Guest opinion Guest opinion (January 07, 2005)

Wheels should let Rebecca West ride bus
by David Murray Oates

I am writing in response to the letter "Stroller Safety on Buses" (Dec. 10). In this letter, Barbara Duffy explained the Wheels Bus System's stroller policy and it appears that any efforts to help Rebecca West get back on fixed route buses have ceased.

I believe her letter was a little misleading for the following reasons. Barbara stated that Rebecca could use Dial-a-Ride as an alternative but this solution has some problems. First: Anyone who knows anyone, knows that Dial-a-Ride is NOT on time in many instances. I have personally waited with a friend of mine outside of church for over an hour, in the winter, after the church was locked up, waiting for Dial-a-Ride to show. My friend had no other alternative because she uses an electric wheelchair and no one could fit it in their car. Second: Dial-a-Ride is more expensive than fixed routes. Contrary to what Barbara Duffy said in her letter, fixed route fares are indeed $1.25, but not for handicapped individuals like Rebecca. Wheels' bus schedules and Web site state that handicapped individuals ride fixed route buses for 40 cents. This makes Dial-a-Ride three times more expensive. And if the person on the fixed route bus is eligible for a transfer, Dial-a-Ride becomes at least four times more expensive. If a person were to make three separate trips a day, three days a week, Dial-a-Ride would cost $60 a month ($1.25 to each location and $1.25 to get you home). A fixed route bus could be as low as $14.40 a month if the rider were eligible for one transfer. Quite a difference for someone who is taking care of two children.

In terms of safety concerns: Representatives from the Wheels bus system have been using phrases like "experience has shown" and "extensive research" shows, etc. I think one thing they have not considered about their policy requiring mothers to hold their children on their laps is that in the case of Rebecca West, this policy would put her children at greater risk of injury. Most of us, if traveling in a bus which came to an immediate stop, would use our arms to brace ourselves against the seat in front of us. But we would use our leg muscles to brace ourselves as well. Rebecca does NOT have this option. She has polio in her legs and would not have the strength to brace herself. Consequently, she would be propelled into the seat in front of her and the child in her lap would be crushed between herself and the seat. Because she needs to hold her child with at least one arm, she would have only her other arm to hold back herself and her child. I can't see how "extensive research" and "experience" have turned up this type of result. I am just not convinced. It seems that a child would be much safer in a stroller, which not only has a safety harness but also acts as a cage of sorts and offers much more protection than holding a baby on your lap.

I believe an exception could and should be made for Rebecca to ride the fixed routes. After all, she's just one person, so who cares? I do, at least. -David Murray Oates is a longtime Pleasanton resident who is employed in computer science, electronic engineering, at a small medical research company here.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.