Monroe County Council of the Blind

The following was submitted by a MCCB member. The views and opinions are those solely of the author and do not reflect those of The Monroe County Council of the Blind.

In my last entry, when talking about getting to the MCCB meeting, I said, I will get there. Well this is how I got there, but first, I must give some background .
A few days before the March 13 meeting I sent the  previous blog entry out to our list serve so that the members can know what happened to me. I got many responses, but most of them were basically. a version of "Ask your wife to bring you, or Why don’t you just call VIABL" I kindly and simply said no. But one of the comments stood out.It went like this:
Hi Mike,
        I feel for you Mike.  Have you tried to call VIABL?  That would be the only other option I can see for you.
(sender withheld)
I sent the following response:
No I have not. I am sure that is not the only option blind people have. If it is, that is what is Truly sad. I will get to the meeting, but what if while I am out, I  get hungry  and want to go to a fast food restaurant, or should want to run some errands or need a haircut or need to go to a printer or gallery, or want to stop at Staples or need to go to Home Depot or Lowes or I have to bring a video back to the library. Maybe my daughter needs me to stop something over to her school. Maybe I want to get my beautiful wife some flowers just because, or maybe I want to sit in a park so I can think, or maybe I want to go to a gym, or want to stop at a local farm to get some fresh fruit, Maybe they let you pick them yourself, or go to a bank, or just what if.  You understand.
I have nothing personal against VIABL or anyone for that matter. I just want to be independent!
(end)
Well, I chose to utilize our public transportation system, or in other words, "the bus". In Preparation for our 10:00am Friday meeting, I called the bus company (MCTA)in order to ask them about the pick up and drop-off places and times, Which had recently changed. (Now pay close attention ’cause this part gets a little complicated)I was told that I had to catch the orange route bus at the Monroe Plaza at 6:55 a.m., get a transfer, and it would arrive at the Stroud Mall at 7:20  a.m.  Then to get on the red route bus at 7:35 a.m. and that it would arrive at my destination at 7:55 a.m. (Grace Park Senior living facility) where the meeting was to be held.   Now, if this worked out this way, although it is a time consuming effort , and way too much time, a person with a Visual disability could maintain his/her dignity and keep  some form of  independence.
Wanting to make sure that I had all of my information correct, I called the bus company two additional times.  I went to bed early, with anticipation of the next days events.
My trip started Friday morning with my wife agreeing to drive me to  Monroe Plaza bus stop at 6:40 a.m.   I waited patiently with my cane and backpack att the sign. it was  cold, 23 degree whether, but, I maintained a smile on my face. My wife decided to wait until the bus arrived, I assured her that I was OK but she continued to wait anyway. She commented about the speed in which the Route 209 traffic was traveling."be careful, they are going about 60mph".  I must have been no more than two feet away from the traffic. Precisely at 6:55 a.m. She yelled to me from where she waited "the bus is coming , wave your hand" I did that . The bus approached at the same speed as the other cars. It continued pass me as if my 250 lbs did not matter. It did not stop! My wife said the sign on the bus read "Route changed" How prophetic, . How was I to know the the change would be my own. I called the company.After listening to some recorded phone prompts I spoke to a dispatch person named Sheri. She called the bus driver. I could hear him( you know we have super sonic hearing) as He said "I approached the stop, I slowed down and there was no one there" that’s just  an untruth.  She however did quickly dispatch a shared ride van to pick me up. Sheri said he would be there in about a half of an hour.  I told my wife to go on back home.            I left a complaint on  the Supervisor, Walter’s answering machine.
The Driver drove in to Stroudsburg about 8: 00 a.m. Being to early to go in to Grace  Park, I asked him to drop me off at the Perkins restaurant, which was about three blocks and across the street from the meeting place. 
Well I had a great Breakfast.     Shortly after 9:00 a.m. I went over to the meeting place. I Got there!    For me this kind of experience has repeated itself far too many times. I like the thought of being free. Free to make choices.
My trip home had adventures of it’s own. Now many may say, this is much ado about nothing , but I for one am tired of the transportation issue playing such a large part of our lives. I plan to be instrumental in changing this for us . If this is what it has to be, in order for me to get around, than so be it.

- Michael Bryant

Filed under: Member Editorial, Transportation