As a daily consumer of the RIDE, an essential service provided to people with disabilities, I am writing to constructively contest the proposal put forth by the MBTA to drastically cut its transportation services.
As quoted from the article written by Paul Leighton in the Salem News on July 20, 3,001 people are registered to use the RIDE in the six communities where the MBTA proposes to discontinue RIDE services: Beverly, Danvers, Peabody, Middleton, Topsfield, and Wenham. Thus, thousands of people would lose the ability to get to essential appointments such as those with their doctors.
Cutting RIDE services in these six communities would not only affect consumers living there, but many more who access services there and need to travel to these locations.
It is difficult enough for elders to accept having to give up driving when their health necessitates it. With cuts in the RIDE service, which is a viable alternative for them, they will be even less likely to make this concession, resulting in more accidents and higher costs in lives and auto insurance.
I second the opinion expressed by Paul Lanzikos, executive director of North Shore Elder Services, that cutting services to these six communities would result in those frail, disabled folks “being sentenced to spend the rest of their lives in their bedrooms.’’ I believe strongly that being able to get out and live a full life is worth more than any debt owed.
A fare hike is a more reasonable solution. I would rather see an increase in the cost of the RIDE which is worth more than $2 per ride. There could be a sliding scale fee for consumers, who could provide proof that their income could not support this fare increase.
In addition, I believe strongly that for those on MassHealth, transportation to and from medical appointments should be paid for by medical insurance.
No one should be denied transportation, as without it we cannot live, but merely exist, and existing is a cruel fate for anyone.
Christine Parker
Salem 
