By Daniel Taverne
I want to thank those of you who have taken an interest in the below article, "Blind and Going Greyhound", and I want to explain a few things that I may not have been clear about.
First of all, although I didn't expressly identify myself as visually impaired, I was walking around with an orange and white cane.
Secondly, I've been riding Greyhound monthly and can tell you that although some bus drivers offer me one of the front seats, they more frequently ignore me and my cane.
On that particular occasion when I was displaced from my seat as noted in the below article, I had already been riding in that front seat but had to vacate the bus for its servicing and cleaning.
The guy who moved my stuff and sat in my seat was an off duty bus driver (in uniform) who was catching a ride back to his home station.
I know that most of Greyhound is very sensative to the handicapped public, and I was assisted very nicely at the bus station in New York City after I asked an information booth attendent for help.
If there are any other clarifications I can make, leave a comment and I'll address it.
Thanks again,
Daniel
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2 comments:
Hi Daniel... Thanks for the clarification about your using a cane.
I have a question. Are sighted people sometimes afraid to offer help to someone with a cane, out of fear that their offer of help will be resented? I imagine that there are some legally blind people who have a strong sense of independence and are able to navigate reasonably well. Someone coming up to them and grabbing their arm to guide them would rightfully be taken as an intrusion, even though it is well intended.
So do you think some drivers might be reluctant to offer help when you board, unless you ask for it, partly out of respect for your feelings and also out of a reluctance to be rebuffed for their offer?
The situation where the off-duty driver appropriated your seat up front was not right. If I were you, I probably wouldn't want to create a scene, but had you asked the off-duty driver should have parked himself somewhere else.
I mentioned that Greyhound tries to be sensitive to the disabled. It's not entirely out of their largesse. They were sued several years ago by some groups fighting for disabled people, after which they agreed to try to meet the needs of disabled passengers.
I live in New York City, actually Brooklyn, so I'm glad to hear that you found the Greyhound people here helpful. The Port Authority Bus Terminal is one hell of a large place.
I have enjoyed your writing. Regards... Paul
Paul,
I think you are right that many visually impaired people do have a strong sense of independance, because I am one of them.
I would be surprised if not offended by someone suddenly grabbing me by the arm, but if someone simply asked me if I wanted assistance, I would be truthful.
The truth is, that sometimes I don't need or want assistance, yet at others such as those larger bus stations, it shouldn't be assumed that I would rather be pig headed and lost than humble and where I need to be.
There were instances when I would have gladly asked a Greyhound employee for help, but I couldn't see which way to go to find one.
I think, though, that enhanced communication is the key here. No one, bus drivers especially, should be afraid to ask, "Do you need assistance?" Or "Would you like to sit here?" One bus driver expressly told the entire bus that no one would be sitting in the front passenger side seat because he said, "The next thing I know the person sitting there would be taking off his shoes, and eating a smelly tunafish sandwich."
But, communication being the key, would go a long way toward helping the situation. The visually impaired should also be willing to ask for help when needed. This help would be a lot less needed however if some of the suggestions I mentioned in the article "Blind and Going Greyhound" are followed.
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