[Nfbc-info] Paratransit services

[Brandon Keith Biggs]

Hello,
I use Paratransit every week. Here is how it works:
I take the bus from my house to the Bart station. I take the Bart to the
new county. I take Paratransit from the bart station to my parent's house.
The whole process takes 3 hours. If I took the bus to the bart, took the
bart to the train, took the train to the town where I need to be and asked
my parents or ubered to my parent's house, it would take me 6 hours.
If I took Uber from my house to my parent's house it would cost me $70 a
trip.
If I took the bus to the bart, then the bart to the new county and a bus to
the town near my parent's house, it would take me 5 hours and $20 for Uber.

With my current system it takes me 3 hours and costs $10.
Thank you,


Brandon Keith Biggs <http://brandonkeithbiggs.com/>

On Wed, Mar 30, 2016 at 11:26 AM, Rochelle Houston via Nfbc-info <
nfbc-info at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Good day to all,
> I disagree that blind people should not use paratransit services. I feel
> that there is a broad brush being painted over this topic that is unfair.
> As was stated  by others on this listserv, there are certain circumstances
> and situations in which some blind people use paratransit. For those who
> object to blind people using paratransit services, what is your means of
> traveling throughout the city? Are you using public transportation only? I
> use paratransit, Uber, public transportation and family members to get
> around the city. It may be the distance from the house to the bus stop or
> some may lack the  skills, confidence or independence needed to travel on
> public transportation. Using Uber and family members may not be an option
> for some due to funds. We should focus more on how we can help blind people
> build confidence and independence so they too, are able to travel
> independently  on multiple means of transportation. For those of us who
> have good traveling skills,  find someone to mentor by taking them out and
> help them to develop the skills necessary for them  to travel independently
> too.
> Rochelle Houston
> Treasurer, National Federation of the Blind of California
> President, Pathfinder Chapter Los Angeles
> rhouston58 at gmail.com
> 323 807-0300
> The national Federation of the blind knows that blindness is not the
> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
> expectations of blind people because low expectations create obstacles
> between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want.
> Blindness is not what holds you back.
>
>
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