Broward County Paratransit Consumer Blog

5/29/09 no show

2009-05-29T20:51:00.001-04:00

I am marking the paratransit down as a no show tonight. They were supposed to pick me up at 6:19PM. They did not do this.

I was told that the dispatcher was too busy to talk to me.

Sanford

Late

2009-02-14T11:57:00.001-05:00

On 2/14/09 my Tripple A ride that was scheduled for 10:16AM appeared at 11:30AM. I am not sure why I was told that the driver was to arrive in a few minutes when I called up much earlier. I had to cancel the trip when the vehicle finally arrived because I missed the class I was supposed to attend.

Clearly there used to be an incentive for the provider to arrive on time when the car fare used to be waived for latenesses beyond the one hour window from the time that the rider was told to be ready at. I am dumbfounded as to why this promptness incentive for the providers has changed. The driver stated that I would have to pay the fare if I went, even though the reason for going was cancelled due to the provider's negligence.

What ever happenned to the voucher program that used to be in effect for riders that were forced to cancel rides when providers showed up so late that taking the ride was futile? Is there some kind of no show marking system on the drawing board directed at delinquent providers? If not, shouldn't there be?

Sanford

no show

2009-01-13T21:40:00.001-05:00

The 8:42 PM pick up on January 13, 2009 became a dreaded no show tonight marked against me. Sandra at the Tripple A dispatch office told me that I didn't seem to understand. Actually her words were "What about this don't you understand." Maybe they need mirrors in the dispatch room for mixed up employees to look at themselves better. Clearly, when employees are mixed up, they need to take responsibility for it. I tried to explain to her that I know what time the reservation was made for because it was me who made it. I went on to explain that she could look up the paperwork.

This morning they sent a driver, Noel, 12 hours early. Cindy said that they would fix the problem for the correct pick up at 8:42 PM and not AM.

Sandra just told me that I was a no show. I am glad that Sandra understands that the no show is the problem when a customer is not able to get in to the vehicle.

She also needs to understand that they need to either be here when they are supposed to, or to knock on the door. Or perhaps to get the driver back when they say he was here at 8:15 PM.

It is equally interesting in that I was here at 8:15 PM. Once again it seems that there is definitely a mix up.

Perhaps a leave of abscence or some kind of time off could help mixed up employees become better accustomed to the business at hand. This would be to get passengers in to the vehicles.

Of course when drivers need to return because they were in error due to mixed up employees, it would help. Likewise other drivers who were nearby could cover as well. I wonder how many more years it will take for the service to figure this all out.

And what do the customers who get no shows really deserve? They deserve their rides. What do the companies deserve? They deserve a no show marked against them with definite penalties.

Sanford

October 30, 2007 7:25 PM

2007-10-30T19:43:00.001-04:00

I have heard it said that it is better late than never. Unfortunately the 7:25 PM arrival of my ride just now was inopportune for me. I was supposed to be at my destination between 6 and 6:30 PM tonight.

I wonder if AAA is just going through the motions of looking like they are attending to their riders needs. The veterans I was supposed to meet up with at the Veterans of Foreign Wars deserve better treatment. I was supposed to meet up with them for a presentation tonight.

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to think of ways of improving the service. How about having a trouble shooter driving around. This driver could pick up the slack by picking up passengers when their scheduled drivers got in to late circumstances and were not able to arrive on time.

Sanford

October 30, 2007

2007-10-30T17:59:00.001-04:00

Today I wanted a pick up that would drop me off by 6 to 6:30 PM. I just found out that my pick up is scheduled for 6 to 6:30 PM.

This is most interesting as I need to be at my destination at the same time Triple A is picking me up. Clearly this pick up is useless because the ride takes at least 30 minutes.

After many years this kind of thing should not be occurring. Especially if I am needing this ride for a job related appointment that was explained to the reservationist when the ride was scheduled.

I believe that someone making a reservation like this deserves a call if changes are being made to one's reservation. This is unacceptable.

Sanford

June 16, 2007

2007-06-16T13:42:00.001-04:00

I wonder how many more years it will take to acquaint the drivers with the AM radio rule. When my driver picked me up today about 12:30 PM he told me he could not turn the station to an English radio station because he had to hear the talk show which was broadcast in Creole. I didn't want to argue with him so I let us listen in peace.

I am sure that it was more peaceful for him than I because he could understand the language. I wonder what was being discussed. I didn't receive any interpretation.

I ask here what is the practicality of having rules if the drivers flagrantly violate them? My driver told me he was allowed to listen to anything he chose to.

Sanford

Monday June 11, 2007

2007-06-11T20:18:00.000-04:00

It is time of course to make some changes. Too bad I don't seem to be important enough to be considered in this equation. Clearly things could be better.

For instance tonight the ride materialized at my home at 7:10 PM. When I reserved the ride I said how I needed to be at my destination at 7 PM. The AAA car service operator told me that according to the computer I needed to be picked up at 6:12 PM. Nothing else was available.

