By Barbara Sheinbein

One of the LWVSTL positions is supporting local Paratransit for people with disabilities.  I thought I would provide an overview of what it is really like, since many in the public do not really understand.  This can affect voting if a ride is needed to get to a polling location.

With her permission, I am sharing part of an email from Robyn Wallen, Transportation Chair of the Missouri Council of the Blind. She writes:

I am going to share some explanations on what different terms mean regarding Paratransit.  This is an explanation of Door-to-Door service….A lot of people hear the phrase “door-to-door service” and assume paratransit takes you straight from your home to your destination—like Uber or medical transport. But here’s the reality: It’s a shared ride, like a bus. You may stop multiple times for other passengers. “Door-to-door” often just means the driver can help you from your door to the van—but only if conditions allow. It doesn’t mean the driver will knock, escort you inside, or take you directly where you’re going. It doesn’t mean the ride will be fast or flexible. You may wait 30+ minutes before pickup and spend over an hour on the van. The term sounds helpful—but it hides how limited and inconsistent the service often is. Paratransit is a right under the ADA, but it’s not a luxury. And “door-to-door” doesn’t mean what most people think it means. Understanding the difference matters because public assumptions shape funding, policies, and empathy.

 I will add a bit more.  You have to reserve your ride starting up to three days prior to the date you wish to travel.  Although some communities have the same day reservations, Metro does not at this time.  A time slot may or may not be available for the time you wish to travel.  If a time slot is not available, you then get to choose a time slot which likely increases your trip time greatly or cancel your appointment or activity.  Many riders schedule the pickup for an appointment an hour or so prior to when they actually have the appointment to be sure they are there on time.  This can result in a long wait at your appointment location for your appointment and the same for a return trip.  It can be tough to schedule more than one activity per day with all the built-in and unknown factors. 

When you get an appointment time, you are not able to know the actual travel time.  This is due to the fact that other riders are scheduling trips, and the Call-a-Ride vehicle routing software puts the final runs for the drivers together on the morning for that date. 

To conclude, having Paratransit is better than when it did not exist.  This is especially true for someone using a wheelchair or other equipment which requires an accessible vehicle.  These individuals cannot ride in most vehicles, even a family or friend's vehicle.  However, it is not for someone who cannot or is unwilling to give a lot of extra time for their transportation. 

Many people with disabilities really do not have a choice but to use Paratransit either due to the need for an accessible vehicle or because they cannot afford other options.  Most people just get in their car and go when they need or want to travel.  Their schedule can be either determined in advance or at the last minute, and they can be very flexible. 

Metro's Paratransit has actually improved in the past couple of years, but it still has built-in issues.  Part of the problem is that the law in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was written in 1990.  Think of all the ways technology has changed in the last 35 years.  If written today, the Paratransit system might be very different.