From: Jordie Howell 
Sent: Monday, 12 September 2005 1:35 PM
To: disabdis
Subject: Disability Accessibility for Public Transport Exemption

Disability Accessibility for Public Transport Exemption Dear Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission,
  
I Jordie Howell of Blackburn South, Victoria, do not support the request for exemption under the DDA Transport Standard by the ARA and urge HREOC to reject this request.
  
In my opinion, public transport is hard enough to use and it has been for far to long.  It is also quite dangerous for those of us with a vision disability.  Not only is it a dangerous venture each time we use the trains, trams and busses it's also very frustrating for blind and vision impaired travellers for the following reasons.
  
* In Victoria/Melbourne, our Blind Person's Travel Permit can't open the barriers at stations and we can't get through them without assistance
*	Trains don't always announce which stop they are approaching, you never know where you are
*	In the event of public works (E.G the redevelopment of Southern
Cross Station/Spenser Street Station) Trains don't always announce that they are bypassing that station.
* Tactile Ground Surface Indicators are nonstandard across train stations and tram stops in Victoria, thereby creating confusion for the blind traveller with respect to orientation and are also a safety risk.
*	Bus and Tram drivers are rood and have no idea about communicating when they
have reached the stop a blind person wishes to disembark at.
*	Tram drivers won't advise blind people what number tram they are
unless you first enteragate the driver, normally through a glass window.
*	Taxi Drivers in Victoria, are getting worse, they no longer know
where they are going.
*	Taxi Drivers can't read maps.
*	Taxi Drivers don't tell travellers where they are, (How on earth if
you are totally blind are you meant to know if you're going in the right direction or not?)
*	As proven two years ago with the Multy Purpose Taxi Program, taxi
drivers often rip off the system and you never know if the right amount has been charged to your card.
 
As well as my own problems, I'm sure there are many issues concerning  other  people with disabilities.  Therefore I do not support any request for exemption under the DDA.
  
If you would like to discuss any of the issues above, please don't hesitate  to contact me on the details below.
Yours sincerely
 
Jordie Howell