Comments on: Halifax, Nova Scotia reverses its long-held bus pass policy, devolves when faced with the opportunity for growth, slaps its blind citizens in the face, and codifies segregation http://irkedmagazine.com/3742/halifax-nova-scotia-reverses-its-long-held-bus-pass-policy-devolves-when-faced-with-the-opportunity-for-growth-slaps-its-blind-citizens-in-the-face-and-codifies-segregation/ Make way for the determined... Fri, 13 Aug 2010 06:13:41 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Luke http://irkedmagazine.com/3742/halifax-nova-scotia-reverses-its-long-held-bus-pass-policy-devolves-when-faced-with-the-opportunity-for-growth-slaps-its-blind-citizens-in-the-face-and-codifies-segregation/comment-page-1/#comment-6850 Luke Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:39:24 +0000 http://irkedmagazine.com/?p=3742#comment-6850 BLIND PEOPLE CAN'T DRIVE.... "Period". I am gainfully employed, can afford the pass, unlike many other visually impaired folks, but the point is, I cannot drive, unlike many of the "Other Groups"... BLIND PEOPLE CAN’T DRIVE…. “Period”. I am gainfully employed, can afford the pass, unlike many other visually impaired folks, but the point is, I cannot drive, unlike many of the “Other Groups”…

]]> By: 4onthefloorns http://irkedmagazine.com/3742/halifax-nova-scotia-reverses-its-long-held-bus-pass-policy-devolves-when-faced-with-the-opportunity-for-growth-slaps-its-blind-citizens-in-the-face-and-codifies-segregation/comment-page-1/#comment-6788 4onthefloorns Sat, 11 Jul 2009 03:14:33 +0000 http://irkedmagazine.com/?p=3742#comment-6788 I know this is a very touchy issue. I am a wheelchair user (I know it is not politically correct, but I say *uck political correctness when referring to myself. I try to be politically correct when referring to others, I am who I want to be.) I have been using ALF (Accessible Low Floor Buses) since it started in 2002. It started with 2 routes (#7 & #9). Now we are up to 19 routes, and on August 31, 2009 Metro Transit will be adding 3 more routes (#1, #17, AND #18). This will make [22] routes, plus the Metro Link, ferries and the MetroX when it starts service. Just about 50% of Metro Transit's all day routes are wheelchair accessible (not counting the rush hour only routes or community transit). I have several comments I would like to address and/or clarify. (Why does the media only ever cover half the story?) First - for how many years has the Persons With Disabilities community fought for equal rights?? Being included and treated equal to the average person. So why is the Visually Impaired community wanting to continue to be treated special over the average Joe or other disabled people? Second - The problem, according to Metro Transit, with extending the free bus passes to all disabled individuals is A) CNIB/CCB are the only organizations that have a photo ID of their members. Other disabled organizations do not have a Photo ID program. B) Metro Transit does not want to take the responsibility or expense of issuing Photo IDs. C) Ok at what level of disability do you issue a pass, and what is the cut off point? Do you issue a free pass to anyone who claims they have a disability? (Better arrive early the day they start issuing the passes if that is the case, everyone will apply.) The same thing with if you go to your doctor and ask him to claim you're disabled. Just a repeat of the parking passes. Everyone and their dog has one of those. Third - I take exception to the comment by Dennis McCormack. McCormack says that visually impaired people have more difficulty traveling compared to those with other disabilities—they cannot drive cars or walk as easily, or as far, as deaf people or wheelchair users. Why does one disabled group say that their disability is worse than another's? Yes, a visually impaired person cannot drive. But due to my level of disability, it is very difficult to transfer into a non-modified vehicle (ramped). What happens when a visually impaired person comes to a set of steps, or a bus with steps (yes there are still some of them around)? Climb the steps. What happens to a wheelchair? I sit there at the bottom of the stairs and wish that someday... I could go on about this pity me party, but that is not me. Just irks me that we fight against each other instead of working with each other. Enough of my ranting - Just one disabled person's comments. Sorry for the spelling mistakes. [Ed's note: No problem, we caught 'em.] I know this is a very touchy issue. I am a wheelchair user (I know it is not politically correct, but I say *uck political correctness when referring to myself. I try to be politically correct when referring to others, I am who I want to be.)

I have been using ALF (Accessible Low Floor Buses) since it started in 2002. It started with 2 routes (#7 & #9). Now we are up to 19 routes, and on August 31, 2009 Metro Transit will be adding 3 more routes (#1, #17, AND #18). This will make [22] routes, plus the Metro Link, ferries and the MetroX when it starts service. Just about 50% of Metro Transit’s all day routes are wheelchair accessible (not counting the rush hour only routes or community transit).

I have several comments I would like to address and/or clarify. (Why does the media only ever cover half the story?)

First – for how many years has the Persons With Disabilities community fought for equal rights?? Being included and treated equal to the average person. So why is the Visually Impaired community wanting to continue to be treated special over the average Joe or other disabled people?

Second – The problem, according to Metro Transit, with extending the free bus passes to all disabled individuals is A) CNIB/CCB are the only organizations that have a photo ID of their members. Other disabled organizations do not have a Photo ID program. B) Metro Transit does not want to take the responsibility or expense of issuing Photo IDs. C) Ok at what level of disability do you issue a pass, and what is the cut off point? Do you issue a free pass to anyone who claims they have a disability? (Better arrive early the day they start issuing the passes if that is the case, everyone will apply.) The same thing with if you go to your doctor and ask him to claim you’re disabled. Just a repeat of the parking passes. Everyone and their dog has one of those.

Third – I take exception to the comment by Dennis McCormack.

McCormack says that visually impaired people have more difficulty traveling compared to those with other disabilities—they cannot drive cars or walk as easily, or as far, as deaf people or wheelchair users.

Why does one disabled group say that their disability is worse than another’s? Yes, a visually impaired person cannot drive. But due to my level of disability, it is very difficult to transfer into a non-modified vehicle (ramped). What happens when a visually impaired person comes to a set of steps, or a bus with steps (yes there are still some of them around)? Climb the steps. What happens to a wheelchair? I sit there at the bottom of the stairs and wish that someday… I could go on about this pity me party, but that is not me. Just irks me that we fight against each other instead of working with each other.

Enough of my ranting – Just one disabled person’s comments. Sorry for the spelling mistakes. [Ed's note: No problem, we caught 'em.]

]]> By: Christina Lewis http://irkedmagazine.com/3742/halifax-nova-scotia-reverses-its-long-held-bus-pass-policy-devolves-when-faced-with-the-opportunity-for-growth-slaps-its-blind-citizens-in-the-face-and-codifies-segregation/comment-page-1/#comment-1557 Christina Lewis Sat, 14 Feb 2009 18:11:10 +0000 http://irkedmagazine.com/?p=3742#comment-1557 Losing the bus pass is a big blow to the blind community of Halifax. I understand the pressure that Metro Transit is getting from other disabled groups. If Metro Transit could issue a pass similar to the senior one this may be a solution. We the blind community thank Metro for all the years of free passes and hope a solution can be reached - Christina Lewis, co-ordinator of the Nova Scotia Divison of the Canadian Council of the Blind. Losing the bus pass is a big blow to the blind community of Halifax. I understand the pressure that Metro Transit is getting from other disabled groups. If Metro Transit could issue a pass similar to the senior one this may be a solution. We the blind community thank Metro for all the years of free passes and hope a solution can be reached – Christina Lewis, co-ordinator of the Nova Scotia Divison of the Canadian Council of the Blind.

]]>