"This service will be fully operational in the fourth quarter of 1999, three
years earlier than required by proposed federal regulations," Craig Lentzsch,
president and chief executive officer, said.
Greyhound's fleet of 80 buses equipped with wheelchair lifts will be stationed
in 12 to 15 cities around the country, with a group of trained drivers in each
location. Today, 20 of these buses already are on the road.
"We will guarantee travel by a bus equipped with a wheelchair lift between any
two points in the intercity bus network to anyone who requests the service 48
hours in advance," Lentzsch said.
The 48-hour requirement provides time for guaranteed travel arrangements
including coordination of lift-equipped service at transfer points between the
two or more carriers, he explained.
Unlike airlines, Greyhound carries only 70 percent of its passengers from
origin to final destination. The other 30 percent transfer along the way to
other carriers, most of them small, regional bus companies with limited
resources.
Although small airports, those with fewer than 10,000 passenger arrivals per
year, are exempt from accessibility regulations, Greyhound's service will
extend to the smallest communities in its network.
Persons who request service less than 48 hours in advance will be accommodated
whenever possible. Passengers who arrive at terminals without advance notice
will be boarded with airline-style boarding chairs and guaranteed a lift-
equipped bus for the return trip if 48 hours notice is given.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Secretary of
Transportation has proposed a demand-response system, such as the Greyhound
plan announced today, to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2002. The
proposed regulation also would require all intercity buses to be lift-equipped
by the year 2012.
"Under our plan our entire system will be accessible," Lentzsch said. "There
will be no loss of service to small towns, no increase in ticket prices, and
the physical lifting of disabled passengers by our employees will be
eliminated."
Also, he said, for the first time Greyhound will have a fleet of accessible
buses and trained drivers available to serve charter trips for persons with
disabilities.
Greyhound is the only nationwide provider of intercity bus transportation,
serving more than 2,600 destinations with 18,000 daily departures. The
company also provides package express service, charter service and food
service at certain terminals. For schedule and route information, contact
Greyhound at 800-231-2222, or visit our web site at www.greyhound.com. SOURCE
Greyhound Lines, Inc.