Wheelchairs on the public busses

Hi missy! Yup! We have the same thing here! And as terrible as it sounds, everyone on the bus gets annoyed when they see the driver stop (I think they get annoyed too!)for a passenger in a wheelchair because we all know that is going to take extra time for the whole procedure. And we also have Paratransit which is expressly for handicapped people and I don't understand either why they wouldn't prefer to be picked up at their door then having to go to a regular busstop. I have a "slight disability" (enough so that I can get a ride to my doctors appointments) and I get picked up at my door and I appreciate that rather than having to walk and take the bus, especially if it is when I am having a problem with my knee and ankle!

Maybe you should leave earlier for work so you don't have to be delayed by handicapped passengers. I hope you never have to be inconvenienced by using a walker or being in a wheelchair...but staying in isn't the answer either. We have the same right as you to ride the bus! And obviously you are not aware that most of the services provided specially for handicapped people are way below expectations. They are almost always late for appointments and such. Maybe you'll never get the opportunity to find out though...

This is in response to the thread at large, not specifically to missybear. But, I'm put out (I wish I could say surprised, but sadly I'm too cynical to be that) by some of the attitudes. Now, I'm not going to go on about the poor pitiful handicapped people, because I think that's just as bad. They're not tragic figures, they're people. But, I do think the attitude towards these human beings is sad. All through college and most of my twenty's, my only mode of transportation was the public bus, so believe me, I know what it's like to use them. And, people in wheelchairs have never been this horrible blight to me that they seem to be to other people. Sure, sometimes I've been late somewhere because the bus had to let someone on in a wheelchair. I've also been late because the buses were off schedule without a wheelchair in sight. I've been late because of buses that arrived full to the brim with a bunch of able bodied people leaving no room for me to get on and making me have to wait for the next one. My balance is rotten so it's an inconvenience to stand when all the seats on a bus are filled -by able bodied people. So people without wheelchairs have caused trouble for me at times - and I'm not discounting the possibility that I, with my perfectly working legs have somehow made someone late or caused some inconvenience to someone by my decision to take the bus. Heck, for all I know maybe I've caused trouble to someone in a wheelchair. Also, the idea that people in wheelchairs should use buses designed for them based on how much trouble it saves people who can walk???? Seriously?? I would assume that there are advantages to them, but those advantages are meant for the people in wheelchairs. Not for the trouble it saves people who can walk. When I make a decision to ride the bus, or take a cab, or get in a car, I base my decision on me. I choose the mode of transportation that is best available for myself. Not even for a split second do I stop to consider how much trouble I can save other people by which way I choose to get from point A to point B. And I bet no one would ever tell me I should base my decisions on transportation on that. And I doubt there are many able bodied people who do base their decision on what vehicle they'll use on how it can make life easier for other people. So the idea that a primary reason for using buses for people in wheelchairs should be that it saves people like me trouble? Because using the public buses might "annoy" people like me? (By like me, I only speak of being able to walk) Forget that.

Maybe the disabled people aren't going to let some dirty looks intimidate them from using the public bus service, when they have every right to use it. Along with the other reasons that people have given in this thread. As for those who don't ride the public buses, I sincerely hope that dirty looks and people being annoyed doesn't influence their decision. I'm not in a wheelchair, but I think if I was, and I knew people saw me as an inconvenience and gave me dirty looks for utilizing a service I had every right to use, I'd make a point of using it. Even if it was easier to use one set up for me. But, I'm ornery like that. The more people got annoyed, the more I'd exercise my right to use it. I've never seen any bus services for disabled people where I live. That doesn't mean they don't have it, I've just never noticed them. But, I'm sure everyone has their own reason for using or not using them.

we have both. one is strictly for handicapped but you have to book in advance and they are not all that reliable. we also have a regular bus system which will take on wheelchairs if need be. i am pretty slow when it comes to entering the bus too (i have bad knees and walk with a quad cane) but i never get dirty looks, most people are pretty nice.

