[Greater-Baltimore] Bad News: HB0107 / SB0943 - Better Bus Services Act

Wed Apr 10 13:31:35 UTC 2024

Sorry to hear this, and totally flummoxed by any rationale that doesn't include bus stops in a Better Bus Services law, but whatever. What on earth was their rationale?

CSD

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Subject: [Greater-Baltimore] Bad News: HB0107 / SB0943 - Better Bus Services Act

Hi Folks,

I'm sorry to share that the House and Senate passed the bad version of the Better Bus Services Act, HB0107 / SB0943.  In the end, the House insisted on keeping out bus stops and curb cuts, and in order to have a bill instead of no bill, the Senate receded on its position.  Supposedly the work group that was established in this bill is going to help make sure that people with disabilities are able to overcome bus stop and curb cut obstacles, but that doesn't actually mean anything enforceable.  We'll try again in future legislative sessions.

Thank you for all you do - it matters.

Ronza

Ronza Othman, President

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

443-426-4110

Pronouns: she, her, hers

From: Maryland President <president at nfbmd.org>
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Subject: RE: Legislative Alert: HB0107 / SB0943 - Better Bus Services Act

Hi Folks:

We still need help on this - the Senate and House are negotiating on which version of this bill will prevail, and we need our voices heard.  That means you.  If you do nothing else today, please call Chair Korman and Vice Chair Boyce to tell them to keep the Senate version of the bill and to protect bus stops and curb cuts.

The General Assembly will end its 2024 session on Monday, so time is of the essence.

Ronza Othman, President

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

443-426-4110

Pronouns: she, her, hers

From: Maryland President <president at nfbmd.org <mailto:president at nfbmd.org> >

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Subject: Legislative Alert: HB0107 / SB0943 - Better Bus Services Act

Hi Friends,

We are asking our members and friends to mobilize on the Better Bus Services Act, specifically the Senate version, SB0943.

As you know, the House previously stripped protections for bus stops and curb cuts from its version of the bill, HB0107, and we're concerned that the House Environment and Transportation Committee will do the same with the Senate version of the bill.  House Environment and Transportation will hear the Senate version of the bill, which did keep the protections in, this Tuesday, April 2. 

We need everyone to call and email the House Environment and Transportation Committee members to urge them to retain and vote favorable on the Senate bill and to resist amending it to conform to the House version.  Below you will find some language you can use, and please copy Annapolis at nfbmd.org <mailto:Annapolis at nfbmd.org>  when you send your emails.  You can also call the members of the Committee, but please  let me know if you do so.

Dear Delegate [Name],

I am writing to urge you to vote in support of SB0943, the Better Bus Services Act, and I am asking you not to support amending the Senate bill to conform with the House Bill, HB0107.  This is because the House version of the bill, when it was amended, changed the bill from being a pro-disability bill to an anti-disability bill.  Blind and low vision Marylanders like me use public transportation to move around in our communities, to get to medical appointments, to get to work, and to do all of the things that others without disabilities do.  However, we're dependent on bus services, and we need bus stops and curb cuts to be unobstructed.  Because people stop and park in bus lanes and curb cuts, blocking them, Marylanders with disabilities can't safely or independently cross the street or get on and off the bus.  

For example, we use our canes and the curb cut to line up with the crosswalk, which then enables us to safely cross the street.  But when a vehicle blocks the curb cut, we have to step into traffic to cross, and we may veer into a moving traffic lane.  Others using wheelchairs also can't get on or off the sidewalk when the curb cuts are obstructed.  In terms of bus stops, we depend on them as tactile landmarks for where the bus will pick up passengers, and we need to be able to hear the audio announcements to identify the right bus.  If a vehicle is obstructing the bus stop, then we can't easily identify the buses as they arrive since they are often not near the bus stop, and sometimes we can't hear them at all; that means we are missing the bus because a vehicle driver blocked the bus from picking us up where  it is supposed to do so.  Others using wheelchairs or other mobility devices also need buses to stop at proper bus stops in order to safely get on and off the bus, because bus stops are designed to have enough space and clearance for bus ramps; other areas along the road may have obstructions like treewells, signs, poles, and stoops, which mean those in wheelchairs may not be able to safely board or debark a bus other than at the bus stop.

