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From: Mary.Otten@p0.f1055.n261.z1.fidonet.org (Mary Otten)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Paratransit
Message-ID: <16406@handicap.news>
Date: 25 Jun 91 13:43:34 GMT
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Index Number: 16406

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

I agree and disagree with you on the subject of paratransit, if that's
possible. Iagree that some blind people do abuse the system. Idon't know
how many, and unless you want to set up some kind of double standard,
that is, testing for blind people while other "disabled" people can ride
whenever they want, you're left with the same system. It is the honor
system for all disabled folks who do or don't choose to ride
paratransit. Iuse it sometimes, and some times Idon't. It mostly has to
do with whether the bus goes where Iam going or whether even if the bus
does go there, it will take me 3 hours one way because of the stupid way
the system is set up. Isuppose, in the later case, you could argue, that
Iam taking advantage of the system, depriving somebody else of a ride.
Oh well. I guess Ican livewith that on my conscience, especially since
Iknow that there is no priority system for giving rides on our
paratransit system. That is, they don't look at requests and decide to
give everybody who is going to the doctor first priority. Imight lose
out on a medical trip because somebody decides they want to see their
hair dresser half way accross town. That is just life, and Idon't see
the necessity of pointing out only the blind who misuse the system. It
doesn't make it right, but other folks do it to.

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