Those Special Connections

At the end of the day it is about the people we work with and those we help. Whatever our roles are at Ride Connection or with our partner organizations, it is all about the customer and getting them to where they need to go. In doing so, we often develop a special connection with our customers, whether it is the gentleman we take to see his wife, the group of ladies we take to their weekly bingo game, or that "tenacious" woman, who's motivation to learn how to use public transportation was getting a good cup of coffee.

Below is a moving story about that "tenacious" woman from one of our Travel Trainers. Thanks Lisa for sharing!

Annaballe, is one of the tenacious cast members of The Rider's Voice and one who started her journey using public transit not knowing if she could even walk to the bus stop when I first met her. She moved from New York to be closer to her daughter living in Portland. She didn't know a thing about TriMet or the area she was living. Through her own determination to get out of the assisted living facility and driven to get a good cup of coffee, she increased her endurance so she could independently use the fixed-route bus system not only for that cup of coffee, but to expand her trips for shopping and medical appointments.

She was good to call and check in with me once a month to let me know how she was doing and ask for other trip plans to new destinations. She eventually was able to leave the assisted living facility and move into her own apartment and learned new bus lines. All this, with her oxygen tanks and walker to help her along the way.

Annabelle called to let me know she had a set back with a spell of pneumonia last month and later on experienced heart failure. She said she called 911 herself for a trip to the emergency room after waking up on the floor of her apartment. I recently visited with her in rehabilitation taking her one of those good cups of coffee and a copy of The Rider's Voice (so she could show off). We talked about current events and her hopes of getting back to riding the bus again.

Annabelle passed away Saturday, 12/18/10. She was 82.

Her daughter called to let me know and to tell us how important public transportation was to her while living in the Portland area. Without the freedom of independent travel the past three years her life experience would have been very different. Annabelle was a very independent person, proud of her accomplishments, and for being able to share her story in The Rider's Voice. Her daughter told me that she shared the book, specifically her story, with family members around the country and with others in the rehabilitation facility. There will be a memorial for Annabelle in New York this Spring, and her daughter intends on taking the book with her and sharing her story with her people back home.

Annabelle is a great spirit and I am a better person for knowing her.

NHTSA Proposes Rule to Reduce Back-Over Crashes

According to National Highway Transportation (NHTSA) estimates, on average 292 fatalities and 18,000 injuries occur each year as a result of back-over crashes involving all vehicles. Of these, most of the fatalities involve light vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less.

Two particularly vulnerable populations – children and older adults – are affected most. Approximately 44% of fatalities involving light vehicles are children under five (an unusually high percentage for any particular type of crash). In addition, 33% of fatalities involving light vehicles are people 70 years of age or older.

To address this issue, The U.S. Department of Transportation proposed a new safety regulation to help significantly reduce the blind zones behind vehicles that can block pedestrians from view. The proposed rule was required by Congress as part of the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007. (The act is named after two-year old Cameron Gulbransen, who was killed when his father accidentally backed over him in the family’s driveway.)

The proposal, issued by NHTSA, would expand the required field of view for all passenger cars, pickup trucks, minivans, buses and low-speed vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of up to 10,000 pounds so that drivers can see directly behind the vehicle when the vehicle’s transmission is in reverse. NHTSA believes automobile manufacturers will install rear mounted video cameras and in-vehicle displays to meet the proposed standards. To meet the requirements of the proposed rule, 10% of new vehicles must comply by Sept. 2012, 40% by Sept. 2013 and 100% by September 2014.

While technology can help reduce back-over crashes, there are many things a driver can and should do to avoid such tragedies. This information sheet from NHTSA provides good information. In addition, here are some basic tips from AAA Exchange:
*Always assume children could be present, and carefully check the street, driveway, and area around your vehicle before backing out.
*When backing up, always know where all children are and have them stay in your full view and well away from your vehicle.
*Always look behind as you back out S-L-O-W-L-Y with your windows rolled down to listen for children who may have dashed behind your vehicle suddenly - and be prepared to stop!
*Use extreme care whenever you back up. If you're driving an SUV or truck, remember that the blind spot behind your vehicle can be especially large.

These simple tips take only an extra few seconds but could save a life.

Another story from the road.....

A couple of weeks ago, my favorite rider, Jack, no longer needed rides to see his wife in a nursing home. They were going to try having her back at home. This was great news, though I knew that I would miss my time with Jack. However, I figured it would allow me to take a couple of Fridays off from volunteering and get to my neglected holiday shopping. I planned to start back up volunteering again in the new year.

This Tuesday, I got a call from one of our great partner agencies, MFS Project Linkage, saying that Jack and his wife were going in for an evaluation at a different hospital. Apparently Jack’s wife would still require around-the-clock care after all. I picked up Jack and we drove home from the hospital.

The new facility was farther away than the old one so we had more time to talk. He told me that he was sad that his wife had to go back in, but he had no choice. Jack let me know that he goes to dialysis three days a week and with his low vision it was almost impossible to give his wife the proper care on his own.

On the way home, he asked me if I could take him to Safeway to go grocery shopping. Without a doubt I could. While helping shop for his groceries (two crabs and two turkey sandwiches), it reminded me of helping my own grandparents and how much I missed them, especially around the holiday season. Just when I had that thought, (right on cue, as if I was shopping with my grandmother rather than Jack), he tried to slip some money into my pocket. I politely declined, which frustrated him. I told him I would bring a donation envelope next time. He grudgingly accepted my compromise and then asked if he could buy me a sandwich or crab, I think jokingly. Again, I politely declined and we made our way back to the car.

In the car we continued our language lessons that I had missed for the past few weeks. I am fluent in English with some fading French skills and Jack speaks Vietnamese and French fluently and is building his English skills. It seems that crab in French is crabe, who knew? Well, I do now because of Jack.

During this holiday season please considering donating your time or making a charitable contribution to Ride Connection, so individuals like Jack can not only see their loved ones, but also enjoy a little bit of the holidays as well….