THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 19, 1995 TAG: 9508180012
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 33 lines
I am a citizen of Norfolk who is unable to drive a car. I use a motorized chair since I can't walk anymore. That means I have no choice except to use Tidewater Regional Transit Handi-Ride services to get to my church or doctor's appointment or anywhere else I need to go.
Since they have no competition in town, I have had to put up with rude drivers, late drivers, lost drivers who won't read a map and management who I'm convinced must throw away complaint cards. These problems have been borne with a sense of resignation up to now. However, after attending a recent public hearing to express my disapproval of proposed rate and fee changes, I am too angry to remain silent anymore.
I believe that the consumers of the para-transit Handi-Ride system are being openly discriminated against. All of the other types of TRT services offer a price-discount plan for one reason or another.
But no discount plan is offered or available to the hundreds of people who have no choice but to use Handi-Ride. This seems unfair and makes me feel like the ``ugly step-child' in the TRT family. I just wonder if this no-discount policy is even legal under the Americans with Disabilities Act?
Is anybody listening?
ANNA ISOM
Norfolk, Aug. 14, 1995 by CNB