Fare Alert: Disabled pass price going up 100%

RantWoman does not obsessively follow the evolution of things like bus fares. Well, RantWoman has been generally aware of budget problems and many kinds of questions and even knew bus fare increases were in the offing. In advance publicity, some categories of services and passes are kind of soft-pedaled, until one looks at the latest Fare Alert !

RantWoman has been putting her brain around the fact that the cost of a monthly Disabled Pass will go up 100% effective January 1, 2010. This is on top of an 89% increase the last time there was a fare increase. Simply in percentage terms, RantWoman could easily understand why many riders' heads would be spinning, especially riders who are on fixed incomes and not even getting cost-of-living increases in, say, Social Security. RantWoman is amused to note that the increase in price for passes is steeper than the per ride increase for disabled passengers. The current increase will be only 50% though the previous one was a 100% increase.

Conversation about this topic indicates that Seattle-area fares for disabled passenegers have historically been dramatically lower than for comparable services in other areas. RantWoman is not going to go check this thought out on other transit-agencies' websites, at least not right this minute. If that is the case, it would be really nice for local transit agencies to get the big percentage-wise increases out of their system so that people can settle down at least a little!

RantWoman does note that even with fare increases, for heavy bus users like RantWoman, the bus pass will still be a BARGAIN. RantWoman has previously noted how much easier it is for her to have a pass and not to have to fuss with change or transfers. RantWoman also notes other big changes available on links from the Fare Alert page above about the ORCA card replacing passes and other transfer esoterica. For the time being, RantWoman is at least going to TRY not immediately to get a headache! Well, RantWoman is going to try.