Twin Cities dial-a-ride transportation services face restructuring

[kickysnana]

http://www.twincities.com/ci_12523461?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com

This is major . They are planning on dropping door to door service for anyone who lives within 1/4 or 1/2 mile (they are not sure) of a regular route. which already has to be pre-approved by a doctor or OT We have able bodied people making things "fair" that have no clue.



Problems:
Most elderly people who use these services are too frail to go that far or even ride the bus. About 1/3 in our building "plan" their trip down to the in-building mailbox and sometimes only go every other day. At least half have some kind of therapy once a week, many several days a week. (Being old or disabled is not for sissies.)

It would make it impossible for many others younger or disabled to continue with PT employment or volunteer activities. This money is always used for dental, doughnut hole and other non-covered medical expenses and sometimes a few dollars left over so you can hit subway once a month or get basic cable. You cannot get to the bus stop where I am in the winter without walking/rolling in the street as the sidewalk is on one side and has limited access. Often there is a delay in snow removal at bus stops.

Our bus line, 2 1/2 blocks from our building and 3 1/2 blocks from the disabled building next door. runs every 1/2 hour weekdays and hour on Saturday day. No evenings, nights or Sundays. (No church for you.) I tried to plot a route to pick up our handicap van at the shop that services them and the bus trip would be 3 1/2 hours to get there and 2 hours to get back (rush hour). Wheelchair/scooter/walker pick ups delay buses now. This would overwhelm the system making everyone late to work making them buy cars etc, etc.

Anyone who has other options does not use this service as it is a hassle to set up rides (4 days in advance) and you have to allow about 3 1/2 hours for any trip due to scheduling delays even if it is in your neighborhood Cub or Walgreens. Cost is $5-6 a ride, regular bus service with the same low income disabled/medicare is much less. Most people do not own or know how to use computers. Many could not afford internet service.

Our low income building in anticipation of more residents getting their own car has banned all non resident parking in the lot. We have 110 units and about 55 parking spaces only one car per unit regardless of the number of residents (up to 3 in two bedrooms) There is no parking overnight on streets here. We have aids, caseworkers, relatives, carpet cleaners OT people who are now parking in the bank parking lot next door (until they figure out what is going on and start towing).

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. Is this the same service that people in wheelchairs use?

n/t

[kickysnana]

2. Yes. Metromobility bus has spaces for 3 or 4 wheelchairs and about 5 ambilitory folks.

A big problem with "handicapped" is that planners think everyone with disabilities has a scooter or power chair. The majority of people with mobility issues do not. Handicapped parking at many big box stores, thinking of Target superstores, is too far for many to walk who use the motorized carts when in the store.

BTW people with scooters have to use bus seats in the metromobility bus because there is no way to seat belt them in in a scooter.