[nagdu] Guide dogs and airport security

[Jewel S.]

I do something very similar on the buses here in Raleigh, North
Carolina. Our buses have three accessible seats on one side and two on
the other. Both sides can fold up for wheelchair access. If I get on
the bus and the accessible seats are all taken, I note that the seats
are for people with disabilities and the elderly and that I have
physical problems that make it hard for me to walk and I also need to
be able to talk to the bus driver to discuss which bus stop I need to
get off. The few times I have given in and sat somewhere else, I
missed my stop...so, I stand my ground. The bus driver cannot move
with me standing up because it is a liability (if I fall, it's his
fault and I can sue the bus company for medical bills, etc), and he's
not supposed to drive with anyone in front of the yellow line by the
door. So, I stand on the yellow line and tell the bus driver that I
need a seat up front to be able to remind him of my stop and because I
have a physical problem. Often, it is a mother and child who are
taking up the accessible seats, and I have no qualm about kicking them
back to another seat. Unless there are two wheelchairs or six disabled
people already on the bus, there is always an accessible seat
available, and I refuse to sit elsewhere. I have good reason and I
will stand by it, and I am glad to see someone else who does the same.

BTW, our bus system calls it accessible seating, a much better term in
my opinion!

On 7/23/10, Mardi Hadfield <wolfsinger.lakota at gmail.com> wrote:
>  Hi Tami, Here in Arizona we have seats on the bus that are reserved for
> "the elderly and handicapped". These seats also fold up to make a space for
> a wheelchair. Our bus drivers could care less if able bodied people sit
> there. They will not ask them to move for any one who is elderly or
> disabled. And If I want to get on a bus and there are AB people sitting in
> those seats, well I am told that the bus is full and there is no room for
> me.There are only 2 of these seats on the buses. I always stand my ground
> and tell them if there are no wheelchairs on the bus, than indeed they have
> room for me.Sometimes they give in and sometimes they cause trouble for me
> and my dog.Like the time the driver had a passenger pull Nala's leash out of
> my hand and kick her and push her off the bus.I still hold my ground but I
> don't allow my dog to jump up on the bus now ,so that will not happen to
> Shaman. I will call the police, which most of the time are useless, and call
> the bus company complaint line and request a supervisor. Most of the time
> the driver will give in as the rest of the riders complain that I am making
> them late for work.I have made many complaints to the bus company and
> Nothing seems to change. Oh, and I am told that I have a bad attitude and
> complain too much..............Sheesh........I have a bad
> attitude.................   Mardi and Shaman and Nala,retired.
>
> --
> http://wolfsinger-lakota.blogspot.com/
> http://wolfsinger2-thegoldendragon.blogspot.com
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