[nagdu] does anyone know why?

[Angie Matney]

Hi Rebecca,

We don't have anything like this statewide, but as Craig says, you may have something similar where you are through Metro Access. I really don't know much about that program, since Northern Virginia is one of the few parts of teh state where 
I haven't lived. (grin)

Angie

On Fri, 7 Nov 2008 15:52:04 -0500, Pickrell, Rebecca M. wrote:

>Craig. 
>Can you tell me about this taxi access program? 
>I'm in VA and wondering if we also have one and how it works. 
>Thanks muchly. 

>-----Original Message-----
>From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of craig.borne at dot.gov
>Sent: Friday, November 07, 2008 11:26 AM
>To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>Subject: Re: [nagdu] does anyone know why?

>Hi Marsha,

>I am speaking now as a user of the MTA Mobility Services system and not
>as an attorney with the U.S. DOT.

>First, I know of no rule that states that we can ride in the front seat.
>However, Marion is correct; policies may be modified to better
>facilitate users of service animals equal access.  This would be
>balanced against the assumed reason for the policy: safety.  So, even
>though the policy can be changed, the MTA is not forced to change it.

>Secondly, there is no rule in the Maryland Code or the Public Service
>Commission (taxi regulatory body) that states a service animal must be
>on the seat in a cab.  In fact, I have never rode with my dog on the
>seat of any cab -- the drivers would have had a fit.  However, many
>drivers are quite large, and the room between their front seat and the
>back seat is sometimes not large enough for my dog to fit.
>Nevertheless, we always make it work.

>Getting back to the Paratransit/Taxi issue.  If Paratransit refuses to
>allow you to sit up front (and presumably, they have the right to do so,
>as long as no passengers are allowed to ride up front) and you would
>rather a car than a mini bus, then I would look into the MTA Taxi Access
>program.  This way, you will be in a car with no other passengers, such
>as what is done with Paratransit.

>Craig


>Craig Borne
>NHTSA/DOT
>(202) 493-0627
>craig.borne at dot.gov
> 

>-----Original Message-----
>From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of Marion & Martin
>Sent: Friday, November 07, 2008 8:09 AM
>To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>Subject: Re: [nagdu] does anyone know why?

>Marsha,
>    To the best of my knowledge, there are no DOT regulations regarding 
>these issues; however, there may be company policies. The ADA requires 
>businesses to "modify policies, practices, and procedures" to allow
>people 
>with disabilities to be accompanied by their service animals. Therefore,
>if 
>the front seat and/or the floorboard is the best place for the service 
>animal and there is a policy regarding this, the policy may need to be 
>modified. Craig Borne is an attorney and guide dog user in the Baltimore

>area. I believe he also has something to do with transportation. Perhaps
>he 
>would be willing to help out with this question.

>fraternally,
>Marion


>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Marsha" <queen.marsha.lindsey at gmail.com>
>To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
><nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 11:55 AM
>Subject: [nagdu] does anyone know why?


>>I am signed up here in the Baltimore area for the paratransit service,
>when
>> I have been picked up in a car, they will not allow myself or my
>"Seeing
>> Eye" dog to ride in the front seat. In the case of last week, a car 
>> arrived
>> with two other passengers and I was forced to cram both me and my dog
>plus
>> another passenger in the back of a car, it was very uncomfortable.
>Well I
>> did not want to be "no showed" so I took the ride. If I had been
>allowed,
>> and this is not the first time this has happened, there would have
>been
>> plenty of room in the front seat with me and my dog, with the dog in
>the
>> floor board, and me comfortable. But they refuse to allow this. Is
>there 
>> any
>> legal standing on this? I am filing a complaint with the MDLC about
>> theparatransit here, for this and a few other reasons. Am I wrong in
>> thinking that they should allow this? I like being picked up in a car
>> better, but there can not be two other passengers. Another policy that
>I 
>> do
>> not understand, is that when picked up in a cab, a regular normal cab,
>I 
>> am
>> forced to have the dog on the seat not on the floor board. Is anyone
>> familiar with this? These are strange things to me, and in some cases
>has
>> caused some issues when traveling with someone because there is not
>enough
>> room. Of course no one will admit it but I have been passed up several

>> times
>> by cabs because of me and my dog, I did not think that this still 
>> happened,
>> and especially in a city with the headquarters of the NFB in it, but
>it
>> does.
>> Just looking for some feed back on this, thanks!
>> Marsha Lindsey
>>
>> NAGDU Board member
>>
>>
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>>
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