Paratransit Riders and Supporters Unite

 

It is time to unite across the nation to support NE Illinois Paratransit riders first, then our brothers, sisters, and peers in other states, other cities!! Let's get the roll the fares back in NE Illinois and restore the monthly pass. We are petitioning you the public to speak out and speak up for us, or sign the petition demanding  that our human rights and civil rights be restored as people who are disabled and ride paratransit.   

The latest update in NE Illinois  is that as of November 1, 2009, there is no longer a monthly pass. When it doubled from $75 to $150, and the single ride fare went from $1.75 to $ 2.25, some persons stopped riding. Now as of Nov. 15, 2009, the fare increased from $2.25 to $3 despite the governor's assurance that there would be no increase for 2 years on fixed route neither paratransit.

It's a broken promise that has caused some to give up paid or volunteer work, reduce healthcare, or limit  attendance at worship services, because they can no longer afford the fare.

This is a national  problem.  If the largest agency is failing its riders, what of the smaller service boards that run paratransit in other states? 


Let's demand a Congressional Transit Summit with our chosen reps from IMPRUVE, Green Paratransit Think Tank,  Transit Riders for Public Transportation, and other grassroots, paratransit and transit advocacy groups at the table.

We have declared our rights with the government and public entities, including Pace, but have been ignored. We need numbers.  Contact  us at GreenThinkTank at care2.com, greenparatransit.blogspot.com  or email IMPRUVE at impruhttp://www.thepetitionsite.com/edit/impruve2@yahoo.com  and contact them at  
www.impruve.blogspot.com
Subscribe at impruve-subscribe@yahoogroups.com  to download a copy of The Declaration of Transit Freedom and Justice. You do not have to live in IL to support it. This declaration can be adapted for use eventually in other states.

We can create a rider-owned Green Paratransit now and in most states with troubled  or unaffordable paratransit by 2016. We will proceed to help other states as soon as we prevail in our case.  We are supporting Green Paratransit Think Tank. Information for a Green Paratransit owned by riders, consisting of solar-powered vehicles in a paratransit fleet and van pools, with cars available for individual purchase or rental is available at

www.greenparatransit.blogspot.com http://www.greenthinktankfordisabiitycomunity.blogspot.com

In every neighborhood, someone knows a person who is disabled--a parent, grandparent, child, student, war vet, neighbor, employee, or employer.   Let's get the word out.

Why Can't Paratransit Riders Afford the Paratransit Fares?

Nationally, employment of persons who are disabled is at an all-time low.  Most are receiving fixed income or have low wealth. Salaries oand income of persons who are disabled are not on par with the rest of the nation.  

In IL, 47.6% of paratransit riders have incomes below $10,000 and are expected to pay more than the general population for transportation that on the fixed route is free or half fare. SSI and SSDI recipients are expected to pay a 33% increase in paratransit even though they will receive no income increase for 2 years and have already received increases in utilty bills, housing and sales tax!!

Four ways you can help:

1. Sign the petition and ask your friends, family, healthcare providers, paratransit riders, and co-workers to sign.
2. Join IMPRUVE Paratransit Minuteman Campaign and publicize the erosion of human rights of paratransit riders.  
3. Write handwritten letters to President Obama, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, FTA (Federal Transit Administrator) director,  and Congressional Transportaion subcommittees.
4.
Distribute, Sign and Return the Declaration of Transit Freedom and Justice.  We can email it to you on behalf of IMPRUVE.  It is not a petition or a plea.

The Pace Paratransit system is run by a board that serves people who are disabled, of which 80% in Chicago are Black, 47.6% are seniors, and 58% do not own their own vehicle. 

These are medically fragile people and people with spinal and bone or joint issues who are subjected to brutal punishment who are forced to  ride in vans in Zone 3 (served by MV Transportation) in the Pace Chicago Paratransit system that are better equipped to haul tools and metal than human beings. 


The fare remains out of the reach of its major customer base: Blacks, Hispanics, low wealth riders, and most seniors.
 
Paratransit riders have a right to better service, reasonable accommodations under Transit Equity law, The Americans with Disabilities Act and Amendments of 2008, Section 504 of the Rehab Act, and the U.S. Constitution, and should have protection from retaliation for filing  a federal complaint.


If we demand rider ownership of the paratransit, we can create green jobs for people who are disabled. Besides, a rider-owned Green Paratransit can relieve some of  the high cost of providing local trips.  Green jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities will be created to reduce the poverty level of persons who are disabled.  And to reduce the carbon footprint (emissions) of persons who are disabled.


We want amnesty for those who are disabled, so they do not have to be ashamed because they cannot ride the fixed route bus or train in Chicago, or have to stay home, because they have been told they can only ride paratransit in the winter or during inclimate weather.

We are proceeding at the grassroots level--help us get the ear of the right  people  to  reinstate the humanity of paratransit and accessible transportation and rights of the paratransit riders and  gain public ownership by people who are disabled to create a green paratransit: that means clean energy, safer vehicles, socially responsible management, integrity, and green collar jobs for people who are disabled, too. 

In order to Fix Transit, we must Fix Paratransit Now!!!
Ashe (ah-shay)--so we declare it and it is so!

We, the undersigned, respectfully request that you direct Pace of NE IL, the nation's largest paratransit provider, to roll back the fares of Chicago ADA Paratransit in order to honor the Governor's promise made November 11, 2009 that fares on CTA and Pace would not increase for 2 years.  We request your help to save paratransit riders from a lower quality of life from missing healthcare, worship services, paid and volunteer work, personal business, shopping, and social activities; and developing agoraphobia and experiencing higher indoor air pollution from staying indoors (at home) too often. Riders have or will stop riding the paratransit, because it  is not affordable to low wealth paratransit riders, which is the majority of riders.  In NE Illinois, 80% of Chicago ADA Paratransit  riders are of African or African American descent, 47.6% are seniors, 58.4% do not own their own vehicle,  and 47.6% have incomes below $10,000. Pace did not honor the governor's  agreement. Instead, they raised fares on November 15, 2009. Moreover, Pace eliminated the monthly pass on November 1, 2009. This is not comparable to fixed route, as required by the FTA and ADA.  In fact,  the CTA fixed route still has a monthly pass.  Though we focus on the immediate crisis in  Chicago and NE Illinois, the paratransit is in crisis and persons who are disabled who ride it are in serious trouble across the nation.  

Americans who are disabled are the largest minority and have the least disposable income. It is unfair to save large corporations such as banks, auto groups, and insurance agencies, fund wars outside our borders,  offer jobs that are out of the reach of people who are disabled, yet do nothing to stop the unfair suffering caused by broken promises and inability to pay the new fares due to having the lowest employment rate and least disposal income of any population group.
 
We ask that you fix it now--before more paratransit riders experience life-threatening conditions from missing health treatments and faith-based services or  spiritual treatment, and have to quit paid and volunteer work or job hunting!  Thank you for your consideration.
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