Getting Where You Need to Go

It may be a quick trip to the grocery store, a hair or a doctor's appointment, having lunch with some friends, or a day of much needed shopping therapy. Yes, getting out and about is important for your physical and mental wellbeing, and there are some basic steps you can take to make getting where you need to go a little easier, no matter your level of vision. So let's get going.

First of all, like so many things in our lives, planning ahead, whenever possible, makes a whole lot of sense. And knowing your public transportation options is a great place to start. Now, find a handy place, like your phone's contact list or an address book, to store phone numbers and addresses for your local bus depot and train station.

And let's not forget there are ride share apps, like Lyft and Uber, that you can download to your smartphone. Even if you don't have a smartphone, you can use ride share services through a program called GoGo Grandparent. You'll find more information about this program in the Resources section of this workshop.

It's also a good idea to learn the routes and schedules. Looking at the bus schedule and realizing you just missed the one that would have gotten you there on time is not what you want to have happen. So go online or call to find out where and how regularly the buses or trains run in your area. Remember to find out if schedules change on the weekends and holidays too. Find out how much the trip will cost and whether there's a discounted rate for people with disabilities or seniors. Sometimes exact change is required, so make sure you also know what forms of payment are accepted. And if you use public transportation on a regular basis, consider buying a weekly or monthly pass. You might also have the option of getting a transportation card that can be loaded with additional money whenever your balance runs low.

If you're like me, if you don't bring an umbrella, it's guaranteed to rain. So make sure you check the weather and dress for the weather and time of day. If you're going out later in the day or into the evening, wear light colored clothing, to make yourself more visible to others.

Now nothing creates stress like waiting until the last minute and having to rush. So try to get to your departing station or stop a little early. This will give you time before the scheduled departure to request a guide if you'd like one or ask any questions you may have about purchasing tickets, navigating the station, or boarding the train or bus. And if you have the opportunity, ask a friend or family member to help you get familiar with your local bus stop, depo, or train station before your scheduled travel date.

When you're there on your scouting trip, get familiar with where the ticket counter, restrooms, posted schedules, and gates are all in relationship to the entrance you'll use when the day comes for your trip. Low vision travelers will want to bring your handheld magnifier to help you read signs on schedules. You can also take pictures of signs with your phone and use the zoom feature to do this. Train stations often have different platforms for trains traveling opposite directions. Finding the right platform ahead of time can help you feel more at ease while you wait for your train.

Check out your local paratransit services too. These are individualized transportation services that you may qualify for if you are unable to use the public transportation services in your area. Once your application with paratransit is accepted, services will be provided to you within three fourths of a mile of a bus route or rail station. And paratransit is offered on the same days during the same operating hours as public transportation services too. Also, paratransit must cost no more than twice the fare charged for the same travel using local bus or train services. You'll need to arrange for paratransit service at least 24 hours before you need to use it. Make sure you've got the address and phone number for where you're going handy before calling to set up paratransit service. And when scheduling your trip to help you get there on time, it's better to give the time you wish to arrive at your destination instead of the time you want to be picked up.

Something else you can do is call or visit your local blind rehabilitation agency to find out about their services. You may want to consider receiving specialized orientation and mobility training to help you feel more confident traveling about on your own. There are also several smartphone apps that can assist you with trip planning and navigation. You can learn more about them by checking out Hadley's many technology workshops or consider joining our technology and travel discussion groups.

As always, contact a learning expert if you have questions or your own tips to share. Of course, as with anything new, give yourself time, patience, and practice and you'll get there.