To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, May 09, 2011 1:56 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Paratransit Vs. fixed Routes

> 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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>
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