Let's start with the obvious. Oh my gods, I love living in the 21st Century. It sure isn't perfect but even as a kid, I could not have imagined or predicted that "wheelchair-bound" people would be able to ride the bus. As someone who hasn't owned a car in over 25 years, whose last driver's license was issued in Massachusetts, and who relies on her city's pretty excellent public transit system, I benefit from so many advances in law, in technology, in attitude.

And before I go into the litany of how crappy it can be to ride the bus when you use a wheelchair let me talk about the joy. From early on, when I was using a scooter, I would get cooperation, help and offers of help from often the most unlikely seeming people. That's very judgmental of me and I know it, but it's how I felt. That time that the two biker guys helped that woman get her chair lined up on the lift so that she could get on the bus. That time that the driver...well actually, those times that the driver helped me when I was in an awkward position. The many times that total strangers, often who did not look like they could afford the bus fare would champion my rights, would call to the driver to let her know a wheelchair was on its way. This week alone, I had the experience of utter strangers saying to me "we won't let him leave without you" and the oddness of someone tossing me a quarter to help pay for the bus. (huh? it was not pity, it was, it seemed, a desire to do something because I could not get on that particular bus, as it was full, or the left was funged up or something. But huh?

I've had strangers help hook the chair or unhook it, asking permission first, then sometimes explaining that their sister uses a wheelchair or their dad. I've had great conversations with the person in the other spot for a wheelchair, including that guy who was heading to the VA Hospital yesterday, who deals with MS. In a very short time, we had lots to say, we bonded.

Every Metro bus is lift or ramp-equipped. It is the easiest way to travel around Seattle for me and will be until I end up with a license and a lift-equipped vehicle. I am still grateful for the cab system, but the bus is most excellent. The two buses I take to Seattle Medical and Rehab are frequent and along busy routes. One of the sweetest drivers I have ever met is a regular driver on both routes. Most of the drivers have gotten to recognize me, but I still am surprised that they remember my stop, or comment when I show up at a different starting point.

Okay, so now, let's not forget a single word of this, because it's true that I am impressed and grateful for a functioning bus system. However, let's talk about the oddities of a system that does not have policies in place for many issues that affect a wheelchair user.

Problem the first (and biggest) is that there would appear to be no policy about Who Gets On The Bus First. For some reason, it appears that able-bodied folks get on first. Why? Because I already have a seat? What it if it raining? What if it's cold? Why do I have to sit and wait while upwards of 30 people, often, cut in front of me and get on the bus. I'm not saying they don't get cold and wet too but what is the thinking here? Yeah, sure it takes a little extra time to get me onto the bus and buckled in, but so what? It's going to take extra time whether they are on the bus or on the street. I'm not asking for extra privileges, or special consideration but why, exactly, am I last one on the bus?

Problem the second, connected to the first is that I'll be sitting there, waiting to get on the bus, in the rain, in the cold, in the dark, or in the bright sunshine as five, or twenty, two or thirty other people walk in front of me and get on the bus. Then several of them promptly sit down on the first bench seats at the front of the bus. The seats that they will have to vacate because a wheelchair is getting on. Wheelchair invisibility Syndrome looms here. You walked right in front of me. And?

Problem the third. Don't get me wrong. The job of bus driver is one I could never do. I cannot imagine being able to do this job. But keep in mind, again, that as a wheelchair user, I have NO CHOICE about where I sit. The bus is designed with space in front. Two wheelchairs can fit in these designated spots. So if I ask that the driver close the window that is bringing in cold air, and he refuses, what exactly are my options? I can't move to the back to get away from the cold air. But I'e been lectured about how the driver can't close the window or he'll get sick. Who's right? Whose rights trump whose? It's not fair to the driver to make her over-heated. It's not fair to me that my feet get so cold I can't get warm even after an hour after getting home. And why can't the driver at least be polite about it?

I've asked some of the nicer drivers about policy, about "who gets on first" and such. I have been told there is none. That's ridiculous. Drivers should not have to determine who to piss off more. Drivers should not have to defend their actions. There should be clear policies in place. I should not have to argue, defend myself of explain. I have enough to do, really I do.

Drivers have a lot of stuff to pay attention to, I get that, believe me. But whoo boy, I spend more and more time recently having to ensure I can actually get off the damn bus. When I ring for my stop, the ring sounds different. Also, there is a special signal that lights up when I call for my stop. And yet, in recent weeks, I have had to yell, interrupt conversations, yell again. I have had to ring and say "wheelchair getting off here" even after the driver has asked "where are you getting off the bus?" when I get ON. I often say it so that the people standing in the front of the bus will realized they have to move. They tend not to. But drivers can get tired and distracted. Still, if a special ring and a dashboard signal aren't enough, and my yelling "wheelchair getting off next stop" often isn't enough, something's wrong.

That "can't get up and move" part of riding the bus? Tonight I actually had to get off a bus that I was on after only a few blocks, because a woman got on with a screaming, screeching child. She never tried to quiet the child, just let him scream. It was agony for me. She did not try to distract him, quiet him, pet or soothe him. She let him scream. Again, I can't get up and move. I can't go to the back of the bus. I have no choice where to sit. I often cannot read because the lights at the front of the bus are turned off for the driver's sake. And in trying to get off the bus, I had to ask someone four times to move so I could get by and he still did not comprehend that he was standing in my way and I could not get off the bus while he was in my path. Most of the folks reading this blog probably have never thought of the limitations involved here. What you know is the joy of being able to ride a bus. And there is big joy. But think of all the choices you have at your fingertips.

Finally, when the ramp/lift deploys on a bus, this is or should be obvious that something is happening. Despite beeping, despite drivers saying "I need to use the lift" despite people like me sitting waiting to get on, despite hands being held up, passengers still happily wade onto the bus, sometimes right onto the ramp. And stare blankly as the driver tries to get them to move back off the bus. Again, despite trying to get attention paid, it's not. We need something. A big flag with a wheelchair on it to drop down. An arm with a sign that comes down boing!!!!!! A way to keep it from being the driver's responsibility to say, over and over, "I've got to lower the ramp. I have to lower the ramp. I have a wheelchair coming off." Which is how it "works" now. You think loading a wheelchair user takes time? This takes more. And oh please, great giant public, if you are standing there as I get off the bus, could you sorta, kinda, please not just stand there? I'm not that fascinating. You don't need to stand there slack-jawed. Please please make a space, make room for me so that I can get OUT of the bus so you can get ONTO the bus.

Yes, really, all of this has happened. I've also been whacked in the head by bags, whacked on the arm by bags, had people fall on me then inform me that I am okay, had my wheelchair slide forward because the driver did not secure the chair properly (or not, but because the floor of the bus and my wheels do not agree).

Just in case folks were thinking once again that the ADA Fairy had done another "poof" and that everything was fine and forever.

Any questions? Any answers? Anyone have a mint?