[Md-sligo] Transportation

Fri Sep 9 12:30:09 UTC 2016

I agree with all of these points! I hope there is a solution which will be a
good fit for everyone and which will truly enhance this service! It will be
very interesting to see how all of this plays out.

Melissa

From: MD-Sligo [mailto:md-sligo-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Reyazuddin,
Yasmin via MD-Sligo
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2016 8:22 AM
To: Sligo Creek Chapter list, NFB of Maryland
Cc: Reyazuddin, Yasmin
Subject: Re: [Md-sligo] Transportation

Hi Melissa, 

There are few issues which we want to clear up with metro access. 

1, as in Baltimore people call in a phone number to request the ride. We
want that. 

2 The driver needs to come to the door or need to identify himself. Very
important for the blind population. 

3 And you will agree with this one, regarding service animals. We want to
insure that the driver does not leave because there is a dog. 

4 Some people take more than 5 minutes to be out of the door. The driver
does not leave them in these situations. 

Not everyone has a smart phone and they cannot use it as well as others. If
such people want to use the service, they should have it. There should be
the option of calling a cab through the app or calling a phone number to get
one. 

Yasmin Reyazuddin 
Aging & Disability Services 
Montgomery County Government 
Department of Health & Human Services 
401 Hungerford Drive (3rd floor) 
Rockville MD 20850 
240-777-0311 (MC311) 
240-777-1556 (personal) 
240-777-1495 (fax) 
office hours 8:30 am 5:00 pm 
Languages English, Hindi, Urdu, Braille 

This message may contain protected health information or other information
that is confidential or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient,
please contact the sender by return mail and destroy any copies of this
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Thank you.

From: MD-Sligo [mailto:md-sligo-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Melissa Ann
Riccobono via MD-Sligo
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2016 8:22 PM
To: 'Sligo Creek Chapter list, NFB of Maryland' <md-sligo at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Melissa Ann Riccobono <melissa at riccobono.us>
Subject: Re: [Md-sligo] Transportation

Sorry-I am a bit late to this party, but I wanted to put in a few comments.

Knowing how Uber works, since I take it often in Baltimore, I'm guessing
that this program would work more like the Taxi Access program in Baltimore.
This means a few things. First, you would HAVE to call an Uber if you wanted
to use this service. Metro would not be able to send you an Uber because you
have to order the Uber through an app on a smart phone. So, if you would
want to use Metro Access like usual, you would order your rides just as you
do now. But, if you had a smart phone and wanted the convenience of same day
service, then you could use Uber. I would assume that there would be a card
number you would enter in the Uber app. This would allow Metro to be charged
for your Uber ride, as it said Metro would pay up to $15 per trip. This is
very similar to the Taxi Access program in Baltimore, but people call into
the cab company, give their Taxi Access number, and then get their ride.

One would hope that if this system works, those who can and like to use Uber
will do so. This will lessen Metro Access trips so one would hope Metro
Access would have a better on time performance and serve the customers who
use it better. Now I realize this might not be the case, as any paratransit
has a long way to go to be perfect! And, I could certainly be wrong about
how the system would work, but I hope I am correct.

Uber is a fantastic service. You can contact your driver directly, see how
far away your driver is, know the type of car they are driving, and the
rates are cheaper than a cab. If you have problems with a driver, you can
give feedback right away, and I have literally had money refunded for one
reason or another minutes after I submitted a complaint. You rate each
driver, and each driver rates you as a customer. This leads, most of the
time, to polite drivers and polite passengers. It is not perfect. Sometimes
the GPS tries to navigate the driver on a route that makes no sense, and
some drivers are bad drivers, rude, or just not very smart. Some don't speak
English very well. But, on the whole, I think Uber is far better than any
cab service, and I think it would be wonderful to subsidize rides for those
who need that help.

Just some thoughts to consider.

Melissa

From: MD-Sligo [mailto:md-sligo-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michelle
Clark via MD-Sligo
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2016 7:28 PM
To: 'Sligo Creek Chapter list, NFB of Maryland'
Cc: Michelle Clark
Subject: Re: [Md-sligo] Transportation

Debbie,

National Harbor will go in with Sligo for the resolution. I was shocked when
I read the article.

Michelle

From: MD-Sligo [mailto:md-sligo-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Reyazuddin,
Yasmin via MD-Sligo
Sent: Thursday, September 8, 2016 9:16 AM
To: Sligo Creek Chapter list, NFB of Maryland <md-sligo at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Reyazuddin, Yasmin <Yasmin.Reyazuddin at montgomerycountymd.gov>
Subject: Re: [Md-sligo] Transportation

Debbie, 

Based upon the article in the post, the RFP will be out end of this month.
They will  be considering the RFP during the month of December and award the
contract in January. 

May be we need to have a resolution at the state convention to enforce our
policy. Another way to ensure that there are no problems later. 

Yasmin Reyazuddin 
Aging & Disability Services 
Montgomery County Government 
Department of Health & Human Services 
401 Hungerford Drive (3rd floor) 
Rockville MD 20850 
240-777-0311 (MC311) 
240-777-1556 (personal) 
240-777-1495 (fax) 
office hours 8:30 am 5:00 pm 
Languages English, Hindi, Urdu, Braille 

This message may contain protected health information or other information
that is confidential or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient,
please contact the sender by return mail and destroy any copies of this
material. 

