Disabled woman barred from bus over dog's buss pass

[IceyBlueSibes]

Disabled woman barred from bus over dog's bus pass

Last Updated: Monday, January 8, 2007 | 11:00 AM ET

CBC News

An Ottawa transit bus driver will not be reprimanded after a disabled woman complained he barred her from a bus, called her names and twice left her in the freezing rain, said an OC Transpo spokeswoman.

Kathy Riley, the transit company's accessible transit specialist, said the driver acted professionally when he prevented Sue Anderson from boarding the bus with her assistance dog because he believed the dog's bus pass was fake.

Anderson, 50, uses a motorized wheelchair and has only limited use of one arm. She relies on her American cocker spaniel Little Pieces, a trained assistance dog, to perform everyday tasks such as fetching her medication, pressing elevator buttons and keeping other passengers from crowding her on the bus.

Riley said the dog's city-issued bus pass is unique and bus drivers were not told about it. The pass was issued as part of a trial intended to make things easier for people with assistance dogs other than guide dogs for the blind.

"It's a matter of us getting the message out to all of the operators and employees that a service dog is in fact much more than that," Riley said.
Meanwhile, Anderson said Mayor Larry O'Brien has promised to look into the incidents himself.

Anderson went public on Saturday with complaints about how she was treated by an OC Transpo driver on Dec. 29 and Jan. 1.

She said she hopes publicizing the incident will result in better treatment of people with disabilities who use public transit.

"I really hope that with this … all of the drivers will realize that not just Seeing Eye dogs are assist dogs," she said.

Anderson said the problems began when she presented both her own bus pass and her dog's while trying to board the No. 5 bus.

She said the driver told her the dog's pass, which she has used for a year, was fake. He allowed her on the bus, but said he wouldn't pick her up again.

"He used the b-word," she said. "I said, 'You, sir, are not a very nice man.' He said, 'You, madame, are a B.'"

Anderson said the same driver passed her twice without stopping three days later, while she waited in the freezing rain as it got dark.

"It really was disturbing," she said. "It makes me want to stay home."

[Beryl]

This breaks my heart. The woman has a hard enough time because she (1) is disabled, (2) must take public transportation, (3) must constantly make her special circumstances public knowledge and (4) must deal with stares and rude and ignorant people. How dare this service provider further humiliate her this way! If the transit company is publicly funded, it only makes it worse.

They need to FIRE that bus driver. I Googled "Ottawa transit bus" and couldn't find a good link so that I can send in my complaint. Does anyone have an email address?

[Novel]

I guess I have to disagree. Like the story says, the bus driver acted appropriately. He was never informed by his employer that the card was valid and they admit it looked differently than all others that the driver would have been familiar with.
It is a shame, but the driver did let her ride once. She should have been proactive. Yes, it sucks to be disabled and yes, it sucks to have to work harder instead of actually have things made easier for you. I sympathize with her conditions, but the driver himself was not in the wrong, his employer was.

[Beryl]

Originally Posted by Novel

Like the story says, the bus driver acted appropriately.

I'm not trying to argue but to point out that the employer spokesperson said that the driver acted appropriately -- not "the story". The story stated both sides of the issue. The accuser stated that she was called a "b-". If that is true, he did not act appropriately. I guess only the driver, the passenger, and those who witnessed the incident know if that happened.

We do agree that the employer is at fault. And that is why I don't believe their spokesperson. They don't want to be criticized or even sued.

[Novel]

I see your point Beryl.

[c0_re]

So this guy thought she was "faking it" or what?

Like Beryl said it's bad enough this woman has to ride the bus ontop of it she gets a hard time from this jergoff bus driver getting off on some sad ego kick, like he's king $&#@ on poop mountain.

Since when are service dogs not allowed on public trasportation? Sorry but this is really upsetting to m, if he really did call her a b1#$@ I hope he has to publicy apologize to her and get repramanded at work.

[roman]

thats messed up here i newyork you don't see dogs on buses or boat/trains alot but sometimes we have them on the bus


here in newyork a school wouldn't let a disabled boy who was 17 take his seeing eye dog to school

the princible said to the boy " your dog isn't allowed to be in the school it is against the rules...I am sure you will get around just fine without the dog"

the boy is legaly blind and can only see shadows and he can't walk without a walker

the school was sued and the princible was fired

[BCNTC]

now f he tjought it was fake and just said so, fine, I can see how that could have been "acting appropriately" however the second he called her a B--- he was way out of line. thats terrable

[Angel_baby]

That's actually sad in a way, whild yes the bus company should have been told about the passes the driver also should not have acted in a rude manner and then to top it all off not allow her on the bus when she was out in the rain. It just goes to show that disabled people are not treated as they should be in most places.

[HappyDonut]

That is sad to hear. Even if the bus driver had any doubts on whether or not she had a fake pass, as a considerate person, he should have let her on the bus anyway! I mean what kind of human being is he if he would'nt let a disabled lady on the bus and out in the rain?

[GSD Keira]

ok maybe the bus driver acted appropriately by not allowing her on the bus because he thought the bus pass was fake. But on the other hand, he was totally out of line. Why would he have to call her names? Thats an appropriate action? Second, how stupid would you have to be to see a disabled person with a dog and not know it "could" be a service dog? DUH! He DID NOT have to be a jerk! Third, he could have radioed his dispatcher or whatever to try and check it out. What kind of person verbaly abuses a disabled person and feels good about themselves? Here service dogs are allowed wherever their people go. If someone refuses them, they get in big trouble. That bus driver crossed the line. Bus pass or no bus pass. He should've used his own good judgement. Which, obviously he lacks. jmo......