When I got on the bus to return home from a meeting this morning I let the driver know where I was planning to get off the bus. Part way through the trip a new bus driver came on the bus. this is always an opportunity for information loss and I’ve learned to pay attention to make sure the new driver knows to announce the stop I need. As the transfer was taking place I heard the out-going bus driver say “Make sure to call out the stops, we have an ADA person (me) on board”. It was good to confirm the information was transferred but I was a bit surprised by the phrasing of the driver’s statement.
In addition to being a phrase I’ve never heard before the driver’s statement suggested announcing stops was an activity only reserved for certain circumstances. I couldn’t help but wonder what would motivate a driver to announce (or not announce) the major stops along the bus route.
One of the major components of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the responsibility it places on disabled persons to be pro-active in advocating for themselves in gaining access to goods and services available to the general public. It could be argued that if no one asks for the stops to be announced then there is no reason to make announcements even though riders may very well benefit from the announcements.
Another perspective is that announcement of major stops along the bus route is simply good customer service. This argument comes in two flavors. By announcing major stops along the bus route riders unfamiliar with the route or the area can gain confidence in learning the transit system. It could be argued that since much of the cost of public transportation comes from the public it is important to ensure the system is accessible to both new and experienced riders. Parallel to this argument is the self interest of the bus driver. Given the current trend toward under-funding of public services it seems more likely the bus driver will continue to be employed if riders are confident they will arrive at their intended destination on a timely bases.
While it seems the driver’s comment was based upon a desire to simply meet the minim standards of the ADA (the letter of the law) the statement could have just as easily been made as a reminder of the need to make the best use of previously allocated public funds (return on investment[ROI]) or as a reminder of the correlation between bus ridership and the need for bus drivers (self-interest).
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