This sounds absurd. How can it be that nothing else is available when I am making my reservation well in advance of the day and time I need it.

I think the excuses must stop. I called up the County complaints line. Richard at TOPS told me that I have to fudge the reservation time. I said that I needed to talk with the owner of AAA. He wouldn't pass this message on.

My feeling is that the car service needs to do what they can in order to do what they say they are going to do. It shouldn't be up to passengers to play the role of mind readers in order to get their rides. I shouldn't have to play any kind of fudging game in order to make a reservation or get a reserved ride to arrive on time.

My call shortly after 6:12 PM only resulted in the operator saying that the ride still had time to get me. This was quite incorrect as I needed to be on time by 7 PM at my destination. It would be far wiser to actually let passengers know what is really going on.

As I suggested many times before, imposing a $2 waiver at 30 minutes or 60 minutes after the passenger has begun to wait, would be a step in the right direction. Car service providers would pay more attention to passengers that were not going to pay for rides that arrived too late to be utilized. No one listens to me.

I don't know why it was allowed for the car service to change the rule about this. When I started using the service passengers didnt' pay when cars arrived 60 minutes after the beginning of the pick up time. Now I am told that 90 minutes must transpire.

A better plan is to have the car service have enough drivers to deliver the service that they say they are going to deliver. Otherwise the car service is spinning their wheels for nothing by sending a car that is deemed inopportune by passengers because of untimeliness. Naturally I had to pass when the vehicle arrived so late. I would have appreciated at the very least a phone call telling me before hand that I needed to find another way to my destination. The 7:10 PM arrival did me no good because I was expected to do some important work on a governmental board that started precisely at 7 PM. The dispatcher Lori informed the driver Rene, that I should pay $2 for a ride that I would have cancelled earlier if I knew that they planned on getting here so late.

I will forward this to Supervisor Jerry at AAA. I hope he takes it seriously. In the past he has indicated how he has to read these messages and intimated how he found it to be a nuisance. I regret equally that I have to send them. Not sending them would constitute negligence on my part. We owe it to ourselves to do whatever is necessary to make our corner of the world a showplace. It doesn't happen by itself. Recently drivers received a 50% pay raise. These car service providers should not be having any difficulty attracting qualified personnel. What is the problem.

Sanford

Late

2007-04-04T01:27:00.000-04:00

Tuesday April 3, 2007 my 8:56 PM Triple A paratransit ride arrived at 10:33 PM. I called six times to alert them about my predicament.

I believe that the $2 passenger waiver should be changed to also include a $2 voucher for a free ride next time. Doubling the penalty from what it is now would help remind the carrier to be more timely. Perhaps it should be negotiated regarding imposing this penalty after about a half hour from the time that the passenger was told to start waiting for the ride. Originally the $2 waiver was imposed after the passenger was waiting sixty minutes. Lately the carrier has changed it to ninety minutes. Clearly it needs to be turned back to how it used to be, or perhaps to a more punctual time as I have suggested.

Sanford Rosenthal

Sensitivity

2007-03-24T17:23:00.000-04:00

Hello Improvement Seekers,

I believe the following evidence should point administrators in the direction of planning a seminar for employees sensitivity training. The driver Jimmy showed up this afternoon, Saturday March 24, 2007. My mom spoke to him first, as she was downstairs on the street when he arrived. I was upstairs trying to call Triple A about the ride that was late. She explained to me when I arrived moments later in a low voice how he seemed grumpy.

It is hard to explain how you come to an assessment like this. Let me try to explain by an example of his behavior when we were departing from his vehicle. All of a sudden he started saying hurry, hurry to my mom.

This is simply not a good idea to do. Her age doesn't allow for quick movements. I am glad she chose to take the wise course of action and depart from the vehicle in an orderly fashion.

When calling up the reservation line to see if the return ride was coming, there was another insensitivity observed. It happened when I said, "Hi I am Sanford." All of a sudden the female reservationist started yelling about my name meaning nothing. She went on to yell about needing my PIN. It seemed as though she was exhibiting some displaced anger.

I believe a reservationist who politely asks for a PIN would fare much better. Antagonizing others is simply not a good modus operandi. I called back and spoke to a different reservationist and had absolutely no problem at all.

When my ride arrived to take me back home, the driver was Noel. He told my mother how I reported him a few months ago because he had his AM radio on. He couldn't understand why I had asked him to shut it.

My feeling is that a driver should have some consideration for passengers. A foreign talk station is very hard for English passengers to comprehend. It is much harder to comprehend than a foreign music station. If a driver doesn't want to change a foreign speaking news or talk format station to some kind of music or English, my position is for the driver to shut the radio. If the driver has a problem with this, then he should be speaking to his employer. I don't think that constant reminders to a passenger about the drivers position on this is helpful. If anything it is counter productive.

