Public transportation is the most obvious choice for seniors in good health who decide they no longer want to risk driving. It is one of the least costly means of transportation (most single rides cost under $2.00) and can provide non-drivers with a relative sense of independence. Public transportation includes a bus or rail system with a fixed route, meaning a standard path and time that the bus or train takes. Bigger cities usually have highly functioning public transportation systems that take travelers to almost any location.
Public transportation, however, does have limitations for seniors that might include walking to and from bus or train stops, adhering to schedules, waiting for buses outdoors in bad weather and climbing or descending flights of stairs. Therefore, it is not always appropriate for older people and especially not for those in need of medical attention or those who are not reasonably mobile.
Even senior citizens relying on walking aids or wheelchairs for assistance can use the public system. Every public bus is required by law to have a wheelchair lift on it, and every train must have one wheelchair accessible railcar. A high-quality service also makes large-print schedules available and designates priority seats for the elderly or disabled which other riders are asked to relinquish. You also are entitled to ride with drivers who have experience with positioning wheelchairs on and off buses. However, it is advisable to inquire about the safety of the stops and stations to be used and assure that they have good lighting and working telephones in the event that help is needed. Some people may want to adjust their schedules to avoid daily rush hours when large, jostling crowds may unnerve or confuse frail older people.
Despite the efforts of public transportation systems to accommodate elderly citizens with disabilities, some systems provide a poorer level of service than others or are unable to transport older citizens with greater needs. In these cases, the complementary paratransit system mandated by the ADA may be a better alternative.
Paratransit service provides a more specialized and personalized level of service to people who cannot get around using the fixed route public transportation system. Paratransit vehicles usually include vans that are easily wheelchair and handicapped accessible. The breadth of the paratransit service must extend to a three-quarter mile corridor on each side of the normal fixed route. Many paratransit systems provide curb-to-curb service to locations within their designated complementary routes. These features help persons who cannot get to public bus stops or train stations because they are too far away. It is important to note that curbside service differs from door-to-door-service. Unlike door-to-door service, paratransit drivers will not enter people's homes to assist them with getting to and from the vehicle. Paratransit users must be able to navigate their way onto the vehicle or have a personal care attendant (PCA) to help them. PCAs are allowed to ride the paratransit system for free. In addition, under the ADA the cost for the complementary system can never be more than twice the fare for the normal public transportation. For example, if public bus service costs $1.50 per ride, then the paratransit system cannot cost more than $3.00 for the same ride.
The high demand on paratransit systems means that users must exercise patience and flexibility when using this alternative arrangement. It is not a response on demand system. However, a certain level of service can be expected including the following:
- You should be able to call and schedule a ride within 24 hours.
- The ride should take only one-half as long more than the regular fixed route ride. (e.g., if the trip takes one hour on the fixed route system, then it should take no more than one and one-half hours with the paratransit system).
- A quality system will have a maximum 30-minute window of waiting time for you to be picked up by the driver (15 minutes before your requested time plus 15 minutes after your requested time). However, the law permits a one-hour window of waiting time.
Security of paratransit passengers and confidentiality are a must and many public paratransit systems perform background checks on their drivers. Passengers using welfare/charitable services to pay for their trips, or whose particular health conditions make them eligible for services, will feel reassured if they know that their medical and financial information remain private.
Qualifying for the paratransit system can be difficult in some localities but easier in others, depending on the ridership load. Some systems automatically accept riders after they reach a certain age, while others apply very stringent criteria.
Applying for eligibility can involve a lot of paperwork as well as a meeting with a rehabilitation specialist to determine precise needs. A visit to an eligibility determination center may be required before eligibility can be obtained. The center should provide someone to transport the senior to and from the center, if needed. In theory, there is a 21-day turnaround time from the time you apply for eligibility until the time that a decision is received. However, most paratransit services have such large backlogs of requests that they provide temporary eligibility until a case can be reviewed.
Don't be discouraged if you do not qualify for paratransit service. Many seniors who only have trouble getting to the regular fixed-route stops, or who feel uncomfortable traveling at night or during bad weather, will find that they do not qualify for the special service under increasingly burdened systems. Therefore, many transportation authorities are working on creative methods to meet the needs of these citizens. One such system is the service route, which operates as a hybrid between fixed-route and paratransit service. Service routes allow elderly persons flexibility within the fixed-route system such as requesting to be dropped off along the route, but not necessarily at a designated stop, or hailing the bus somewhere along its route other than at a designated stop. Indeed, some drivers will even go slightly off the regular route to bring elderly passengers closer to their destinations. Accommodations like these are usually most effective during non-rush hour periods.
Another solution transportation authorities are experimenting with is having the paratransit system pick up persons from their homes and taking them to a fixed route bus stop. These services will usually wait with the passenger until the bus comes or even drive the extra mile to catch up to a missed bus.