Riding the Handicapped bus

United States
April 14, 2008 9:29am CST
I put this under the catagory of travel because I have to take the handicapped bus to work on Modays. For those of you who do not know the handicapped bus comes to your door and picks you up and takes you right to your destination. You have to be truly handicapped to be able to ride the bus. I went through all the paperwork to ride the bus. I travel three miles to work and you would think I was asking for the moon. Let me start at the beginning........... As most of my friends know I cannot drive anymore because I have dizzyspells and double vision at times. I feel it is safer for the public that I do not drive. I am disabled and on social security. I am working a few hours a week at a doctors office. I go to work Modays and like to be to work at 08:30AM. The Dial-A-Ride if you call it that is set up to pick me up at 08:00AM. I get picked up anywhere from O7:30 to 08:15AM if I get picked up at ALL! Last monday they did not pick me up once again. I called them and asked them why. When you call the disbatch you usually get some rude people. I got someone rude who just said "you are not on the list and it will be 30 minutes before we can pick you up." I blew it. I can tell you I usually as a rule do not yell at people over the phone. I started yelling at the girl. I said "Then you can call my boss and tell her I am late because you are screwing up my job." I hung up on her because I could feel myself starting to cuss. I do not think people should yell over the phone, I do not think you get anywhere when you act that way. And I became one of thoes people. I have been left by the bus three times now and I just cracked. I then sat down and just started balling. I just started sobbing, "I am quiting, I cannot do thing, I cannot handle the stress." I then got my self together and waited for the bus. It took them 40 minutes to get to me. We then went all over town before I was dropped off at my work. The drivers of these buses call in to disbatch to ask where to go and who to pick up. The disbatch told the driver to drop me off first and guess what NOOOOOOOO she went across town first and dropped two stops off first and then came back north to me. Then she had to go back south to drop the last person off. It took me till Friday to have my drive take me back in to the bus office to complain once again. I told two more people of my bus woes. I also asked if they ever have "Spies" Ride the bus to take name and keep track of calling the disbatch to montoring the drivers. They thought it was a good idea. I will be getting a free ticket and starting this week I will be riding the bus around town and seeing how they do. I have to now decided where I want to go. I told the head of transportation and the mangers of the bus line that the handicapped and elederly already feel disenfranchised and do not know who to complain to and they get discouraged. I want to change things for them and myself. I feel that I am trying to live independly as possible and the bus line is making it very hard. What have you guys done to help change things in your work or in business around your neighborhood?
3 people like this
6 responses
@ElicBxn (64176)
• United States
14 Apr 08
And this is exactly why I drive my handicapped roommate to work!
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64176)
• United States
15 Apr 08
I quite understand, and if I wasn't retired, she's probably be back fighting with the Special Transit Service again!
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Apr 08
I went on the bus today. It only took me an hour to get across town. I do not know if that was a good time or not. I was picked up and taken right over there. I feel it was good time because I did not get taken all over town first.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Apr 08
I do not have a driver except on Monday and Friday afternoons. My hubby leaves at 6am for work. I will nto ask one of my friends to get out of bed to take me to work and it is to far to walk.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
18 Apr 08
That is absolutely horrible that you've had to go through all this. No doubt a lot of these services for the elderly or disabled take advantage of the situation thinking that maybe no one will make a ruckus, but I'm glad you're fighting back about this. Here in our neck of the woods we have similar services, but it's called Access-A-Ride...recently they went on strike! Can you imagine the hardships that created to those who relied on their service to get around? Besides complaining with the bus service itself, is there any govt agency you can complain to like a Public Advocate, or Office of Disabilities type of thing...we have a lot of places to complain to here
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Apr 08
I never thought about going to anyone besides the mayor or the head honcho of the bus line. I also thought about going to the news paper. Thanks for t he info I will be going to look in to the office of disablilites. I will see if they have an office here in merced.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
14 Apr 08
I hope you can change things. At least you have let them know how people are being treated. Most elderly, and disabled will not speak up for themselves. I hope you can make a big difference.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Apr 08
I have decided to fight the fight. They did not come for me once again today. I am on the schedule. I did go in the office once again and talk to four head of honchos. I want to know what the heck is going on. I will be a secret rider from now on to see if I can get a report card. It is time these drivers and bus line get wiped into shape.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
16 Apr 08
We have already talked about this and you know that I am so glad that you did not leave it that you took it further where I would probably just have sat and carried on crying I really hope that you will get this done and they will be rectified on their behaviour and how they are treating disabled People, as you say it is hard enough on us having to ask for help and rely on it without being treated as though we are a bother We do not ask to be disabled and those People want to think themselves lucky that they still have their Health and do not get treated as though we asked to be disabled and that we are just second class Citizen Good on you Sweetie Big Hugs
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Apr 08
You are right we are not second class citizens just because we are disabled! I went to Costco which is across town. It only took me 73 minutes from the time I called the bus to the time I was dropped off. I will go out next week and venture out other places.
@maximax8 (31042)
• United Kingdom
14 Apr 08
They do not make it easy for people that are handicapped to get around. I am so sorry to hear that they are treating you so badly. I know that in my county they only give free bus passes to people that get the highest disability benefit. The needy people that only get the mid or the lower rate have to pay the normal fares. Elderly people get a free bus pass after the age of sixty. I travel on buses and trains with my baby son in a push chair. I have to fold the stroller up and carry my son on some buses. On a few buses they have a space for push chairs and wheel chairs. Some train stations have ramps but some have steps that are challenging for those in a wheelchair or with a baby in a stroller. I agree that lots of disabled people want to live a more independent life and it is sad that there is so paperwork to do and many people have difficulty traveling so it is not fair. I have tried improving a train line service and happily now four carriages come at rush hour instead of two.
1 person likes this
@vicki2876 (5636)
• Canada
14 Apr 08
Wow I read your whole situation and I can feel your frustration. Lack of transportation is my biggest challenge I face everyday. I also have felt beaten when making attempts to overcome my challenges yet get faced with so many challenges and obstacles that it takes everything out of me to keep trying to succeed. I am so glad you are fighting it. My community is starting up a bus service in June which I hope will open doors for opportunity for me. You are a very strong person to keep up when many would have crumbled. :)
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Apr 08
Vicki you will not beleive this but they did not pick me up again today. I had to call the boss once again! This time I was very pissed off. I let them know this afternoon they are costing me 20 dollars an hour. I got a free ticket and will be riding the bus as a secret rider. I will writing a report card for them. I have a friend who will be doing that also if they one person from Atwater to ride the bus. This is really frustrating to me. I know if they are doing this to me they are doing it so other people.