[Iabs-talk] [il-talk] Petition

Wed May 2 15:52:09 CDT 2007

First, not everyone who uses paratransit has an ambulatory impairment.  Like Ray said, some who use paratransit could use the fixed route system.  However, Debbie is talking about the others who really do need door to door service.  As I understand it, Pace has not yet made it clear where the location of changing carriers will be.  I understand Debbie's concern.  If you're blind and you have a problem walking, will you be let off in an area that is safe and are you going to fear for your own safety?  I think she is saying that it makes her uncomfortable and feeling vulnerable.  
Secondly, let me play devil's advocate here.  I'm going to pose a question, which is intended to be food for thought only.  Is it descrimination that some people are allowed to have one ride only service, while the rest of us have take two or three vehicles to get to our destination?  I suppose that a case could be made for that, as well.
I urge you all to think about this.  I have been in the same situation that Elizabeth is in.  It's a drag and inconvenient.  However, isn't it wonderful that we live in a country that provides these options for us.  Try to imagine living in another country where blind people are not treated so well.  I really don't want to.
Connie

----- Original Message ----
From: PITTMAN ENTERPRISES & ASSOCIATES <pittman.e.a at cometlink.com>
To: NFB of Illinois Mailing List <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 2, 2007 12:17:51 AM
Subject: Re: [il-talk] Petition

Given the fact that  two thirds of the three thirds pie they are using are 
involved, it is clear that the statistics involves more than 1%.  It won't 
be the first time that Pace has lied.  They told before they took over that 
when people go to the currency exchange to pick up buspasses and vouchers 
that carriers would wait for them.  That almost never happens.  They also 
told that they would not make any major changes until they brought all the 
carriers up to standard on the quality of service they provided.  That has 
not happened.  I also heard "At Issue" on Sunday.  What they did not tell 
was that they pay approximately $17 for ambulatory people and $25 for 
people in wheelchairs.  It is not $25 across the board.  That comes from 
research I did last year.

Yes there needs to be improvements, but there way of proposing to do things 
is not an answer.  They could use some of the money to hire another carrier 
instead of paying two carriers for the same trip.      They can make the 
two carriers that are poorly lacking in service improve their on-time 
record by paying their carriers by the hour and not by the trip.  and then 
monitoring the improvements.

The assumption is being made that people on paratransit have never had a 
fix route experience and that is not the case. Most people used the fixed 
route system before their health failed them.  A large number of people for 
health reasons cannot deal with transferring and waiting on another 
carrier.  I'm specifically talking about the people who don't have the 
choice of being able to take the fixed route system whenever they get ready.

There is still the point that one third of the riders will be allowed to go 
anywhere in the city with one carrier.  If it is allowed for the one third, 
it should be allowed for all.

10:44 PM 5/1/2007 -0500, you wrote:
>Hello:
>
>These opinions are mine and do not represent those of ACB in which I am a
>local, state and national leader, nor do they represent the views of my
>employer.
>
>I agree with Kelly.  People who ride fixed route have to transfer from
>vehicle to vehicle.  I'd like to have one vehicle to take me from the door
>of my suburban home to my job in Chicago, but that isn't going to happen for
>me unless I hire a driver.  Remember what the ADA says.  You have a right to
>paratransit service if you cannot ride the fixed route service for some or
>all of your trips.  There are Federal standards as to how that service needs
>to be provided.  No where in Federal law does it say you have a right to
>choose which carrier provides your ride.  If you assert that it does, give
>me a section in the ADA regulations as a citing.  We only have one carrier
>in DuPage and I either have to ride with that carrier or find myself another
>way to get around, simple as that.
>
>Debbie, you say more than 1% of people will be affected.  Where are you
>getting your data from?  I'm sure Pace has ride statistics to back up their
>1% figure.  What data are you using?
>
>Finally, you say the majority of people are on paratransit because they
>can't use fixed route.  That probably is true, but I believe there are some
>who could use fixed route for some of their trips and who do not.  Let me be
>clear, I use paratransit, but I do so only in the suburbs because we don't
>have ready access to fixed routes, sidewalks everywhere and controlled
>street crossings like you do in the city.  I never use paratransit in the
>city, even though during the winter months I could.  I elieve there are some
>who could use fixed route for some of their trips.  Paratransit is very
>costly.  Riders may only pay $2.25 a ride, but that ride costs Pace from $25
>to $25.50 acording to what I heard last Sunday morning on At Issue.  The
>more who ride paratransit, the more expensive it is.  Pace is trying to
>improve on service that from what I understand needs to be improved.  If you
>don't like the current plan, what do you suggest be done to improve
>paratransit?  Or, are you opposed simply because you and those who are like
>minded oppose change?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Ray Campbell
>ray1530 at comcast.net
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>il-talk mailing list
>il-talk at nfbnet.org
>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/il-talk

Debbie Pittman,
Executive Director

PITTMAN ENTERPRISES & ASSOCIATES
PITTMAN.E.A at COMETLINK.COM
773-779-1856P ~ 773-779-2763F

_______________________________________________
il-talk mailing list
il-talk at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/il-talk