In summary I am led to believe sensitivity training is desirable for employees of the Triple A paratransit contracted car service. I would be more than glad to follow up with this if somehow Triple A enabled me to help with this regard. I can make sure professional help is located for their employees if there is a willingness to proceed with it.

Sanford Rosenthal

Regret weekend March 3, 2007

2007-03-05T11:45:00.000-05:00

Hello Improvement Partners,

I regret that I have observed ways in which improvements could be made but haven't thus far over this past weekend March 3 and 4, 2007. Saturday afternoon the driver finally shut the AM radio that had been tuned to a foreign national talk show. The conversation that ensued had to do with his view about freedom and discrimination because I agreed that if he had the radio dial on English, I wouldn't have complained.

I kept explaining that freedom meant that he could listen at home. I didn't understand the foreign language, nor did I want to learn on this particular day.

I sure wish he would have spoken to his employer rather than me. Also I wish he would have listened to me before I had to reach for my Cell phone. This action helped him decide to shut the radio, but not to stop badgering me about his views.

Then on Sunday night the dispatcher Laurie went through her usual rude routine. I called on my mom to continue trying to reach Laurie. When mom finally did, Laurie's response was a huh, and an uh. I believe Laurie could profit from some professional courtesy lessons. Laurie's response was also regrettable because my mom was only inquiring when the late arrival would finally get me.

Unfortunately after waiting over twenty minutes to speak with this dispatcher, they were summarily disconnected after my mom asked about when the ride would come. I understand from anecdotal evidence that this happens frequently with Laurie. She is often observed hanging up after the caller waits indeterminably long periods of time. Drivers also have an unflattering portrait of Laurie to reveal as well. The upshot is that both passengers and drivers get additional tension when dealing with her.

These actions add up to additional handicapping of individuals and services that are counter productive.

Thank you,

Sanford

Saturday February 10, 2007 pick up

2007-02-10T20:57:00.000-05:00

Tonight on Saturday February 10, 2007 my AAA ride was scheduled for 7:03 PM. No one appeared or called. I finally reached the dispatcher by 8 PM. She never answered her phone before that.

She claimed that the driver banged on the door. It is too bad that after many years there is still a problem like this. Any driver would have to ring my bell next to the outside door in order to alert me that he is downstairs. That is the only way that apartments upstairs can know when a caller is downstairs. Banging on a street door is not the way to attract the attention of someone waiting in their apartment upstairs.

It is equally a shame that she marked me as a no show. I think a no show is an excellent idea if somehow the AAA company received the no show against them rather than against the intended passenger. There is no reason for her to be explaining to me that I was marked as a no show, and that the driver would not be able to come back. There should be a penalty when the company does not show, nor attempts to come by when the passenger catches up with them.

This is unfair treatment of their passengers.

Sanford

November 17, 2006

2006-11-18T14:04:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was November 17, 2006. As usual there was some late issue involved. I thought it might be prudent to get some of these complaints down on this BLOG. I don't always document it all. It really is a job in itself.

The 12:03 PM pick up arrived over an hour late. Likewise the return ride at 2:41 PM arrived over an hour late.

I thought it was interesting to hear the driver Ron, say to me that drivers don't like calling in to report a passenger not wanting to pay when their ride arrived late. I ended up agreeing with him that it was something that no one wanted to do.

I only hoped that someone might get the picture of how the passenger felt after having to wait for over an hour to get a ride that was booked precisely to the minute by a computer system that promised to be better than the old fashioned human way.

Clearly the new way has not been working out. The insult to injury is when drivers demand the $2 after they are an hour late. This $2 waiver from being an hour late is supposed to also be an incentive for contracted services to dispatch drivers early enough so that they are not late. When drivers don't stick to the rule, then the pattern persists.

The End

November 11, 2006

2006-11-13T12:08:00.000-05:00

I know it is not the intention for riders to be stranded. But what do you do when a ride is 2 hours late and you can't complain to the Paratransit service because the recording says no one is on duty? This happenned Saturday night past 5 PM while I was waiting for my 3:03 PM ride to return home.

Shouldn't we provide a back up system for over 20,000 passengers using the service daily?

Sanford

PCA/Companion

2006-11-01T17:42:00.000-05:00

On Changes

By Sanford Rosenthal

Sometimes they are for the better, while other times they are not. Last night I realized how a change had been for the worse.

Picking up a Companion or PCA after the consumer was picked up, used to be allowed . This is important if a rider needs help at the ultimate destination.

Likewise it use to be allowed to drop off a PCA or a companion on the way back. Now all this has changed. Pick ups and drop offs of PCA's as well as Companions are not allowed any more. Customer Service Specialist Maurine at TOPS informed me just now that there has been a change implemented from how it used to be done.

This new policy only serves to reduce the consumer's ability to use the paratransit service. When an assistant is not allowed to gain access into the van in this way, the one being penalized, is the consumer. Many assistants don't have cars to drive over to the consumer's place of residence.

