My Bus Trip 


By Kenneth Clap 


On August 5th, I called Trailways (Cherry Point 466-9287). I told the person, I wanted to get tickets to Stroudsburg, PA. He told me the price and said I needed to call this # (1-800-752-4841 to setup special arrangements due to me being BLIND. So I called this # and was told a faster routing (I was so happy to hear this) and that I needed to call Trailways to setup everything, because I was starting with them. I called the # (1-919-833-3601 ext. 123) and told the person what I needed. He told me, I needed to call the other # and get all the arrival & departures times. Which was: 

8/10/01

CHERRY D - 5:30PM

NEWBERN A - 6:00PM D - 6:10 PM

NORFK VA A - 10:20PM D - 10:40PM

NYC A * 6:20 AM D * 7:30 AM

STRBG PA A * 9:330 AM 


8/18/01

STRBG PA D * 7:40 PM 

NYC A * 9:20 PM D * 10:00 PM

NEWBERN A * 10:35 AM D * 2:30 pm

CHERRY POINT A - 3:00 PM


So I figured, I would have someone meet me in Newbern. But the only thing was Cherry Points schedule was different. Anyway I called Elvis back ( 1-919-833-3601 ext. 123 ) and told him all the times. I also told him, about Cherry Point not having these times in their book and PC ! He told me not to worry, it will be all taken care of. 

 On 8/10, I arrived at the station to get my tickets and get my bus. Well the person didn 't have this schedule I was showing him, I had printed the times they had given over the phone. He told me, he was not notified of anything !! But he told me the schedule to PA was the same, just the return was different. So he said, he was sure when I get to PA they could fix it. I was a little upset, but I said ok! 

Well the trip to NYC was ok ( except the bus driver was too busy to give me a hand at any of the stops or rest stops ) . When I arrived in NYC, I waited for exit line to stop. When I finally got off the bus, the driver was gone and I was on my own ( good thing I called for the ADA !!!). Now I was really upset, I have been in NYC before, but now being blind was scary !!!!! Well one of the passenger helped me to get to a phone, after a little while a guy showed up. He asked me where I was going, I told him on the 7:30 to Stroudsburg PA. He grabbed my bags and rushed me into a line and told me to wait here. Well again one of the passenger moved me to the front of the line. 

After awhile-another guy asked for my ticket and said I was on the wrong line, I was on the 8:30 line. Now I was even more upset. My ride will have to wait another hour and be worried. Well finally I arrived in PA, a little late. Well I talked to the woman at the counter and she told me what my ADA was and that I came in on the wrong bus. She told me I needed to call the Bus Company and tell them what happen. 

Well on Monday I called Greyhound and they told me to call Trailways Which I did call Elvis again, well after I told him what happened. He made me feel as though I was bothering him. He told me everything was all setup, but he couldn 't get a hold of Cherry Point. He told me all I needed to do was tell that about my ADA. Who was I suppose to tell, no one seemed to care and neither did he! So he told me to goto the PA station and they should fix it and hung up. Now I was even more upset, it seemed as though it was my fault ( good thing I called ahead for assistance). 

Well on Saturday I went to the station and she redid my ticket, so here we go again. Well the trip to NYC was fine, BUT when the driver took me over to the Greyhound info booth. They told us my bus leaves at 11:30 not at 10, he told them I was supposed to be on a special ADA. She said there was no 10 bus, just leave him over there. They will get him when its time. So now I am a little nervous about sitting here for 2 hours by myself! So I finally got my bus. 

Well the driver and I talked awhile and I told him this story and he said hold on a second. When he returned he told me that there was a 10pm bus, that went through Norfolk VA. Also he told me the rest of my new schedule. He told me, I was now was going through Richmond, with another 2hr layover there. Then a few other transfers, I would arrive in Newbern at 2;30pm. Now I was really upset, my parents will be there at 10am to pick me up. 

I had no way to tell them!! When I finally got up with them it was in Rocky Mount at 12pm. They were really worried. Well now I am home and really upset with the whole bus system, I plan to send this story to all handicapped association 's I can find. So all will learn from this and be prepared if they plan a bus trip on either Greyhound or Trailways!! I hope through this story, no one will ever have this happen to them!!!!

I also plan to send this to Greyhound and Trailways *. 
 


** A little about me, I am 36 and just recently went blind ( January 2001 ). So all of this is still new to me, sorry for any typing or grammar mistakes * 
 
 


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