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#Post#: 3953--------------------------------------------------
A cranky letter about the paratransit system that I didn't send
By: agate Date: March 4, 2023, 1:52 am
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I'm just letting off steam here. I wrote this letter because a
fare increase has been put forward for the local paratransit
system that I use for any transportation here. I won't send it
because for one thing I may be flagged as a troublemaker and
find rides even more difficult, as a form of retaliation.
[quote][font=arial black]To Whom It May Concern:[/font]
I would not be in favor of a fare increase for the Trimet Lift,
which offers service that leaves much to be desired. As someone
who has had MS for over 40 years and has used a paratransit
service for most of my transportation during that time, I have
experienced long delays and mixups as well as rides that
involved picking up and dropping off as many as 6 other riders
before I reached my destination. By now I am getting old and
having more health problems. It is less easy for me to wait
around for hours or to ride for hours on a van. The wheelchair
is usually located right across from the door that has to be
opened to accommodate the lift. A ride with a lot of door
openings can be very cold. Waiting in the waiting areas of some
places can be very cold. And what of the need to use a washroom?
Impossible while riding around for a couple of hours on the van.
Next to impossible in some waiting areas where the washroom
isn't nearby and may involve an access code and may have a door
that is difficult to maneuver with a wheelchair--all of which
takes far more than the 5 minutes which a typical van driver is
allowed to wait.
Why not change your policies or change your scheduling methods?
Why couldn't some people be entitled to "straight shot" rides if
they have a medical need (or are beyond a certain age, like 75
or 80?) I realize that you might have to deal with complaints
about unfair favoritism but surely those could be dealt with.
It wouldn't strike most senior citizens as unfair.
Once a driver picked up the wrong person, and when this was
discovered, that person had to be brought back to the medical
clinic--where I was still waiting for the ride I had missed, and
both of us had to wait about 2 hours for new rides to be
rescheduled. Surely this "oops" moment on your part could have
been corrected with less inconvenience to the riders involved.
Why could not a taxi have been sent for each of us, immediately?
I heard not one apologetic word from Trimet about this incident
even though it was clearly your fault. The woman's first name
was similar to mine and apparently that is where the mixup
happened. But the driver should have realized that many seniors
don't hear well and that many riders assume that a driver
looking for a passenger is looking for them--and that therefore
the driver should always check the passenger's name very
carefully. But no.
I gave up some years ago on trying to go anywhere except
essential appointments. I try very hard to use Ride Connection
instead but when I can't get a Ride Connection ride, I often
cancel an appointment rather than settle for the alternative,
Trimet Lift.
I'm opposed to any fare increase. No promises of service
improvements have been offered. I'm waiting. Staying at home and
waiting.[/quote]
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