More than likely it is an imposition already to ask for the assistant to accompany a consumer. It seems like an added insult when these pick ups and drop offs are directly on the pathway to or from the destination.

When can we return to sanity? Isn't the idea to help persons with disabilities to get out in the community? Why add obstacles to their lives if we don't have to?

The End

October 17, 2006

2006-10-17T11:36:00.000-04:00

Hello Creative Thinkers,

If there are any souls interested in change, we need to work together. I thought that today I would be doing just that.

The computer said that 10:08 AM would be my pick up time to get me to the County Commissioners meeting today at 11 AM. I was supposed to speak in behalf of making transportation much better in Broward County.

My ride arrived close to 11 AM, which was the time I was supposed to be downtown. Consequently I was not able to use the ride nor get there to speak in favor of the 1% sales tax that would give 26 million dollars annually back to all the

Broward County cities.

Paratransit, buses, new train routes, roads, would all benefit.

Presently it appears as though that the Commissioners have lined up in favor of putting this on a ballot in November. What is equally important is for the citizenry to vote for it; and also to endorse a plan that will maximize the useage of the revenue generated from the tax increase.

Sanford Rosenthal

shame

2006-10-15T01:03:00.000-04:00

To Whom It May Concern,

I find it a shame when you want to help a person or an organization that blocks your attempts to help them. i know for instance how the drivers kept getting lost when I and others have visited the BCC Tiger Tail Water Sports Center in Dania Beach in Broward County South Florida. They would get lost dropping off as well as picking up passengers.

That is why for today's trip there I sent written driving directions to the AAA Car Service ahead of time. I also called the Car Service at 3 PM to tell them I was ready early for my return trip to home even though my pick up time was dished out by the computer for 3:42 PM. The idea was to try and give them directions and avoid wasted driver time on the road from getting lost. Unfortunately no one took my advice. In fact when I made the call, I was told that they didn't need my help.

Would anyone disagree with the idea that it is better to try to be part of a solution instead of merely playing a part in a drama that you don't want to be part of? Then why doesn't AAA let anyone help them?

The reason is that there is not enough accountability for AAA's service to it's passengers. Why did the Dispatcher call me up some time after 4 PM saying that the driver was lost if they really didn't need my help? Wouldn't it have made sense for them to look at the directions I e mailed them? Or wouldn't it have made sense to let me speak with the dispatcher to give driving directions when I called to tell them I was ready early at 3 PM instead of the 3:42 PM pick up time that their computer said is best.

Clearly the service is in need of some tweaking. Does the silent treatment their passengers get about problems have to do with the disability or age factors? This is not fair. Either is it fair when the rule was changed that was supposed to help the car services pay more attention to pick up times. It was agreed that an hour late meant that the service would have to forfeit the $2 part of their income generated by the passengers.

Now AAA says that you must be waiting for 90 minutes before they are considered late. Who gave them this right to change the rules?

Sanford

September 20, 2006

2006-09-20T18:52:00.000-04:00

BLOG Site,

I still think that using AAA for car service shouldn't be so problem laden. The original rule about the waiver for the charge that passengers incur, was implemented to help the car services be more timely. Otherwise more and more passengers get picked up late as drivers get more and more behind. When are there going to be more drivers available to pick up the slack.

Yesterday for instance at 4:37 PM Jerry Suskey took my reservation for tonight. He gave me pick ups at 5:20 PM to go to the Whole Foods Supermarket, and 7:45 PM for the return ride back to my apartment.

It is now 6:18 PM on Wednesday September 20, 2006. I am still waiting for my 5:20 PM pick up. I called up Triple A, and spoke to Sandra. She added insult to injury by insisting that I never spoke to Jerry yesterday. I know I did because I remember explaining what Whole Foods was, in terms of being a Health Food Supermarket. The reservationist told me he was Jerry.

The main problem is that now as I write it is 6:21 PM. Sandra is telling me that there is some kind of mix up. Regardless, they should have extra drivers to take care of mix ups, whatever they are.

Lately I also have seen some discrepancy regarding the late fee waiver. It was set up to make sure drivers arrived withing the hour. More than 60 minutes late resulted in this waiver for the passengers. Now some drivers tell you that you must wait 90 minutes from the time they tell you to be ready. This is of course unfair.

I still see some drivers showing up with radios playing stations without consulting the passenger. This is in violation of the rules too.

It is now 6:39 PM. I have been on hold since 6:30 PM. I wanted to let Triple A know that I don't want to fight with them tonight. It takes alot of energy dealing with Triple A.

I called up a friend in Weston. He is coming over to help me out. He has to drive over 26 miles to get here. However I recently was discharged from the hospital. I need to go shopping and restock on some groceries. I don't need the grief. I think Triple A should be charged by the passengers for having to put up with grief. Finally at 6:41 PM AAA picked up the phone. I cancelled my 5:20 PM pick up because it is now 80 minutes late already. Maybe I should have waited just to see when they would arrive?

