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Rider with disabilities recounts repeated access denials, safety incidents on public buses
Summary
A frequent GoRaleigh rider urged the council to revamp rider policies, saying drivers have refused ramps or kneeling, left impaired riders in weather, and that supervisors sometimes did not respond; the commenter described one incident leading to a 2‑day recovery after being forced to walk late at night.
Nikki W., a frequent public-transit rider, told the council she has experienced multiple accessibility and safety failures on GoRaleigh and GoTriangle service and urged policy and training changes.
"On multiple occasions throughout the years, many times my request for the ramp or to kneel the bus has been denied…Drivers have shut the door on me, have shut the door in my face and pulled off and left me standing 30 minutes to an hour for the next bus even in a cold pouring rain," Nikki said. "I walked 2 and a half hours after midnight in the rain to get home."
Nikki said she reported incidents to supervisors and safety personnel but that responses were inconsistent; she also described an incident in which a passenger she identified as "Miss West," who had suffered strokes, was tripped by a ramp and struck her head and was taken to the emergency department. She said GoRaleigh has delayed or complicated the process of filing claims for injuries.
She also reported that some drivers refuse to fully kneel buses or deploy ramps, have told riders they “don’t have the time,” and sometimes assert ramps are only for wheelchairs. Nikki said confrontations arise from unclear policies, supervisors who do not communicate consistently, and the presence of farecars, which she suggested reconsidering because they can be a source of conflict.
The public comment did not produce any council motion during the meeting. Nikki asked the council to review and revamp policies for riders with disabilities, improve communication of accommodations to drivers and supervisors, reconsider farecar usage and ensure public meetings on transportation are posted on buses for public comment opportunities.
