[nagdu] An altercation on the bus yesterday

[Criminal Justice Major]

Hi, Steve,
I do agree wit you as far as all the different transit authorities like the one here in Colorado as Regional Transportation District.
Yes, I can confess I've used a fold up shopping cart and have been on the bus during peak hours.
Majority of the time though, my husband or I try to do that during off peak hours.
reason being is due to how full the buses can get during rush hour.
I did have an incident almost seven years ago on an RTD bus here though.
That incident took place a month after Freedom and I came home from training.
As Freedom and I borded to get on, there was a seat up front, but not enough room for Freedom to be seated on the floor in between my legs safely.
As I went to look for an area where wheelchairs whould normally be, an unknown passenger jumped up and grabbed me.
He then pushed me toward the seat behind the driver and forced me down on to it.
The driver didn't do anything nor did he ask the person to get off.
By that time, I went to the back as I was very angry and annoyed.
When the board and public meeting took place, i did file my complaint then.
The former general manager didn't give a you kno what about the fact that my guide dog was traumatized and wanted nothing to do with the buses anymore.
Later on, Freedom David Berry ended up having to be retired anyway.
The rest of the staff of RTD were angry with the general manager that he didn't show any consideration or offered to help with me getting another guide dog as they all felt he should have offered something.
Their board members were very angry too.
The last time I did visit their meetings though, they got to meet Odie and saw how wonderful of a guide dog he turned out to be.
That formal general manager is retired and the rest of the RTD staff/board members are happy that he's gone like myself.
I like to know who the bus drivers are as if there's any problems, they can help educate the other passengers as far as letting them know they need to ask if a blind individual needs help and not to grab at them.
I try to do my part on education as well too.
Bibi