Wew.

Yours,

Sanford Rosenthal

Anyone late?

2006-04-16T13:47:00.000-04:00

I was wondering if anyone else was being picked up late recently?

Wednesday April 12, 2006 my 10:19 PM pick up arrived at 12:30 AM to get me. That is over 2 hours late.

Sanford

Radio

2006-02-08T21:47:00.000-05:00

This message being sent to:

AAA, Paratransit Director, and also the BLOG site:

After many years of being told that the rules for drivers are explicit; I am curious as to why I had to listen to Creole talk radio tonight on my way home from my last pick up?

I thought that after explaining to the driver that I couldn't understand Creole; I would help him out a little more. I reached over and changed the dial to English.

He knew enough of what he wanted and to change it back to Creole regardless of being flagrantly in violation of the radio rule.

This whole exchange is avoidable if management is interested in promulgating the rules. I guess they aren't.

I am therefor interested in either of two scenarios. If management thinks that their own rules are not good. They should go back to the County and ask them to change the rules.

I of course am not in favor of that. I like the rules. I just don't like it when no one pays attention to the rules.

Therefor since I have complained for anumber of years; I think it is ready for step number 2.

Like I said I am not in favor of doing anything different than implementing the rules. However since no one cares; it is time to dismantle all radios.

It is a shame I think to do this. But I don't see any other solution.

When I complain no one ever gets back to me. Seeing the radios taken out of the vans will show me that someone is listening to me and not just to Creole talk radio.

If I don't hear back from anyone, I will forward this to our elected County Commissioners too.

Sanford

BLOG

2006-02-08T21:03:00.000-05:00

To Whom It May Concern,

Members of the Para Transit Service should know the way to work the system even if some of the operators or reservationists don't help in the way you would

like them to. I just called in a reservation for Wednesday February 8. I used to wait until a day ahead. Now they tell me at AAA Car Service to call

more in advance to get the rides that I used to get all the time. Now the rides are not given when you would like to have them. Rather their computer

tells you when you should take the rides.

I believe this is somewhat patronizing. Therefor a way to resist the computer patronization is to tweak the system.

My reservationist told me that I would have to call back at least 6 hours later to get different times from the computer.

She was wrong. I spoke to a different reservationist immediately. He gave me computer generated pick up times that were different right away.

I wanted to be at 6100 Griffin Road at 10:30 AM. At first I was told to be ready for pick up at 8:30 AM. I thought this was too early. When I called

back the other reservationist gave me a 9:04 AM pick up. This is much better for me.

Likewise I had 3 other pick ups for Wednesday February 8 that I had to make. So I redid these other pick ups too.

Today is February 6, 2006. It shouldn't be so hard to make a reservation. We need better cooperation from the reservationists in order to tweak the all

knowing computer system.

BLOG

2006-02-08T20:57:00.000-05:00

Subject: advocating

I went to a County wide meeting about 2 weeks ago. This was involving one of the County wide meetings that are held monthly for the Para Transit Service.

For instance it is for the van service I use when commuting to Kids In Distress. The reason I went was because of infractions regarding the service.

Just last week the driver refused to change the radio station. He wanted to listen to Creole. I didn't want that.

Thanks to the advocating I have been doing it is possible for me to follow up with the company and get the drivers to see the light. There are rules already

about such things as well as other problems with the drivers.

However my HMO also contracted with one of these companies for transport to Doctor offices.

Unfortunately when I went to the meeting there was a feeling by the company I was using that they didn't have to listen to these rules.

My HMO uses Handivan. The Supervisor of Handivan told me that the service for the Doctor offices is a private contract.

In fact the Handivan tried to follow up by kicking me out of their service. My HMO however, took another route. Instead of kicking me out; it was Handivan

who was kicked out.

Another transport service is being used now by my HMO. In fact my Doctor thanked me. He said he was trying to get rid of Handivan because they are disrespectful

to his patients.

Ford

BLOG

2006-02-08T20:53:00.000-05:00

----- Original Message -----

From:

Sanford

To:

Wisniewski, Edward

Sent: Monday, October 17, 2005 10:12 AM

Subject: Re: the paper

Thank you Ed.

I am really writing a book. At the end of the book I mentioned about AAA. I said how I would illustrate the service with the last ride I took.

I was writing that on October 12. That was just two days after October 10, when the driver came and walked right by me.

I was sitting on the bench between the customer service desk and the doorway where he entered.

It will be in my book how his way of doing things ended up having to send another driver back an hour and a half later.

Thanks for helping to get them to send someone else.

It shouldn't have to be this hard to obtain a ride. Especially after some 20 years of using the Para Transit in Broward. I think it originally was called

Social Service Transport.

Can you call them and remind them to do a better job at the Supermarket?

I also put in the book that crazy lady who told everyone that she was from the FBI.

