Need for Better Bus Stops

Social Service Transportation
Advisory Council of Humboldt County
427 F Street, Suite 220
Eureka, CA 95501

I am writing in regards to the access provided to the wheelchair user by the five new diesel-electric hybrid buses purchased and put into operation in May/June, 2007.

Recognizing the need for the buses and the future savings this provides the community of Humboldt County to its transit users, I feel they are very good investments. But, even though they have provided savings and eliminated the need for mechanized lifts for wheelchair passengers, they have developed poor access for the wheelchair user using manual chairs (Speaking with a couple others using power chairs, there also is some difficulty when first boarding.).

This difficulty appears at various designated bus stops. For at stops with little space for the bus to use the lift, the bus must pull away from the curb to allow the chair to have access. In doing this, the ramp is then at an unmanageable or difficult slope making it difficult to back on (I personally can not see how a person would board the bus at designated stops with no sidewalk or raised platform. Stops without sidewalks power chair users have difficulties because of the immediate incline of the ramp.).

I have also needed some assistance boarding the bus at a few stops. In all cases the driver has had no problem with this, but there has been a couple instances that the driver refused assistance.

The need for assistance would be eliminated if the bus could kneel lower, or the bus stops had appropriate space for loading chairs (There are stops that wheelchairs can not use independently.). There is a strong need to bring bus stops up to compatible use by individuals using manual wheelchairs and eliminate the need to having the drivers provide something as simple as a gentle pull onto the bus.


Charlie