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Jan. 15, 1997

ADAPT demands lifts from Greyhound

(MEMPHIS Jan. 15) Dawn Russell filed a complaint in Federal Court this freedom day alleging discrimination by Greyhound Bus Lines under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In a meeting today between Memphis ADAPT activists and Jeff Bolin, the Terminal Manager, equipment purchased to assist people with disabilities in boarding and disembarking failed in a demonstration.

ADAPT members nationwide were demonstrating their concerns because Greyhound opposes purchasing new buses with lifts that would allow people with mobility impairments to remain in their wheelchairs while traveling. Mr. Bolin offered to demonstate a Scalamobil, a device, acquired by the Memphis terminal after the incedent claimed in the complaint, that was to avoid boarding problems for people with disabilities in the future.

The Scalamobil however, would not fit down the isle of the new Greyhound bus. No seat on the bus was made accessible by the contraption. Furthermore, Jeff Bolin said that he had been trained to use the Scalamobil, but obviously had no exposure to "transfer techniques" which are necessary and required. Mr. Bolin confessed that the Memphis terminal did not have a transfer board, or similar device to accompany the Scalamobil. Greyhound personnel acknowledged that they had no training in its use.

The Terminal Manager gave his verbal support for the demands of ADAPT and promise to relay the concerns of the himself and Memphians to Craig Lentzsch, the CEO of Greyhound. "This thing is just a bandaid," said ADAPT activist Syndy Sharp, about the Scalamobil. "They bought it to avoid putting lifts on buses."

The nationwide demonstration is the second national appeal to Greyhound. In August 1997, ADAPT disability activists nationwide protested in over 44 cities, shutting down service in Memphis, Dallas Texas (Greyhound corporate headquarters), the New York Port Authority, Washington DC, and in many locations throughout the nation.

Lifts on over-the-road buses are a practical and affordable accommodation according to the Office of Technical Assessment. Accessible technology adds only 1% to the operating cost for the life of a vehicle, yet Greyhound consistently opposes lifts.

Activists hope to end the injustice and indignity of being carried by the driver and isolated from their wheelchair. A survey in 35 cities of Greyhound's ability to comply with the ADA interim regulations, that comprise the rules in effect until the buses have lifts, has resulted in a morass of lawsuits, including the complaint filed in Federal Court today. The predicament has resulted in a request from Department of Transportation Secretary, Rodney Slater, that Greyhound purchase accessible buses and rededicate themselves to complying with the interim regulations.

Ms. Russell along with a few ADAPT members had come to the Greyhound terminal to serve the manager here in Memphis with a copy of the Federal complaint. They asked that the manager write Greyhound CEO Craig Lentzsch and mirror Secretary Slater's request that Greyhound only purchase accessible buses and train personnel in ADA interim regulations.

The Memphis Center for Independent Living
1633 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 726-6404 v/tty (901) 726-6521 fax
mcil@mcil.org 

MCIL is a United Way of the Mid-South member Agency

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