I don't know though if I will reach a publisher eventually or not. Nor do I know what he will say to cut and what to add.

Ford

Block quote start

----- Original Message -----

From:

Wisniewski, Edward

To:

Sanford

Sent: Monday, October 17, 2005 10:07 AM

Subject: the paper

Nice article in today's sun sentinel, my friend.

Block quote end

BLOG

2006-02-08T20:48:00.000-05:00

Monday December 12, 2005

AAA car service arrived over an hour late. I couldn't go because Allergist closed for lunch.

I ended up going on the bus later on.

I wrote to the Para Transit Division about it the following day.

I just called up AAA and found out that they are still having growing pains. They are 2 and 3 hours late today.

I am trying to seek alternate means for now.

I tried using the Bus Service yesterday when AAA had me calling and waiting for nothing. My experience included: how I sit down next to a lady who decides

to give me a first hand account of her intimate anatomical worries. All I had to do was to listen and gape.

She didn't let me talk.

She claimed to know me?

I tried getting off the bus at the right place. No easy task when the bus driver won't talk. I asked him 3 times.

Finally a nice Black lady de busing behind me, spoke and actually walked me to the second bus stop. She expressed regret over the way the driver behaved;

not speaking. This is not a very good way of communicating to a blind person.

It was a 2 way bus trip. I am lucky this stranger was there to walk with me. I am also lucky the lady with the pains in her anatomical parts was not getting

off either.

I reported the driver to Bus Headquarters. It is unfortunate when your strongest link in a chain becomes your weakest. The drivers should be more courteous.

The other bus drivers were.

I probably should have reported the anatomical lady to Hollywood. She belongs on stage.

Never the less, it is dangerous when crossing. I arrived at my Allergist later on that day. I was amazed to find out that I had crossed a major thorough

fare and didn't even know it.

I bet I could be a useful asset to you or Jerry at AAA if I was working in some capacity to help out. Lord knows, assistance is needed. Then again the

beginning of the USA was also turbulent.

Yours,

Sanford

Seth Eisenberg

(954) 252-9090

The Fatherhood Channel

http://fatherhoodchannel.com

Technology Solutions that Connect & Inspire

BLOG

2006-02-08T20:45:00.000-05:00

December 27, 2005 Experience,

I believe that compensating for a disability should not include arguing with those who are supposed to be helping the disabled.

The Para Transit in Broward County Florida is undergoing growing pangs. The new computer system doesn't always give the right times for pick ups to both

passengers and drivers. Therefor I decided to try and get to the Public's Supermarket on my own located at the Coral Ridge Mall by Federal Highway and

Oakland Park Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale in order to avoid using the Para Transit if I could.

One rule is that if an individual can use the Public fixed route Bus; then they are ineligible for Para Transit service.

Is this a good policy?

I don't think so. Even if you can get on a bus; then there are countless dangers that can be encountered along the way. Para Transit should be tweaked

better so that the disabled can use it without unnecessary complications. The fixed Bus should be available as back up transport; rider beware.

I boarded the number 72 Bus at NE 34 St and A1A going to Federal Highway and Oakland Park Boulevard.

I de bused right before Federal Highway. Crossing the first street before Federal and after de busing proved challenging. The cars didn't allow me to

cross. They were edging up to Oakland Park Boulevard from the North and going South.

I had to keep walking South until I was in the lane on Oakland Park Boulevard.

A driver put me back on the sidewalk. I thanked him for getting out of his car and doing that.

Then I came to a construction hole in the sidewalk. Lucky for me a driver yelled out to me to avoid it.

Then at Federal Highway I made a right turn. Unfortunately I ended up in a parking lot by Wachovia Bank. A trucker took me in his truck out of the parking

lot and into the next parking lot for Public's.

At Public's I asked for an assistant to help me shop. I didn't realize who was coming to help me. Apparently a passerby shopper offered to assist me.

It was nice of her to do so. More people should help each other.

However Public's never told me that I had a shopper helping me. I think they should have told me that.

The nice lady should be congratulated for helping. However it was equally challenging for me because she had a stroke recently. Therefor I couldn't understand

most of what she was trying to say when she spoke.

Later my AAA car service van showed up.

I told them to write down that I would be on the bench in the store between the door and the service desk. I always wait there. I have done so for many

years shopping at this venue.

The driver showed up and passed me by. He went to the service desk to make an announcement. Then he was heading out but was called back by all the people;

both customers and personnel, yelling that I was indeed there.

Then the driver takes me to drop off someone. Then he picks up someone else. Then he drops them off too.

The driver is supposed to take home the person who was in the van first.

All this time I am asking him to either turn off the Creole news cast on his radio or turn the station to English.

He claims that I am discriminating against him. So I call AAA on my Cell. They call him. He argues with them too. This is a strange argument because

the rules say that the driver should be listening to passenger's requests.

