In a message dated 9/14/00 8:28:53 PM Pacific Daylight Time, Tamar40 writes:

> Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2000 21:04:31 +1000
>  Subject: [ADAPT-CA] PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY STOP MELBOURNE TRAMS
>  Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
>
>  PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY STOP MELBOURNE TRAMS
>
>  People with Disability Reminder: Inaccessible trams are Unacceptable:
>  CATCH A TRAM ACTION
>  Wednesday 13th September 11.00am cnr Swanston & Collins Sts, Melbourne
>
>  On Wednesday the 13th September 2000 a peaceful demonstration by people
>  with
>  disability stopped Melbourne's Trams for two hours as planned. Eighty
>  people
>  were there: people with disability who use wheelchairs, people with
>  disability that don't use wheelchairs, friends, allies, supporters and
>  advocates. One woman who uses a wheelchair managed to get on a tram for
>  the
>  first time in her life. She was laughing the whole time, even while three
>  Police Officers carried her off the tram. Everyone got to Catch A Tram as
>   a
>  whole fleet of trams queued away from the intersection.
>
>  Tram travel was severely disrupted over lunch time causing a great deal
>  of
>  inconvenience to other members of the public. Most how ever were very
>  supportive. Many said 'good on you'. This was despite the fact that they
>  were being made to walk. They knew while they couldn't catch a tram that
>  day, that those protesting couldn't get a Tram any day.
>
>  The protesters greeted an announcement by  Yarra Trams, one of the Tram
>  companies, with cautious welcome. Yarra Trams provided a press release
>  saying 'Access For All' and that they want to make their whole fleet
>  accessible by 2006!  Swanston Trams were asked by the protesters what
>  they
>  would do about access.  They merely said they would comply with the
>  Standards. They will find out that this is not acceptable.
>
>  The people with disability protesting received support from thousands of
>  S11
>  demonstrators who marched to the Tram Blockade in solidarity. Catch A
>  Tram
>  and S11 united on the need for Public Transport access. For an extended
>  moment there was a real sense of mutuality and shared purpose that can be
>  built on in the future.
>
>  The onus is now on the Tram Companies and our governments to act. Access
>  needs to be provided as quickly as vehicles can be built. The whole of
>  Australia can benefit from this investment in accessible infrastructure
>  and
>  Australian jobs. Our public transport will then stop denying people the
>  chance to participate in life's opportunities.   Everyone has been
>  reminded
>  that inaccessible trams are just unacceptable. The cost of this is going
>  to
>  be emphasised. People with disability are determined to continue direct
>  action to bring about access over the next few years. Ten, fifteen,
>  twenty
>  or thirty years is not acceptable. After leaving the blockade of the
>  middle
>  of the intersection everyone met and celebrated. There was unanimous
>  support
>  for another Catch A Tram Action in one months time. Planning has already
>  commenced. WE WILL RIDE