For your info....
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From: Access Systems[SMTP:accessys(AT)smart.net]
Sent: Thursday, May 21, 1998 11:15 AM
To: Stephanie
Cc: 'silver(AT)tripil.com'
Subject: Re: FW: the dirty dog
well as comment time gets closer, here are some of "Thier" comments.
from "BUS RIDE" magazine (the trade journal of the OTRB industry)
front cover.
"PROPOSED ADA RULE
WILL IT CRIPPLE MOTORCOACHES?"
the article by "Beth Hardison" leads off.
"Mtorcoach Accessiblitiy Rules Proposed; industry wants other U.S. DOT
options"
"The motorcoach industry is fighting what it sees as a 'throwing out the
baby with the bathwater' ruling by the DOT on passenger accessibility to
OTRB" later on Greyhound claims it will cost them $8.7Million dollars
each year to comply or a cost of $637 dollars for each disabled passenger
trip, nowhere do they present anything to back it up.
Steven Sprague executive director of the "United Motorcoach Association"
claims that the ruling is "unrealistic" and that "when the customer
demands that we add another $50,000 to each coach to make it accessible,
we'll do it. Until then, give us more options"
he claims a pooling system like in Canada, which is "well recieved by the
the disabled community there" should be sufficient
UMA (United Motorcoach Association) and ABA (American Bus Association)
are
asking their members to respond with the service based proposal in their
formal responses.
IN AN EDITORIAL by the publisher Bruce Sankey.
it headlines
"TIME TO RECONSIDER"
he states
"some see the proposed rule as a nail in the coffin for many line aul
operators and tour and charter outfits" later he finalizes by saying
"At the least the department should weigh heavily the onerous economic
impact of its proposal and reconsider the options avaliable to it when it
issues its final rules this fall. Afterall what's the point of
handicapping an important component of the transportation industry?"
in METRO the trade magazine of the transit industry the retoric is
somewhat muted, after all they have put lifts on transit buses without
the
end of the world happening, bit thier comments were also supportive of
the
bus industry.
Steven Sprague is quoted here as saying "I think it is fair to say the
DOT
has given us a political answer and our hopes were for something a little
more practical" he goes on "to suggest that 10 percent of the coaches
can be made accessible by 2002 is impractical... the intent of the
secretary is to do this as soon as possible. Is it neccessary to do it
as
soon as possible?" Sprague suggestend letting the industry be
responsible
for making vehicles accessible based on service criteria
he goes on " I am absolutely convinced there will be plenty of reason
for making vehicles accessible, but not at this pace." "it could make
affordable transportation inaccessible for everyone"
the ABA noted that a pooling system of buses with lifts is already in
place... in Canada would be more beneficial for the industry and the
disabled.
Randy Isaacs an ADA consultant said deadlines for compliannce exist
nowhere else in the ADA law except transportation and that's unfair
...................
just so you know what the other side is saying, get those comments in,
individual hand written letters from riders is as important, maybe more
important than all the group comments.
late comments will be considered to the extent practical, so says the NPR
so don't let the deadline scare you off.
Bob
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