Transportation Tales-Traveling With A Disability

I have been taking the bus, or some form of public transportation, since I was around 8 or 9. I would take the bus down to the local Boys and Girls Club, spend the day playing there, and then take the bus home. I showed the bus driver an ID card I had been issued by the Braille Institute, which had my name and the words ‘LEGALLY BLIND’ printed on it. Showing this card also sent a subtle message to the bus driver: this kid may need your help getting to his destination.
As I grew older, I began taking the bus more frequently and to different locations. I took the bus to work. to run errands and to meet up with friends. Once I got out of high school and went to college, I started taking the train regularly as well. Basically, if i needed to go somewhere, most of the time I had to rely on public transportation. I have lived my whole life in Southern California, an area notorious for its lackluster public transportation.

In my travels, I have encountered moments that were funny, awkward, scary, disappointing, and everything in between. I will say this—in some way, public transportation is always entertaining. Here are a few interesting stories from my travels with a disability.

HOLLYWOOD HOLY WATER
The summer after my sophomore year in college, I was able to obtain a good internship and a part time job in Los Angeles. I would commute 4 days a week to my internship, which was located in the LA suburb of Sherman Oaks. My commute took me 4 hours round trip, with several bus and subway transfers. One of my transfers was in downtown Hollywood. I would get off the subway, walk up the stairs to the street level, and then wait for the bus. The bus stop was on the corner of Hollywood/ Highland, the epicenter of downtown Hollywood. For those of you who have never been there, that stretch of Hollywood has a large shopping district (mostly high-end designers), the Hollywood Walk of Fame makes up the sidewalks, and is one of the main tourist attractions in LA. Oh, and it attracts some ‘interesting’ characters. There are always a few street performers playing instruments or dancing, and the crowds are extremely diverse. On one corner, you can spot a beautiful blonde women wearing the finest clothes that the fashion world has to offer. Then across the street, you can see a punk rocker dressed in ripped jeans, spiked pink hair, and tattoos that cover their entire body. All this diversity attracted some very religious people as well, who would walk up and down Hollywood Boulevard yelling about the second coming of Christ and how we are all sinners (paraphrasing). One of these religious people came up to me as I was waiting for the bus.

Noticing my white cane, the man approached me and said “Are you blind?’’

I had heard this man yelling at random passerby’s just seconds before. He did not appear totally stable to me, so I was a little bit weary of starting a conversation with him.

“Yes, I am blind,” I answered back.

“Well, did you know that Jesus cured a lot of blind people? It was one of his most common miracles. I bless you, my son,” responded the man.

He proceeded to take out a bottle of water, or ‘holy water’ as he called it. Then, he threw some of that water on me while saying “may the Lord, our Savior, bless you.” I was not too happy with this blessing, as I was on my way to work and now my clothes had water on them. He then asked me if I could bless him. I did so, mainly because I wanted him to go away. The bus arrived, and I left, but I will never forget the day I was forcibly blessed on Hollywood Boulevard.

THE BEERS ON THE BUS GO ROUND-AND-ROUND

For some strange reason, people on the bus don’t think the laws of the outside world apply to public transportation. I have witnessed several passengers consuming alcohol, smoking weed, or taking illegal substances in plain view of the rest of the passengers. I am sorry, but unless you are in Las Vegas or New Orleans, you can’t go around in public gulping a large can of Coors Light.
I was on the subway in LA, heading to work at about 8 am, and there was a man sitting across from me. He was moaning a lot and you could tell he was out of it. He was holding a Bud Light can. While most people’s drink of choice in the morning is coffee, this man decided that the best way to wake up was a cold-filtered beer. In his defense, it was a hot summer day.
What surprised me about this situation was not that the man was drinking, but that the conductor didn’t care. The conductor walked by him several times, with the beer clearly visible (I am legally blind and I could see it), yet the conductor let it slide.

Another time, I was taking the bus home from work at around 10 pm. I got on the bus, and again I see a man drinking a beer. He was holding a 30 pack of Coors Light and then began his sales pitch to me.
“Hey, you want a beer? I will sell you a can for a dollar.”

I declined, but he was persistent. He kept making me the same offer. I have to say, if Coors Light is looking for any sales reps, this guy would be a great fit. We were both located at the front of the bus, well in earshot of the driver, who proceeded to do nothing.

SCARY RIDE HOME

My absolute worst experience on public transportation occurred this past summer on Memorial Day. I was taking the last bus of the night home after work. There was only one other passenger on the bus besides me, an unkept homeless man. As soon as I got on the bus, he started yelling at me. He was saying something about how big I am (I am 6’5’’) and how he could kick my butt if he wanted to. Seeing that this man was clearly intoxicated, crazy or both, I decided to ignore his comments and popped my headphones in. But he continued berating me.

“Hey big guy, you think your so tough? Well guess what? I got a bullet with your name on it in here,” he said as he pointed to a bag he had. He repeatedly threatened me with the alleged gun he had in the bag.

I told the bus driver what was happening, but the driver said we were in a ‘radio dead-zone’ so she couldn’t get a hold of her boss. The only option was to throw him off at the next bus stop about 10 minutes away.

In those ten minutes, the threats continued, and I kept ignoring him. I didn’t want to say anything to him that may have sent him over the edge. We arrived at the bus stop, both the bus driver and myself stood up, and we had to remove him from the bus.

Looking back, I am not sure if he actually had a gun or if that was merely an insane man babbling on about nothing. Either way, it was a scary bus ride home.

FLYING BLIND
I have had the chance to travel quite a bit to compete for the blind in track and field events. On one of these trips, I had a departing flight from Orange County with a final destination of Colorado. Everyone is waiting in the terminal to board the plane, and the stewardess goes through her usual pre-boarding spiel.

“At this time, we will now be boarding any passengers who are elderly, disabled or have small children.”

I personally don’t need help getting on the plane or finding my seat, so I normally board with the rest of the passengers. But I was feeling very tired that day, and I decided to board with the elderly/disabled group. Bad idea. I showed my ‘LEGALLY BLIND’ card to the stewardess, who guided me to my seat on the plane.

She asked me very slowly and loudly and loudly “OK, WE ARE HERE AT YOUR SEAT. DO YOU NEED ANYTHING?”

I had no idea why she was talking to me like that. It was the same type of tone and volume you hear from caregivers who are helping extremely old people. I found it very demeaning. In my head, I was thinking ‘Lady, I am blind, not deaf. You don’t need to yell at me.’

It was ten minutes before the general boarding starting. In those ten minutes, the stewardess came back to me a dozen times asking me if I was OK. She was using the same tone of voice as before.

‘ARE YOU THIRSTY? DO YOU WANT SOME WATER?”

“No thank you, I am fine. I appreciate the help but I will let you know if I need anything.”

“OK. I WILL BE RIGHT BACK TO CHECK ON YOU.”

She returns, maybe 30 seconds later.

“ARE YOU HUNGRY? DO YOU NEED TO USE THE BATHROOM?’

“Honestly, I am good. Thank you though.”

“ARE YOU SURE YOU’Re NOT HUNGRY? YOU DONT WANT TO USE THE BATHROOM BEFORE WE TAKE OFF?’

“I am good, thank you.”

“OK, I WILL BE BACK IN A MUNITE TO CHECK ON YOU.”

I was 20 years old at the time, going to college, very independent, yet she treated me like I was 5 because I have a disability. Last time I ever board the plane early.

I would love to here about some of your most interesting stories/experiences of traveling on public transportation. Feel free to comment below with your most memorable story.