Herbal Health

Essential to being a part of society at large is “getting there.” Transportation is vital for independent living and participation in the community. You need to travel to the grocery store, your workplace, the bank, your church or synagogue, the theater, the laundry, the dime store, your friend’s home, the park. How do you get to your many destinations?

Buses

If you live in a city with good public transport, you may rely on this system to get from place to place. Buses that “kneel” or have wheelchair lifts open up the world for people with disabilities. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, all new fixed-route, public transit buses have to be accessible, and additional “paratransit” systems must be provided for people unable to use the buses. Although bus system accessibility is mandated, call your transportation authority to confirm you’ll be able to get an accessible “us on the route you need and at the right time.

Public paratransit systems provide accessible minibuses or taxis for People with disabilities. Various payment systems are used, so call ahead for information. You may also be eligible for economic assistance. Note that many of these transit systems require advance notice of a day or two for pick-up time, so be sure to plan ahead.

Some counties and cities have special van services available for people with disabilities, at no cost. These services also require advance notice for pick up. Some take people anywhere in the area; others may be available only for transportation to medical appointments.

The use of taxicabs can be fraught with problems if you use a wheelchair. John Hockenberry relates several instances when taxis cruised by him as he hailed them from his wheelchair. He describes the anger and frustration he felt in these situations. Many taxi drivers assume that a wheelchair user needs to be lifted into the cab, or they simply don’t want to bother with stowing the wheelchair in the taxi. When possible, call a cab company ahead of time if you must rely on a taxi.

Rail Systems

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, rail systems must have at least one accessible car on each train. Railway depots must also be accessible. City dwellers depend on subway systems for much of their commuting. People with disabilities who want to use the subway should check whether elevators are available and if they are in working order. Not all subway stops have elevators, so you may need to plan to embark or disembark at specific stations.

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