AC Transit endangers elderly and disabled with bus stop changes: Make Public Comment June 11

The next AC Transit Board Meeting will be Wednesday June 11 at 5 pm at 1600 Franklin Avenue, 2nd floor in Downtown Oakland. Public comment is immediately opened at 5 pm, so we need to be there at 4:30 or 4:45 pm to check in and sign a speakers' form to make public comment. 

Our problem is that AC Transit has moved/re-moved TWO bus stops that end the safety of elderly and disabled persons going to and coming from the Wednesday and Friday Pantry sessions, and in so doing AC Transit has violated the ADA law that seeks to retain and/or provide "reasonable accommodations" for Seniors, Disabled, and others who would NOT be able to enter or leave our Agency, Telegraph Community Ministry Center, 5316 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland California, without incurring INCREASED RISK Of INJURY and DEATH, because AC Transit first removed the bus stop from in front of the Temescal Oakland Library, which was only ONE stop light crossing for the Elders, Disabled, and Parents w/ young children to cross to catch the Southbound #6 bus.  That #6 bus stop was moved, from a solid sidewalk in front of the library at 52nd and Telegraph, to a detached concrete island beyond 51st and Telegraph: TWO whole additional streets south of the Library AND across two additional, very dangerous intersections (1) at Telegraph and 52nd Street which the is the short-cut to the 980 Freeway entrance at 51st and Shattuck; and (2) at Telegraph about a 1/2 block beyond 51st Street which is a very wide, four- lane, intersection with staggered traffic "go" and "left turn" timed-signal starts and stops.

As if that was not bad enough, the Southbound #6 bus stop at 55th Street is equally as treacherous and dangerous because it is 4 full blocks farther north of that bus island at 51st Street, and people walking to that bus stop with grocery carts full of food frequently have had to RUN to 55th and then negotiate two signal lights that control cars at both the #6 AND the #12 bus stops, turning left from 55th, north toward the 24 Freeway,  cars driving straight across the 55th Street Crosswalk into the gas station, AND the #12 bus, turning right from 55th onto Southbound Telegraph.

So now, the AC Transit Board of Directors has removed the Southbound #6 and #12 bus stop at Claremont, yet again from a solid sidewalk, backward one block so that shoppers, Elders, disabled persons and parents with minor children will be endangered ONCE again, arriving at Telegraph and Claremont to shop at our Agency's Pantry three times per week,  because they will be forced to dodge traffic turning right onto Claremont to go northeast rapidly toward the Rockridge area. The danger here for ALL walkers trying to cross Claremont at Telegraph is that far too many drivers, bike riders and motor bikers do not really observe the law when making a right turn: they simply barrel through the crosswalk, on a red or a green light, and accelerate as fast as possible, either in route to DMV or some other sacred venue.  Maybe the drivers will see the pedestrians attempting to cross the street on a green light and maybe they won't, resulting in screeching tires and bus-dependent riders running for their lives all day every day.

Whoever planned these bus stop removals and redistributions did not study the usage patterns of thistle North Oakland, Temescal population. Instead, the planners simply looked at WHAT SEEMED to be expedient, cost saving, commercially beneficial for the new Whole Foods (a.k.a. Whole Paycheck) store that now will surely benefit from having the Northbound #6, #12, #800 bus stop right in front of its door, no matter whose lives are inconvenienced or lost in the process!

Please restore the bus stop in front of the Temescal Oakland Library, and please do NOT cancel the original Telegraph at Claremont bus stop. 

Err on the side of humane morality, respect for Seniors/Disabled/Working Class Parents with Children, and the integrity of our Community.

Thank you.

Peace and Health Equity with Justice and

      Courageous Respect for Everyone,

 Ms. S. Omowale Fowles, Housing Director

 MANNA From Heaven Breakfast Program/

 "A ROOF Over Their Heads" Emergency-to-

 Permanent Housing Program at Telegraph

 Community Ministry Center (TCMC)