The lady on the van who was picked up after me starts to complain about how her morning pick up was at a time she didn't ask for.

This is why I tried to avoid my morning pick up.

Something needs to be done here.

Sanford Rosenthal

Seth Eisenberg

(954) 252-9090

The Fatherhood Channel

http://fatherhoodchannel.com

Technology Solutions that Connect & Inspire

BLOG

2006-02-08T20:43:00.000-05:00

December 30, 2005 Para Transit Experience

----- Original Message -----

From:

Sanford

To:

Para Transit Ed WISNIEWSKI

Cc:

AAA Car J Suskey

Sent: Friday, December 30, 2005 12:02 PM

Subject: slow

Hello Ed and Jerry,

I know that some things are slow in coming. However I have been using Para Transit service for years. I thought that I understood that drivers were supposed

to identify themselves.

I walked downstairs today to find someone grabbing my arm and walking me to a van. Wouldn't it be proper for the driver to say:

"My name is _____ from AAA Car Service?"

Unfortunately his silence didn't help me because as you know I am totally blind.

I had to ask him several times just what his name was.

He finally did respond by saying "Noel" in a whispered tone.

Then he slid the door open but didn't say anything more.

I got in to only bunk up against a woman sitting there.

It seems to me that if I was a driver picking up a blind passenger, I would have identified myself, company, and that there was a lady sitting in the back

already.

I don't understand. Am I asking too much of your company?

I requested a 10 AM pick up today. Unfortunately I was told that the new way of doing things was to ask the computer what time was best for the computer.

I ended up with a 9:30 AM pick up. However I wanted to return right away.

Before the computer system was installed, I could get a return ride right away.

I was told that today my return ride would be at 11:33 AM. The outcome of which was for me to seek alternate transport back home.

In my humble opinion there can be some fine tuning done to make everyone happier.

Regards,

Sanford Rosenthal

Seth Eisenberg

(954) 252-9090

The Fatherhood Channel

http://fatherhoodchannel.com

Technology Solutions that Connect & Inspire

BLOG

2006-02-08T20:40:00.000-05:00

Disability board posting

----- Original Message -----

From:

Sanford

To:

AAA Car J Suskey

Cc:

Para Transit Ed WISNIEWSKI

Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2006 3:29 PM

Subject: changes

Jerry and Ed,

I don't mind changes being made. But surely I should know about them. Don't you agree?

I just called up Stefanie; she said that she didn't know anything about what I was talking about. I told her that yesterday I asked for a ride. I really

wanted it at 4PM.

I was told by Melinda that the computer said 3:15 PM is better. So the pick up was made for 3:15 PM. Now Stefanie tells me it is at 3:35 PM.

If somehow changes are being made; the client should know. Otherwise if a ride is changed to before or after the time told to the client, there is a possibility

of the client not being ready.

Can someone get back to me on this?

Lately I am being ignored.

Sincerely,

Sanford Rosenthal

Seth Eisenberg

(954) 252-9090

The Fatherhood Channel

http://fatherhoodchannel.com

Technology Solutions that Connect & Inspire

BLOG

2006-02-08T20:38:00.000-05:00

Disability Posting

----- Original Message -----

From:

Sanford

To:

AAA Car J Suskey

Cc:

Para Transit Ed WISNIEWSKI

Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 9:06 PM

Subject: Decency

Hello Jerry and Ed,

It isn't fair when I call up and I am told that "I don't like you and your attitude. I think you're rude."

All I did was to ask her who who she was. I wouldn't have even asked her except that she wasn't identifying the company or talking. I heard silence.

She really had an attitude whenever I tried talking. It reminded me more as though I was calling her at home after she just awoke from slumber. This

is just not proper for a Night Dispatcher. I realize she holds the power in getting a ride home now and in the future by virtue of her position. But

this doesn't give her the right to be disrespectful and then project this very behavior on others.

Before she hung up I had to explain the nature of my call several times. After some bantering in which she said she didn't have to identify herself; she

relented and finally said she was Night Dispatcher Laurie Roberts; and promptly hung up.

I can bet that she was upset or mad about something else. She sure took it out on me.

I was truly surprised. I tried explaining to her that there would not be any argument if she just told me her name.

I just don't like people representing a company who have no empathy. I wasn't looking for trouble. I only wanted to call back because I was canceling

my ride.

Orifginally I wanted a pick up to return home from City Hall at 8:30 PM.

I was informed that the computer didn't like that time. So I had to take a 9:03 PM ride home from the Community Services Advisory Board meeting.

However as I suspected, the meeting was over before 9 PM. It was over more like 8 PM.

I did call at about 8 PM to find out that no one could pick me up earlier. Then another member of the Board offered to transport me home. About 8:30

PM I called when I reached my apartment. All of a sudden I heard this woman ranting on the phone. She even hung up on me when I tried telling her that

there was no reason for her to be so patronizing and acting like a parental figure. But I didn't get a chance to tell her this.

