The PennZone

PHILADELPHIA ~ Philadelphia, PA - Liberty Resources, Inc., a Center for Independent Living in Philadelphia, has issued a call to action to address a transportation crisis affecting people with disabilities across the country. The organization is urging individuals to take photos of blocked bus stops and share them on social media using the hashtag #BlockedBusStop to raise awareness of this safety issue.

According to a new video released by Liberty Resources, illegal parking at bus stops is making it dangerous and often impossible for wheelchair users to access public transportation. This is because bus operators are unable to properly deploy wheelchair access ramps if the bus cannot pull up to the curb.

The video, which can be viewed on YouTube or at https://youtu.be/o1kE-9wQd4A?si=fn95rRu1Yogv2uWx, highlights the impact of blocked bus stops on individuals with disabilities and seniors. A 2023 study by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) found that over half of their bus stops along two key routes were obstructed at some point during a typical weekday. In some cases, bus stops were obstructed up to 30% of the time.



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This poses serious hazards for people with disabilities and seniors. A study by the University of Louisville found that most transit bus wheelchair incidents occur when buses are stopped (73%), with many taking place on the lift/ramp (59%) or outside the bus before or after boarding or exiting (27%).

Thomas H. Earle, CEO of Liberty Resources, stated that blocked bus stops and curb cut areas are violations of civil rights for people with disabilities. He emphasized that their mission is to ensure equal access for individuals with disabilities in all aspects of community life. When they are unable to safely board or exit buses due to blocked stops, their civil rights and access to opportunities in the community are compromised.

Latoya Maddox, Senior Independent Living Specialist at Liberty Resources and Chairperson of the SEPTA Advisory Committee for Accessible Transportation (SAC), added that even one car parked illegally in a bus stop can greatly impact a person's ability to get to work, school, or appointments on time. She stressed that this issue has been tolerated for too long and urged cities to follow Philadelphia's example in taking action to change driver behavior and make buses accessible for the disability community.

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In November 2023, the City of Philadelphia authorized the use of camera-based enforcement of transit zones through cameras mounted on transit buses. This technology is currently used by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in New York City for automated bus lane enforcement and by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) in Washington, DC for automated bus lane and bus stop enforcement.

According to data from New York City, 86% of drivers who receive a citation for parking in a bus lane do not receive a second one, indicating that this technology is effective at changing driver behavior.

Individuals can join Liberty Resources' call to action by sharing their photos or videos of blocked bus stops via email at LaurenAlden@libertyresources.org or on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram using the hashtag #BlockedBusStop. By raising awareness and advocating for change, we can work towards making public transportation more accessible for all individuals.

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