I have to say, as a handicapped person, I find your attitude toward this issue very disconcerting. We do have handicap access buses in my area, but only those on welfare qualify to use them. I'm really sorry you feel inconvenienced by the needs of a person in a wheelchair. I can only hope you never find yourself in that position. I'm sure you would not hesitate to use whatever mode of transportation was available to you to get where you're going, just as those people do.

We do not have buses in our town, but I can understand the situation. We do have a large van like bus that picks people up for their appointments for medical reasons but not sure if it takes them elsewhere they need to go. If so they would be stopping a lot and people wouldn't get home till late due to others having to do here and there. I know they also can call a medical cab and that will take them to their appointments as well but as you said they need advanced notice. I am not sure if the take handicapped people elsewhere besides the doctors though.

Herro missybear I have both sides of the handicapped busrider. Here in San Antonio, disabled people ride the bus for free. The paratransist system costs $2.00 each way. They are late 50% of the time. You may have to ride 2hrs to get to your appt. I am disabled, cannot walk to bus stop. I applied for paratransist was disqualified because once in a while a friend could give me a ride to the bus stop.I use a walker and would ride the bus with a friend in a motorized wheelchair. Her walking ability is highly disabled. Yes, the operator has to stop and secure the wheelchair.So finances contribute to the issue and inconvenience to other riders. We have to go to doctors appts, grocery shopping, etc. I cannot get to the bus stop without a ride, The stop is a mile from my house. I was disqualified. I would take paratransit in a heartbeat. Both sides Prosperous mylotting

ome people think they can take advantage of anything and anybody because of their handicap.here in india,we donot have very good transport system for handicapped people but according to me taking advantage of anything is not fair.

We don't have a different bus system for handicapped people. It's really a pain to have wheelchairs on the bus, especially when there's a big crowd in it. I don't understand why those handicapped people will ride bus in the rush hour. If they need to go to work, it's better that they get someone pick them up. It only brings trouble to other people if they'd rather ride public bus.

We have a handi-ride system here in Virginia, but I was talking to my neighbor, who is wheelchair bound, and she said that the handi-ride wasn't very handy. You have to make an appointment for pick up yes, but then it doesn't return for five hours, and if you are not there, or whatever they will leave you. And if you get done in say 30 minutes then you can try and call for another pick up appointment (which she said is normally around the time they would be there anyway,) or sit and wait four and a half hours. Some waits are shorter, depending on where you need to go and if anyone else rode with you. But it is kind of a hindrance for the drivers to have to stop to help them on, but then again I will never complain about it, it just gives me a few more minutes in the air-conditioning with my music and what ever book my nose is buried.

People in wheelchairs can ride the same public bus system here. However I don't think I've seen many people with wheelchairs on the bus. As far as I know it doesn't take up too much time, It's the same as people with strollers, they just have to lift the front seat up so they can put their wheelchair there.

Nobody would want to be a handicapped if they have a choice. They are so under-priviledged right now as compared to the rest of us. They are often being looked down upon, can't get proper jobs due to their condition and incovenience to move around etc. While we are healthy and moving around, no medical fees to worry, yet those handicapped personnels need much more maintainence fees for their own and their wheelchair. Since they have the courage to be seen in public, why not let us share the public transport along with them? The paratrensit bus is a good idea, but are bus operators/company to do pick up when there's only one passenger, one appointment for the day?

Well I have every sympathy for people with wheelchairs, but they probably should have their own bussing service. I've never seen a handicapped person on any bus I've ridden. When I was in school, if someone was in a wheelchair they obviously took a special van to school. This is probably the best way to get around if you're handicapped, a private bussing service. The service can be paid by insurance or medicare, just like other necessary services are. Public transportation would probably just be slowed down and made more difficult if wheelchairs are always accomodated.

Let's see.......wheel myself and my chair 2 or 3 blocks in the 110 degree Las Vegas heat to the bus stop and sit there for who knows how long waiting for the bus then wheeling to another bus stop or the 2 to 3 blocks to get where I'm going and then spend another 2 hours getting home, OR have a bus pick me up right at my front door, take me to the front door of where I'm going and then take me home and drop me off again at my front door all for the same price as the big overcrowded broken air conditioned bus...PLUS not having to stop at every bus stop. I'm not even handicap but I WANT THE SECOND ONE!