Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Accessibility topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Blind and visually impaired residents urge council to adopt 'Bridal Choice' on‑demand transportation option
Summary
Multiple speakers at the Sept. 16 meeting asked the council to pursue Bridal Choice — an on‑demand, ride‑hail style option — saying existing Dial‑A‑Ride and fixed‑route services cause multi‑hour trips, limit work opportunities and pose safety concerns for visually impaired residents; staff said the item was deferred to next month.
Several visually impaired residents and service providers used public comment at the Sept. 16 council meeting to press for the city to implement a Bridal Choice on‑demand transportation service (analogous to Uber/Lyft style service for eligible riders). Speakers said Dial‑A‑Ride and fixed‑route buses often require multi‑hour travel times for short trips, reduce employment opportunities for blind residents and can create unsafe conditions while waiting at remote pickup points.
What people told the council: Kimberly Fetterman, a visually impaired resident who works for Savvy Services for the Blind, said Bridal Choice functions “like getting an Uber or Lyft, where it's on demand. It's 24/7, where I can be part of this community,” and described Dial‑A‑Ride trips that took multiple hours to reach a work site. Donald Knowles, another visually impaired instructor, said he sometimes spent more than five hours on a single Dial‑A‑Ride trip and that the extended travel time nearly caused him to leave a job. “My concern, my great concern, is in the city of Peoria, we do not have adequate transportation,” Knowles said.
Why the speakers say it matters: Commenters said more timely, on‑demand transport would enable blind residents to sustain employment, participate in civic life and avoid risky waits at poorly lit or remote pickup points. Several speakers also described negative public interactions and confusion when other residents do not recognize white canes; they asked the city for heightened public education on interacting with blind residents.
Staff timing: Several speakers noted staff told them the Bridal Choice item would be discussed at a future meeting; staff confirmed the item was deferred for further review and requested commenters meet with staff after the meeting to provide more detail. Council took no formal action on Sept. 16 but staff said the matter will return for council consideration next month.
Quotes: “With Bridal Choice, it is like getting an Uber or Lyft, where it's on demand. It's 24/7,” Kimberly Fetterman said. Donald Knowles added, “I tried taking the city bus... it took me over 3 and a half hours,” citing multiple transfers as a barrier to employment and regular participation.