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First, not everyone who uses paratransit has an ambulatory impairment.  Like Ray said, some who use paratransit could use the fixed route system.  However, Debbie is talking about the others who really do need door to door service.  As I understand it, Pace has not yet made it clear where the location of changing carriers will be.  I understand Debbie's concern.  If you're blind and you have a problem walking, will you be let off in an area that is safe and are you going to fear for your own safety?  I think she is saying that it makes her uncomfortable and feeling vulnerable. 
Secondly, let me play devil's advocate here.  I'm going to pose a question, which is intended to be food for thought only.  Is it descrimination that some people are allowed to have one ride only service, while the rest of us have take two or three vehicles to get to our destination?  I suppose that a case could be made for that, as well.
I urge you all to think about this.  I have been in the same situation that Elizabeth is in.  It's a drag and inconvenient.  However, isn't it wonderful that we live in a country that provides these options for us.  Try to imagine living in another country where blind people are not treated so well.  I really don't want to.
Connie
----- Original Message ----
From: PITTMAN ENTERPRISES & ASSOCIATES <pittman.e.a at cometlink.com>
To: NFB of Illinois Mailing List <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 2, 2007 12:17:51 AM
Subject: Re: [il-talk] Petition
Given the fact that  two thirds of the three thirds pie they are using are
involved, it is clear that the statistics involves more than 1%.  It won't
be the first time that Pace has lied.  They told before they took over that
when people go to the currency exchange to pick up buspasses and vouchers
that carriers would wait for them.  That almost never happens.  They also
told that they would not make any major changes until they brought all the
carriers up to standard on the quality of service they provided.  That has
not happened.  I also heard "At Issue" on Sunday.  What they did not tell
was that they pay approximately $17 for ambulatory people and $25 for
people in wheelchairs.  It is not $25 across the board.  That comes from
research I did last year.
Yes there needs to be improvements, but there way of proposing to do things
is not an answer.  They could use some of the money to hire another carrier
instead of paying two carriers for the same trip.      They can make the
two carriers that are poorly lacking in service improve their on-time
record by paying their carriers by the hour and not by the trip.  and then
monitoring the improvements.
The assumption is being made that people on paratransit have never had a
fix route experience and that is not the case. Most people used the fixed
route system before their health failed them.  A large number of people for
health reasons cannot deal with transferring and waiting on another
carrier.  I'm specifically talking about the people who don't have the
choice of being able to take the fixed route system whenever they get ready.
There is still the point that one third of the riders will be allowed to go
anywhere in the city with one carrier.  If it is allowed for the one third,
it should be allowed for all.
10:44 PM 5/1/2007 -0500, you wrote:
>Hello:
>
>These opinions are mine and do not represent those of ACB in which I am a
>local, state and national leader, nor do they represent the views of my
>employer.
>
>I agree with Kelly.  People who ride fixed route have to transfer from
>vehicle to vehicle.  I'd like to have one vehicle to take me from the door
>of my suburban home to my job in Chicago, but that isn't going to happen for
>me unless I hire a driver.  Remember what the ADA says.  You have a right to
>paratransit service if you cannot ride the fixed route service for some or
>all of your trips.  There are Federal standards as to how that service needs
>to be provided.  No where in Federal law does it say you have a right to
>choose which carrier provides your ride.  If you assert that it does, give
>me a section in the ADA regulations as a citing.  We only have one carrier
>in DuPage and I either have to ride with that carrier or find myself another
>way to get around, simple as that.
>
>Debbie, you say more than 1% of people will be affected.  Where are you
>getting your data from?  I'm sure Pace has ride statistics to back up their
>1% figure.  What data are you using?
>
>Finally, you say the majority of people are on paratransit because they
>can't use fixed route.  That probably is true, but I believe there are some
>who could use fixed route for some of their trips and who do not.  Let me be
>clear, I use paratransit, but I do so only in the suburbs because we don't
>have ready access to fixed routes, sidewalks everywhere and controlled
>street crossings like you do in the city.  I never use paratransit in the
>city, even though during the winter months I could.  I elieve there are some
>who could use fixed route for some of their trips.  Paratransit is very
>costly.  Riders may only pay $2.25 a ride, but that ride costs Pace from $25
>to $25.50 acording to what I heard last Sunday morning on At Issue.  The
>more who ride paratransit, the more expensive it is.  Pace is trying to
>improve on service that from what I understand needs to be improved.  If you
>don't like the current plan, what do you suggest be done to improve
>paratransit?  Or, are you opposed simply because you and those who are like
>minded oppose change?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Ray Campbell
>ray1530 at comcast.net
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>il-talk mailing list
>il-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/il-talk http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/il-talk
Debbie Pittman,
Executive Director
PITTMAN ENTERPRISES & ASSOCIATES
PITTMAN.E.A at COMETLINK.COM
773-779-1856P ~ 773-779-2763F

_______________________________________________
il-talk mailing list
il-talk at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/il-talk http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/il-talk
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