The bus lane monitoring mechanism applicable to bus stops and curb cuts is precisely what made this bill a pro-disability bill, and removing those protections means that those who obstruct bus stops and curb cuts can continue to prevent people with disabilities from safely and independently moving around our communities.  In fact, removing these protections is the same as telling violators that it's OK to do so.

For these reasons, I ask you to support SB0943 as is and keep the bus stop and curb cut protections in the bill.

Please contact me if you have questions.

Thanks,

[Your name]

Members of House Energy and Transportation Committee

Marc Korman, Chair

Marc.Korman at house.state.md.us <mailto:Marc.Korman at house.state.md.us> 

410-841-3649

Regina Boyce, Vice Chair

Regina.Boyce at house.state.md.us <mailto:Regina.Boyce at house.state.md.us> 

410-841-3476

Jackie Addison

Jackie.Addison at house.state.md.us <mailto:Jackie.Addison at house.state.md.us> 

410-841-3551

Nick Allen

Nick.Allen at house.state.md.us <mailto:Nick.Allen at house.state.md.us> 

410-841-3365

Terry Baker

Terry.Baker at house.state.md.us <mailto:Terry.Baker at house.state.md.us> 

410-841-3321

Barrie Ciliberti

Barrie.ciliberti at house.state.md.us
<mailto:Barrie.ciliberti at house.state.md.us> 

410-841-3080

Debra Davis

Debra.davis at house.state.md.us <mailto:Debra.davis at house.state.md.us> 

410-841-3337

Linda Foley

Linda.Foley at house.state.md.us <mailto:Linda.Foley at house.state.md.us> 

410-841-3052

Michele Guyton

Michele.Guyton at house.state.md.us <mailto:Michele.Guyton at house.state.md.us> 

410-841-3793

Anne Healey

Anne.Healey at house.state.md.us <mailto:Anne.Healey at house.state.md.us> 

410-841-3961

Marvin Holmes

Marvin.Holmes at house.state.md.us <mailto:Marvin.Holmes at house.state.md.us> 

410-841-3310

Jay Jacobs

Jay.Jacobs at house.state.md.us <mailto:Jay.Jacobs at house.state.md.us> 

410-841-3449

Mary Lehman

Mary.Lehman at house.state.md.us <mailto:Mary.Lehman at house.state.md.us> 

410-841-3114

Jeffrie Long

Jeffrie.long at house.state.md.us <mailto:Jeffrie.long at house.state.md.us> 

410-841-3398

Sara Love

Sara.love at house.state.md.us <mailto:Sara.love at house.state.md.us> 

410-841-3454

Todd Morgan

Todd.Morgan at house.state.md.us <mailto:Todd.Morgan at house.state.md.us> 

410-841-3319

Ryan Nawrocki

Ryan.Nawrocki at house.state.md.us <mailto:Ryan.Nawrocki at house.state.md.us> 

410-841-3289

Charles Otto

Charles.Otto at house.state.md.us <mailto:Charles.Otto at house.state.md.us> 

410-841-3433

Sheila Ruth

Sheila.ruth at house.state.md.us <mailto:Sheila.ruth at house.state.md.us> 

410-841-3802

Dana Stein

Dana.Stein at house.state.md.us <mailto:Dana.Stein at house.state.md.us> 

410-841-3527

Vaughn Stewart

Vaughn.stewart at house.state.md.us <mailto:Vaughn.stewart at house.state.md.us> 

410-841-3528

Jen Terrasa

Jen.Terrasa at house.state.md.us <mailto:Jen.Terrasa at house.state.md.us> 

410-841-3246

Natalie Ziegler

Natalie.Ziegler at house.state.md.us <mailto:Natalie.Ziegler at house.state.md.us>

410-841-3352

Thanks,

Ronza

Ronza Othman, President

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

443-426-4110

Pronouns: she, her, hers

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