TOWNS FIGHT TO EXTEND THE RIDE SERVICE
From: The Boston Globe

April- Is the Ride leaving some people stranded? The Ride is a door-to-door transportation program for the physically disabled operated by the Metropolitan Bay Transit Authority (MBTA). Eligible riders pay $1 per trip after giving 24-hour notice for a wheelchair lift equipped van that takes them to any destination of their choice. "Because of a quirk in the 1990 Americans With Disability Act, however, the MBTA provides the service only in 59 towns where it operates fixed-route buses and subways and in three communities, Concord, Framingham and Natick, where it had extended the service before the federal legislation was passed," according to T spokesman Brian Pedro. "Other towns in Massachusetts pay taxes to support Mass transit services, but are not serviced by The Ride. These towns are pushing to either expand the service to their area like the town of Sherborn, or towns like Duxbury want to have their money reimbursed so they can provide their own transportation service for the disabled." Contact the CRC for a list of towns serviced by The Ride at x6-8182.

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