Transit Access for the DeafBlind Community, Part 1
Daily commuting activities such as crossing the street, boarding a bus, and knowing where to get off – become part of a completely different world for those in the deaf-blind community. Seattle has perhaps one of the largest and most active DeafBlind communities in the country. Producer, Mona Yeh and correspondent, Yuko Kodama spent time learning more about issues around access and mobility for people in this community through the Lighthouse for the Blind Seattle. They spent time with Debra Kahn communicating through two tactile American Sign Language interpreters, who alternated every 15 minutes. Watch the video below and here more of Debra’s story here.
Transit Access for the DeafBlind community from 91.3 KBCS on Vimeo.
Click here for more What’s the Flux?: Commuter Dispatch stories.
Emily’s Bike & Bus Commute
Emily Campbell enjoys her bike to bus commute just the way it is. Driving a car is not an option she likes or thinks about. In fact, Emily says even if she won the lottery, she’d buy a car but still take the bus. Correspondent Whitney Henry Lester rode along with Emily and brings you her dispatch.
Click here for more What’s the Flux?: Commuter Dispatch stories.
A View From the Bus Driver’s Seat
Waking up before the sun rises and driving a big machine are two things Janice Rapier likes to do. After 30 years of perfecting this routine as a part-time transit operator for King County Metro Transit, Janice appreciates the perks of driving a bus. And she especially likes the fact that it’s one profession where as a woman, she’s treated equally. News Director, Sonya Green and WTFlux producer, Mona Yeh bring you a dispatch from the bus driver’s seat. Seattle PI photographer, Grant Hindsley, captured a day in the life of Janice, starting from her doorstep to the driver’s seat.
Click here for more What’s the Flux?: Commuter Dispatch stories.
Dorian Wants Transit Policy Towards Disabled Persons to Change, Part 1
When Dorian has a smooth bus ride, it’s an experience to cherish. What’s the Flux producer, Mona Yeh, took a ride with Dorian to get a first-hand account of their experience. Here’s the dispatch.
Click here for more What’s the Flux?: Commuter Dispatch stories.
Homeless but not Hopeless; Riding the Bus to a Better Future
The bus is a means to a better life for Al Brown. Brown is homeless but not hopeless. He has been homeless for years but that has not determined his outlook on life. Brown is a college student who depends on the bus to move him towards a better future. Whitney Henry-Lester brings us Al’s dispatch alongside Seattle PI photographer, Grant Hindsley. Grant spent the day with Al and captured his commute in photos.
Click here for more What’s the Flux?: Commuter Dispatch stories.
Route 48 Ride Along
A campaign got route 48 for the Central District and continued advocacy keeps the bus route in business. The Transit Riders Union is very active in ensuring transit justice for all. Yuko Kodama spoke with Transit Riders union General Secretary and Organizer, Katie Wilson.
Click here for more What’s the Flux?: Commuter Dispatches stories.
Additional Seattle Times Photos for this story
The Campaign for Seattle’s Bus Route 48
What many in Seattle know as bus route 48 didn’t always exist. Thanks to the hard work of community organizers and advocates in 1966, Seattle’s Central Area got much needed north-south transportation. Among the leaders who worked on the Crosstown Bus Campaign was Maid Adams of Seattle Congress of Racial Equality or CORE. Adams reflected on what it took to get the route established. Here’s her dispatch.
Here are some links for more information on the Crosstown Bus Campaign
https://seattleinblackandwhite.org/crosstownbus.html
This KBCS story was also featured in the Seattle Post Intelligencer:
https://www.seattlepi.com/local/commuter/article/The-Campaign-for-Seattle-s-Bus-Route-48-6864130.php
Click here for more What’s the Flux?: Commuter Dispatches stories.
School Desegregation and Busing in Seattle
Seattle implemented a desegregation busing plan in 1978. The program lasted over two decades. Opinions on the success of busing varies. WTFlux spoke with Dr. Norwood Brooks, one of Washington state’s first elected black officials. (more…)
Tacoma artist, Lynn DiNino creates bus-themed art
People-watching and gazing out the window are common ways to pass time on the bus. Tacoma artist Lynn Di Nino took this to the next level by creating an art exhibit inspired by her 35 mile long Tacoma-Seattle commute consisting of 3-dimensional portraits of bus riders sitting next to photographs, which are real window scenes taken on the bus. Correspondent Whitney Henry-Lester visited Lynn, here’s her dispatch.
Images of Lynn Di Nino’s show “Riding the Express Bus 594”.
Click here for more What’s the Flux?: Commuter Dispatches stories.
Why My Family Lives Car-free
Activist and Bus Chick blogger, Carla Saulter made a choice many years ago to live without a car. It’s a choice she’s happy about. It’s a choice she wishes more people could make.
Click here for more What’s the Flux?: Commuter Dispatches stories.
