Nassau and Suffolk Counties need Access-A-Ride

The only way to get senior citizens with driving problems off the road in Nassau or Suffolk to agree to utilizing 'Access-A-Ride', which is squite sucessful in the five boroughs.

How it works: a senior citizen or disabled applies for the service. They are issued a card which allows them unlimited rides on the airport-style vans that are used in the service. It is alittle in convenient in that I believe a potential customer calls a specific number and the nearest bus/van is sent to the callers place of residence.

Access-A-Ride takes those who are handicapped or otherwise infirm and drops them off at shopping centers, bingo halls, doctors offices, and parks. It is paid by taxpayers dollars, which if you ask me is money well spent so that a potential future grade-crossing accident (or any other auto-accident) is avoided.

The closest thing I know of to Access-a-Ride on LI are the paratransit services of Suffolk Transit and LIB, both of which use cutaways. You have to call a day in advanced though I think.

IIRC, ParaTransit is a service sponsored by MTA as an alternative for the handicapped to conventional bus/rail where just getting to the bus stop or train station would be a burden. ParaTransit is partially state-subsidized (being an MTA service), but I believe the person using the service still has to swipe with a MetroCard (I could be wrong here). And yes, I seem to recall you have to call in advance for the service to meet you at your door.

I have to check, but Access-A-Ride may be partially funded by the City, State and Federal government as the service is 24/7, does not require an appointment made 24 hours in advance, and is 100% free to the customer. I'll have to give a former co-worker a call about the service. She had a double hip replacement a few years ago and used the service as she was initially getting around with crotches. Later, while on the mend, she was using a cane and even though she could have used traditional mass transit, still called on Access-A-Ride (partially for the convenience of door-to-door service and a guarranteed round-trip seat).

It seems that ParaTransit is the Parent company of Access-A-Ride. It's all one and the same. And yes, you have to 'book' any appointments 1-3 days in advance. However, if you have a long-term disability or are otherwise infirm, you can make arrangements for daily service (such as my former co-worker who used the service Mon-Fri, 9am drop-off and 5pm pick up).

I wonder how much more money I could have for my kid's food if I wasn't forced to pay for this type of nonsense.

It's not nonsense if you're confined to a wheelchair or are otherwise incapacitated.

Have a heart....you're kids aren't gonna starve because of ParaTransit. Get real.

"Have a heart??!!" I don't even know these people and you want me to spend my money on them instead of on my kids??

There's plenty of transportation available. All they have to do is pay for it. And certainly many of their "clients" have far greater assets and earnings than I.

Shouldn't I be the one to choose if I wish to donate to their upkeep?

That's real, dude. Remember, we're a republic, not a socialist state. You can write then a check if you want. Just don't use my checkbook.