I believe the only recourse is to start advertising around the County for riders to e mail complaints to a Web site.

I think that if these employees of AAA know that there are repercussions for their rude behavior, they may still reform.

There is no call for this type of behavior. I wasn't mad or rude when I called. What was wrong with this lady?

Thank you,

Sanford

Seth Eisenberg

(954) 252-9090

The Fatherhood Channel

http://fatherhoodchannel.com

Technology Solutions that Connect & Inspire

BLOG

2006-02-08T20:35:00.000-05:00

Disability blog site.

----- Original Message -----

From:

Sanford

To:

Para Transit Ed WISNIEWSKI

Cc:

AAA Car J Suskey

Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2006 6:46 PM

Subject: Para TransitFw: computer

Hello Ed and Jerry,

I really don't think that the service for the disabled community is supposed to be so problem laden.

Today I was marked as a no show at 12:25 PM. I am given to understand that no shows eventually contribute to riders being terminated.

The return ride at Public's 3400 N Federal Highway Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 arrived late.

This was despite my request for early pick up. I was ready about 45 minutes early. Instead I had to wait for a pick up that was a half hour past my 3:30

PM original time.

Then the driver showed up to take my money and announce that his engine was running hot today. I then waited a hour for an emergency van to take me home.

All this while my ice cream became rather sloshy; leaking. The lamb chops, chickens, yougurts and everything all melted.

This needs to be posted on a bulletin board of e mails where everyone can see what is going on.

This is no complaint. I am only seeking to make improvement in the Para Transit System.

We need to advise everyone on the Internet that a site exists for assessing the real service.

I have been trying to avoid the Para Transit.

I used to use it almost every day.

But I get into trouble when trying to use fixed route bus service.

January 18, 2006 I boarded a number 20 bus on Federal Highway going North. It was the wrong bus. I needed number 10.

So I had to walka few blocks.

A lady came out of a Nails and Cosmetics Store to help me.

Going back someone crossed me on Federal Highway to head South to Oakland Park Boulevard.

However the number 72 bus driver passed me by at about 1:15 PM. The next driver was nicer.

He stopped and asked me if I was going on the bus.

I was at the same spot both times. It was the South West corner of Federal and Oakland Park Boulevard. I wanted to head East.

It is not fair for someone to wait in the hot sun while bus drivers pass you by.

Sanford

----- Original Message -----

From:

Sanford

To:

Para Transit Ed WISNIEWSKI

Cc:

AAA Car J Suskey

Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2006 12:52 PM

Subject: computer

Hi Ed and Jerry,

The computer is still making mistakes. The driver showed up at 12:25 PM. I was marked as a no show.

This was because there was another pick up scheduled at 1:25 PM to pick me up; which was the one I was originally told about.

So I said I would wait for the 1:25 PM pick up here at my apartment. They told me that another driver would show up for that ride.

I am not really sure if marking me as no show for the 12:25 PM really captures the fiasco correctly. Maybe they need a new code. Like computer client

termination. I hope this computer doesn't take over the world like in the Terminator.

The return from Public's is 3:30 PM. I hope they don't botch that up too?

Sanford

Seth Eisenberg

(954) 252-9090

The Fatherhood Channel

http://fatherhoodchannel.com

Technology Solutions that Connect & Inspire

confused

2006-02-08T15:28:00.000-05:00

Making reservations,

I wonder if others find it to be a difficult task trying to use a system that is not so user friendly. I recently was told to make my reservations a couple of weeks in advance to make sure that I could get the pick up times I needed. Then yesterday I was told that reservations can only be made one to 4 days in advance.

I just called to get reservations for tomorrow. I was told that I can't get a 1:30 PM pick up to be at my destination at 2:30 PM. Rather they told me that I could get a reservation between 2 and 2:30 PM. I declined their offer because I needed to be at my destination at 2:30 PM. It is a short ride down Oakland Park Boulevard.

Returning at 4:30 PM is equally difficult for them. They told me to be ready at 4:51 PM to 5:21 PM. I had to decline this offer too.

Sanford

Consumers Talking about Broward County Paratransit (TOPS)

2006-02-08T12:04:00.000-05:00

On www.broward.org, it describes the Broward County Paratransit service as follows:

One of BCT's most valuable programs is our Paratransit (TOPS), also known as TOPS - Transportation Options, recipient of the Community Transportation Association of America's (CTAA) 2003 "President's Award".

I am and have been a consumer of this service for nearly two decades. Over the years, I have had many memorable experiences. Some good. Some bad.

What about you? What have your experiences been like recently? What do you think of the new computer system that was installed at the end of 2005?

This blog is meant to be a place for consumers to share information and experiences about the Broward County Paratransit service. For those of us who depend on TOPS, their service can make a very big difference for our daily lives. I hope this blog will help us all stay informed and work together for the benefit of everyone who depends on a TOPS that works best for each of us.