Rocky Mountain News 10/16/84

Denver- Boulder rides offered to handicapped

By JOSEPH B. VERRENGIA
Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer

The Regional Transportation District started offering special rides between Boulder and Denver for handicapped passengers Monday amid criticism from disabled activist that the new service is a form of illegal segregation.

“We’re not looking for special, we’re looking for equal,” said Wade Blank, spokesman for the disabled protect group called Adapt. “Basically, we’re being segregated.”

RTD contracted with Special Transit Systems Inc. of Boulder to provide the new service. It will operate on weekdays during rush hours between the Boulder Transit Center, 14th and Walnut streets, and down town Denver, outside the Market Street Station.

Morning Trips leave Boulder at 6:30 a.m. and arrive in Denver at 7:15 a.m. The bus starts its return trip to Boulder at 8:30 a.m., arriving at 9:10 a.m.

Afternoon trips leave Boulder at 4 p.m. and arrive in Denver at 4:40. The return trips leave Denver at 5:30 p.m., arriving in Boulder at 6:20.
The rides require reservations at least three business days in advance. Special door-to-door service by STS is available the rest of the day. The fare is $1.75 each way, the same as a regular RTD express bus ride.
RTD officials are offering the service as a compromise to handicapped riders who demand that wheelchair lifts be included on new over-the-road buses scheduled for purchase next month. Those buses would be used for express runs to Boulder, Evergreen and Conifer.

Without the special service, RTD officials said, disabled people would have no public transit between Denver and Boulder.

“Perhaps as an interim problem-solver, it (the special service) is done in good faith,” Blank said. “But I hope it wouldn’t be a permanent alternative. Most people don’t know their plans (for bus riding) three days in advance."

Created on

Thursday 11 July 2013

Posted on

Tuesday 10 May 2016

Tags

ADAPT, advance reservation, Boulder, Denver, Intercity/Over the Road Bus, RTD, segregation, special, Wade Blank

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