Perhaps the most curious (non?)development at last evening’s Culver CityBus community outreach meeting was that the crippled gentleman who started an intended firestorm over free fare policy remained out of sight.
Blind persons have ridden free on the Culver City lines for more than 30 years, and the fare waters were calm until the handicapped fellow noted above recently released a stink bomb. Declaring intolerable prejudice, he said that all perceived crippled people should be subjected to the same fee, 35 cents.
Reportedly, the angry fellow has taken his charge of bias ti other transit agencies in the Southland – except that at showdown time in Culver City, he ducked and hid.
It remains unclear this morning what recommendation-for-change will be placed in the hands of the City Council at its Monday, July 14, meeting when a final verdict is expected.
With reluctance, Transportation Director Art Ida, whose past decisions have been stamped with empathy, is proposing that blind riders of Culver CityBus be assessed the same 35-cent fee as other handicapped riders.
However, there was an intriguing new entry in the suggested fare derby last evening.
Ken Ruben, vice president of Southern California Transit Advocates, urged Mr. Ida to ponder a 25-cent fee.
Mr. Ruben said that a single-coin charge would “make it easier for blind passengers to negotiate the fare boxes on various transit properties.”
For years Culver City’s best known bus-riding maven, Mr. Ruben likely has covered more bus miles than any Southern Californian in the past 20 years.
“Other systems honoring free fares for the blind,” said Mr. Ruben, “include Torrance and Gardena, which changed its free fare policy April 1. Long Beach is still free for blind patrons.”
Attendance at the community outreach meeting in the Dan Patacchia Room, City Hall, was sparse, with an emphasis on “very.”
Besides Mr. Ruben, Mr. Ida, Samantha Blackshire of Culver CityBus and a staff person, two blind persons rounded out the audience.
Michael Conrad, appointed to the Citizens Advisory Council by Metro Board member Don Knabe, his friend Sammie and her guide dog. Both of them made pertinent observations.
Mr. Conrad was invited by Mr. Ruben.
