The last few weeks have been quite remarkable. Remarkable in a good way I hasten to add. My experiences with mass transit have worked. Consistently. Seamlessly. They just have.
The ramps of the rear loading buses have largely worked; and, on the few occasions when they haven’t worked first time the drivers have tried a few times until it did work. This has been a little embarrassing for me to hold people up, but most seem ok with it. Regardless it is nice that the effort is being made. There seems to be the recognition that all passengers are indeed passengers. Buses that I can use have turned up on schedule and moments later I’ve been on my way wherever in a mainstreamed, ecological and economical way.
Of course a major factor in this success is the provision of accessible buses across the network. Slowly but surely the old buses are being superseded by new buses as is the way of these things. The commitment made by State Government some time ago to purchase only carbon friendly, low-floor buses. Mainstreaming at its best.
There were times when, (according to the depots at least), there were shortages in trained drivers or buses, but by inserting inclusion firmly within the core business of the organisation, it is becoming easier to put the pieces together as a traveller who wants to use public transport. For the service provider they maintain a larger slice of the public-purse pie especially in an ageing population. The fee paying public.
I’m lucky I suppose. After carrying undipped bus ticket for years because I couldn’t get to the front of the bus to pay my way, I now still get a thrill entering the bus from the front door like everyone else and dipping my bus ticket. Strange maybe but there you have it.
When I was in London a few years ago, I caught buses, trains and the famous London cabs like a regular “yuppie”. It felt like Christmas! I remember the first few cab drivers openly laughing at me in amused delight when I was shocked that they stopped for me. The first time I got into a cab that I had hailed off the street in my late 20′s will stay in my memory as a fond memory. I felt human and welcome.
Thank you Sydney Buses for helping me not feel like an intruder in my own town. Thanks RL and LS for everything you’ve done to help this happen.
All I was doing was trying to get home from work –Rosa Parks
Possibly Related Posts:
- Doing the limbo
- The email I wrote for international day last year
- Language matters: offspring
- steps to a community
- Accessibility Apps — iPad
