U is for the Urban Mass Transportation Act. Signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, the Urban Mass Transportation Act was initially conceived under John F. Kennedy in 1960. Providing $375 million in capital assistance over three years, this measure set precedent to provide access to public transit for all people living in urban areas.
Let’s talk about transportation and being disabled. In Colorado, we actually have one of the best accessible transit systems for people with disabilities, including individual pick-ups for doctor’s appointments if you receive federal assistance. However, it’s a small bus system. You must arrange transit days or weeks in advance and then are given a window for pickup (usually 1-3 hours). Then, after your appointment, you must wait for the bus again—in a 1-2 hour window—meaning that a single doctors’ appointment can take 4-6 hours out of your day. This is a LOT of energy when you’re chronically ill. It’s an option—but not a good one or one that really can be considered accessible given all of the extra time spent waiting in different weather and varying transit situations.
How does urban transit work in your area? Does it seem accessible? How do you feel about Colorado’s accessible transit as described above?