[Tn-talk] Chatanooga Public Transit

Thu Jan 25 18:59:26 CST 2007

Hello again Peter,
I have done some traveling in Chattanooga and I regret to report that
their public transportation system is not as large as Nashville's. To
the best of my knowledge they only have a few fixed routes that do not
cover the entirety of Chattanooga. I have taken cabs in CHattanooga
and while I've found them to be somewhat expensive I have found that
they are prompt as well as curteous. I do not know about their
paratransit system but since you've mentioned it I am interested in
researching it as a possible reference for the TABS site.

Domonique

On 1/25/07, Peter Donahue <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> Hello Ryan and listers,
>
>     Given that the 2007 NFBTN State Convention will be held in Chattanooga
> what can you tell me about public transportation service in that area.
>
>     As to the bus problem in Nashville and the frustrations with Access Ride
> this is a choice we must all make. Another option for lessening one's
> dependence on services like Access Ride is carpooling. Otherwise if being
> able to have available transportation to get you where you want to go when
> you want to go with the least amount of hassle is important to you living
> directly on, or in close proximity to a major bus route is a must. Dianne
> McGuire of all people made that plain to Ray when they were looking for a
> place to live when they got married. We're about a quarter of a mile from
> the nearest bus route where we live and are also blessed to have a
> supermarket and other stores within walking distance.
>
>     Mary only uses Viatrans for getting too and from work. Since her work
> place is outside of the public transit service area they drop her off at a
> designated stop. She and the other blind employees must walk from the Via
> stop in to the reservation center, and back out to the stop when their shift
> is over. Lots of times other employees meet these folks at the stop and
> shuttle them in to the center, and back out to the stop and will wait with
> them for Viatrans to arrive. The system has worked well. Efforts are under
> way to make it possible for Viatrans to drop these folks off and pick them
> up directly at the reservation center, but that could be a while in coming.
> There's also a possibility that Mary could get her old job back at the
> Education Service Center Region 20 in San Antonio; the same job which
> brought us here in 1989. If this happens her having to deal with that
> nonsense will be over.
>
>     As I said before creativity is the operative word in solving problems
> related to public transportation as it is with many of the other issues we
> as blind people face in our daily lives.
>
> Peter Donahue
> ----- 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 3:24 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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