[Tn-talk] For Nashville TN residents: Another AccessRide Problem

Thu Jan 25 18:43:25 CST 2007

You're absolutely right Mike.  One must pick one's poison, but when I am 
thinking of raising children and having a family, do I want to live in the 
inner city just so that I can take a bus, or do I want to inconvenience 
myself a little?  I'd rather feel a little safer about where I live. 
Wouldn't you?  As Domonique has already stated, Nashville's fixed route 
service is not run very efficiently, so one tends to lose out no matter what 
poison s/he chooses.

Ryan
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "Tennessee Talk (NFB of Tennessee Discussion)" <tn-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 5:21 PM
Subject: Re: [Tn-talk] For Nashville TN residents: Another AccessRide 
Problem

> Seems to me one's quality of life *already* is reduced by paratransit
> problems. In essence, you're just saying you're choosing a different 
> poison!
> (big grin)
>
> I say take fixed routes also. I've disqualified myself from paratransit. 
> Let
> those who truly need it use it.
>
> Mike
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Ryan Smith" <ryansmith78 at comcast.net>
> To: "Tennessee Talk (NFB of Tennessee Discussion)" <tn-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 1:24 PM
> Subject: Re: [Tn-talk] For Nashville TN residents: Another AccessRide
> Problem
>
>
> Hi Peter,
>
> The fixed route service in Nashville is poor at best.  Unless one resides 
> in
> a major district or the projects, fixed route service is not readily
> available.  I, for one, am not going to relligate my life to living along 
> a
> bus line and reduce my quality of life if it is not necessary.
>
> Ryan
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "Tennessee Talk (NFB of Tennessee Discussion)" <tn-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 4:18 PM
> Subject: Re: [Tn-talk] For Nashville TN residents: Another AccessRide
> Problem
>
>
>> Hello Dominique and listers,
>>
>> You said nothing about using fixed route service to make this and similar
>> trips. Can you tell us something about fixed route bus service in the
>> Nashville area which obviously serves the area where you live if Access
>> Ride
>> can pick you up from home. If this were me I'd try to use regular bus
>> service as much as possible. We have the same kinds of problems with
>> Viatrans; San Antonio's equivalent to Access Ride though service is 
>> better
>> than it once was. Even still when possible Mary and I will use fixed 
>> route
>> service over Viatrans any day.
>>
>>    Another thing we do is we've used several area cab drivers regularly.
>> They call customers like us personals. Rather than calling in to the main
>> number we call each driver directly, they take us wherever we need to go,
>> and permit us to charge fares when necessary. If you have cab drivers you
>> use regularly I'd suggest trying to work out such an arrangement with 
>> them
>> so you don't need to screw with outfits like Access Ride and its kin. 
>> Hope
>> this helps.
>>
>> Peter Donahue
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Domonique Lawless" <dlawless86 at gmail.com>
>> To: <tabs at nfbnet.org>; <tn-talk at nfbnet.org>; <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 10:01 AM
>> Subject: [Tn-talk] For Nashville TN residents: Another AccessRide Problem
>>
>>
>> Dear Friends,
>>
>> I have recently had another unpleasant experience with AccessRide and
>> am hoping to get assistance so that people outside the disabled
>> community will finally understand what a disreputable and unorganized
>> service this is.
>>
>> On Wednesday, January 10 I had a scheduled  AccessRide trip that took
>> me from my home near Belmont to a business in Brentwood. The
>> AccessRide van showed up at a decent time. This trip had no problems
>> and I was promptly brought to my destination. I remained at this
>> establishment for the designated period and was supposed to be picked
>> up between 3:30PM and 4:00PM. I had lost my cell phone which was my
>> only contact number. I called the dispatch office to give them an
>> alternate number. 3:30 came around and there was no sign of
>> AccessRide. 4:00 and 4:30 came around and there was still no sign of
>> AccessRide. I called the number and pressed the number four which is
>> designated for emergencies and late rides. I was left on hold for over
>> 30 minutes with no assistance. Finally my mother had to come get me to
>> bring me back to school so I could make it to my evening classs. I
>> called again on the way home and was put through to the after hours
>> ansering service. I filed a complaint and was given the typical
>> placations which just meant that they wanted me to shut up so they
>> could get me off the phone.
>>
>> I realize that probably nothing will be done about my complaint and
>> that AccessRide will continue to treat disabled people as if they are
>> not worthy of courtesy and respect. This is not the first time that I
>> have had issues with this business and I know that many of you have
>> had similar experiences. While I feel outraged because of my
>> experience with this so called business, I am horror stricken when I
>> think about the people who have more serious medical conditions who
>> are also subjected to such ill treatment.
>>
>> I am planning to take my concerns and outrage over this pitiful excuse
>> for Paratransit to the media so that others can see howunorganized and
>> inhospitable AccessRide is. I am tired of being treated like a second
>> class citizen because I cannot drive and need assistance with
>> transportation. I want the people at AccessRide to be brought to
>> justice.
>>
>> I am writing to you for your assistance in this matter. I know that
>> many of you have had similar experiences and would like to form a list
>> of statements and complaints so that when this matter is brought to
>> the media they can see that it happens to all the AccessRide clients
>> and not just one or two. If you could please e-mail or call me if you
>> are interested in joining this project I would really appreciate it. I
>> am looking for a collection of statements and specific instances of
>> the failures and mistreatment for which AccessRide is responsible. I
>> believe that we are stronger in numbers then as individuals and I
>> believe it is time that we make ourselves heard. Thank You for taking
>> the time to read this letter. I look forward to hearing from you.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> Domonique Lawless
>> dlawless86 at gmail.com
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