Thank you.

From: MD-Sligo [mailto:md-sligo-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Brown,
Debbie via MD-Sligo
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2016 9:01 AM
To: 'Sligo Creek Chapter list, NFB of Maryland' <md-sligo at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Brown, Debbie <dabro at loc.gov>
Subject: [Md-sligo] Transportation

Terry, that is a question we all have been asking.

They have to give to the AAC (which Queen is on) a report about missed trips
and no-shows.  I don't think it was generally broken down by cabs or regular
contractors.  That is a statistic we need to have.  It sounds as if this
same-day service is different from the normal MetroAccess, and you would
know that's what you were doing when you ordered it, and you would hopefully
understand that's what you were doing.  I know when I call a cab that my
body had better be outside or it might leave me-although cabs are routinely
calling before they come these days.  Nothing I have read says that Uber
will be doing regular MetroAccess trips.  Nevertheless, if MetroAccess is
managing it, it is in violation of the NFB of Maryland resolution.

Debbie Brown

From: MD-Sligo [mailto:md-sligo-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Powers,
Terry (NIH/NCI) [E] via MD-Sligo
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2016 4:16 PM
To: 'Sligo Creek Chapter list, NFB of Maryland'
Cc: Powers, Terry (NIH/NCI) [E]
Subject: Re: [Md-sligo] Chapter meeting and upcoming events

How can we trust this to go into effect, when some of the cab drivers, now,
will not go to the door and let a blind person know they are there.  They
either do not go at all or do not go to the door and put you down as a no
show, in both cases.

They were supposed to put on my record, no cabs, but when I change my pick
up, related to work, then they think they can use a cab.  Once in a while,
they do use a cab anyway.

Action is the most reliable for coming to find the client.

After how Henry's DOORs councilor has been treated by this company, I do not
trust them.

How can I communicate if I do not have a smart phone?

What a mess!!!

Terry P.

From: Reyazuddin, Yasmin via MD-Sligo [mailto:md-sligo at nfbnet.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2016 4:06 PM
To: Sligo Creek Chapter list, NFB of Maryland <md-sligo at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Reyazuddin, Yasmin <Yasmin.Reyazuddin at montgomerycountymd.gov>
Subject: Re: [Md-sligo] Chapter meeting and upcoming events

Debbie, 

At the chapter meeting we would like to get an update about metro access and
their ability ride program. 

Also we will have the Board of Elections who can register people and quietly
show the features of the machine. 

Last month meeting you gave out the raffle tickets. I did not get what I
asked. If I come to the meeting, I will get them. Otherwise, we will wait
for a better date. 

Yasmin Reyazuddin 
Aging & Disability Services 
Montgomery County Government 
Department of Health & Human Services 
401 Hungerford Drive (3rd floor) 
Rockville MD 20850 
240-777-0311 (MC311) 
240-777-1556 (personal) 
240-777-1495 (fax) 
office hours 8:30 am 5:00 pm 
Languages English, Hindi, Urdu, Braille 

This message may contain protected health information or other information
that is confidential or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient,
please contact the sender by return mail and destroy any copies of this
material. 

Thank you.

From: MD-Sligo [mailto:md-sligo-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Brown,
Debbie via MD-Sligo
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2016 11:57 AM
To: 'Sligo Creek Chapter list, NFB of Maryland' <md-sligo at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Brown, Debbie <dabro at loc.gov>
Subject: [Md-sligo] Chapter meeting and upcoming events

The chapter meeting will be at the Long Branch Library, 8800 Garland Avenue,
at 1:30.  

We have many events coming up in September and October.

Saturday, September 17:  Bake sale at the Greenbelt Giant, 6000 Greenbelt
Road.  We really need bakers.  Janice steps up to the plate for every baking
event, but she can only do so much.  Please bake something or ask your
friends to bake something.  If you are not a baker, give your friends some
money to bake something.  

Saturday, October 1:  Scholarship dinner and auction, Bidding for
Opportunity.  Tickets are $40.  If you bring yourself and a friend, we will
get very close to filling the room.  Bring your money on Saturday if you
can.  Also, bring a description of your auction item, or bring the item
itself.  

Saturday, October 8:  Chapter meeting at which we will have Leslie Bowman
from LBPH.  

Sunday, October 16:  World of Montgomery, Montgomery College.

Saturday, October 22:  Friends meeting at LBPH in Baltimore, at which the
author Phyllis Reynolds Naylor will appear.

Friday-Sunday, October 28-30:  NFB of Maryland state convention.  I will
send you more information in a separate email.  We will have the usual
banquet and luncheons, but on Friday evening we will have pizza and a
performance.  The Braille is Beautiful Players will perform "Sorry, Wrong
Number."  I am still looking for people to participate in the Braille is
Beautiful Players.  Please let me know if you are interested in being a
star.  You must be a fairly good braille reader.

If you have raffle tickets filled out, and if you have money, please bring
it on Saturday.

Debbie Brown

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