Unbelievable!

I cannot believe what happened on Thursday!

I have been a member of 

Glen Eira's Disability Reference Committee for three years, it is a state government requirement that each council 

must have a DRC.

We have a big problem with parking in our municipality,

so when I was told we were having a  council worker to speak to us about the problems  I was naturally very excited.

I have had many people ask me to see if something could be done to make parking safer 

for people with a disability and the aged.

Unfortunately we got the usual bunk about how wonderful Glen Eira Council is, we meet all the minimum requirements for parking, and actually have a couple of extra spaces!!! 

I ,and many other people rely on hoist buses for transport, they are usually Toyota or Mazda vans with a long wheel base. 

Unfortunately they do not fit into a normal "dis.parking" spot

which are usually situated behind the shopping centres.  

Even if we find two spaces, 

we have to unload into the road, 

as you can imagine this is incredibly dangerous.

When I asked if council could do anything the problem, 

I was told NO, you are registered as a bus so -----

USE THE BUS STOPS!!!!!

This is what would happen --

1: Carer stops at the bus stop, lowers the ramp.

2: Public bus pulls up behind, cant fit in because my "bus" is taking up most of the space.

3: Carer unloads me [takes about 5 mins]

Public Bus still waiting!

4:Carer now has 2 choices, she can either walk me half a block up the middle of a major road to find a cut , so she can leave me unattended on the foot path.

OR 

she can leave me on the road [at the bus stop] and go and find a place to park the bus.

Public Bus still waiting!

5: Carer walks me down the centre of the road for half a block, looking for a cut so I can get on to the foot path!

Public Bus is now running 10 minutes late!!!

And remember --

We have to go through it all again 

to get me back in the bus!

This is Glen Eira Council's solution, and they keep saying they are very disability friendly!!!!

Do I have ANOTHER fight on my hands?

Until next time -- Keep Happy