One good thing came from the fall I took in December: Breaking my hand convinced me to apply for a Taxi Access Program (TAP) card.
The TAP card gives taxi discounts to Chicagoans whose disabilities make it difficult to access regular public transportation. Just “tap” the card on a screen in the back seat the same way others tap their credit cards and receive a discounted ride (taxi drivers are reimbursed for the remaining cost by the Regional Transit Authority).
I won’t stop taking the bus–at least when the sidewalks are all clear.
My pride prevented me from applying for a TAP card before. I felt perfectly capable of taking a regular Chicago Transit Authority bus with my Seeing Eye dog Whitney to the memoir-writing class I lead in Lincoln Park every Monday. That was until it started to snow and was difficult to get to the bus stop. And then I fell and broke my hand. I wore a cast for six weeks. I started to think, gee, maybe those cards are intended for people like.me!
I called the RTA to apply. The RTA sent reams of paperwork, Mike helped me fill the forms out, we mailed them in, the RTA called me for a phone interview, they set up a time for me to come to their office in-person, I arrived at the RTA office and answered more questions, Whitney led me to a bus stop and an RTA staffer trailed behind to watch us step onto a bus. All this to see whether I’m “disabled enough” to qualify for a TAP card.
I don’t berate the RTA for putting me through all those hoops. I blame the scoundrels who fake or exaggerate their disabilities to use service animals, park in handicapped parking spots, and get cab discounts. In the end, I passed the audition. Or, I guess I failed: I qualified. My TAP card came in the mail last week! Perfect timing, as I’ll need it on my totally blind day today:
- 10:30 a.m. Call Flash Cab to Use TAP card for cab ride from our apartment to Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA)
- 11:00 a.m. Attend first ever special hour-long tour at MCA for people who are blind or have visual impairments
- Noon Review tour with MCA staff and share suggestions and recommendations for the next special tour
- 1:00 p.m. Phone Flash Cab for pick up at MCA and ride to Chicago History Museum
- 1:30:p.m. Attend first ever touch tour created by the Chicago History Museum for visitors who are blind or have low vision — it’s a 90-minute highlights tour of a permanent exhibition called Chicago: Crossroads of America (can you believe both of these are on the same day?!)
- 3:00 p.m.
A friend who is meeting Whitney and me to join us on the Chicago History Museum tour will walk with us to La Diosa to enjoy a delicious early dinner together — La Diosa owner and manager Chef Laura Martinez is, you guessed it…totally blind - 4:30 p.m. or so Call Flash Cab to use TAP card for taxi ride home.
My TAP card won’t work on Uber or Lift or other ride-sharing services, but all the registered cab companies in Chicago are supposed to accept them. I like to use Flash Cab, however. They have a long history of being respectful to riders with disabilities, and Flash Cab drivers are familiar with the TAP card and how it works — I don’t have to worry that they’ll question the TAP card or make a fuss about accepting it.
If it weren’t for my new TAP card I don’t think I’d sign up for so many things in one day — I’d be too anxious about bus routes, getting to new bus stops, knowing what commands to give Whitney when we disembark — excuse the dog pun — at a new and unfamiliar corner. Thanks to TAP, I’m actually looking forward to going totally blind today.
Beth: I love the way you really do see – the good in everything.
From Sharon Kramer. I don’t know why they always put Bethsclasses instead of my name.
Oh, I think it has to do with you being the administrator of the bethsclass blog or some such.I knew it was you, though, Sharon!
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Wel…I try!
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Very interesting! Thanks for sharing! Good to know about TAP. You continue to prove to yourself and the world, that nothing can stop you!!!! XO
Yes, that “TAP” is a handy thing –not so handy to qualify for, though –I needed that whole, ahem “break” to have time to jump through all the hoops.
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What a great day you have planned! Flo would have been very happy to know that you are taking a cab!
Yes, but she would *not* like knowing I was doing more than one thing in one day.
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That is a cool thing to have and great idea!! I hope that you and Whitney have good experiences with it. Enjoy your day!
So far nothing but good experiences –the Flash Cab drivers are all very interesting to talk with, and they are very patient, too.
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That’s so wonderful!! But then you are a very personable and very interesting person too. I’m sure they really appreciate you being their customer.
Yes, it was mutual admiration, I’m pretty sure.
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“disembark”. Good one. Uber says they do not have to comply with any ADA laws because they don’t have employees. This is reason #1 I don’t use them. There are many others, like Rahm’s brother is a part-owner, like they are GPS drivers. I’ve used FlashCab all my adult life. The taxi app “Curb” is for taxicabs and its better than Uber or Lyft.
Speaking of taxicab drivers, there’s a great article in Sunday NYT Mag about “wave pilots” in the Marshall Islands. It cites neuro-study info that non-GPS cab drivers who find their way using multi-level mental activity have increased grey matter. This explains why Uber drivers don’t follow passengers’ verbal directions – diminished grey matter unhooks knowledge of left and right.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/20/magazine/the-secrets-of-the-wave-pilots.html
Recently I was walking with Whitney on Fullerton Ave. in Lincoln Park and wanted t make sure I was close to Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church (my destination). I heard someone approaching and called out an “Excuse me” their way. The person stopped, I pointed to where I thought the church might be and asked, “Is that a church right there?” Person asked if I knew the address of the church. I did, I said, but just wanted to know if we were standing in front of a church. Person asked for address again, and when I finally gave it, they punched it into their phone. Finally after the phone told them where 600 W. Fullerton was, they looked up. “oh, it’s right here,” she said. The sad thing is, she didn’t even laugh. I fear that it’s not just grey matter going away, but sense of humor, too? _____
Glad that you’re getting around so much easier now, Beth!
Me, too.
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Beth and Whitney, I love your blog!
I have so much respect for you both! You teach the sighted so much! Thank you,
#1 fan, You’re on top of our list, too.
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Sounds like a good day
It was! Tiring, though…
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So much to go thru to be on TAP. I remember searching the streets of Chicago last year because you had lost the spikes to your boots the day before that were to prevent you from falling. I say winter season (and any season in between) equals Flash Cab. On TAP…..I’m in.
Oh. I’d forgotten about you searching for those spikes/cleats. You are a devoted sister — looking forward to being with you in early April, Bev.
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