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sabaii's Blog

by sabaii from Orlando, FL 32809

Last Post 20 days, 16 hours Ago


Last week I went to the Lynx Central Bus Station in downtown Orlando on my way to the VA Clinic. As I needed to get two bus passes to save on gasoline purchases I asked for one weekly pass and one monthly pass. I showed the lady my disabled card which allows me half price passes. Much to my surprise the cashier told me she thought that I was re-selling the passes for profit and warned me that if I got caught they would be seized and I would no longer be able to buy passes. I strongly objected but she said it was Lynx policy to tell seniors/disabled people that they were being watched. I bought my weekly pass $7 and my monthly pass $22 and left the terminal. I wondered just how much I could earn by selling these two passes. The amount paid was $29 and regular price of the passes would be $58. A bonanza if I made the full amount of $29? I know scalpers make money on buying and selling Majic tickets across the street but at the bus station? The security and police on duty don't even allow panhandlers and the passes have distinct colors showing the driver what kind of pass you are using.

I went on Channel 9 TV today May 19th even though Lynx ordered us off the property while filming the comments. They claimed Lynx to be private property although Lynx is a subsidized State sanctioned local  bus service. I was denied my civil rights of freedom of speech and Channel 9 was denied their media rights and forced off the property. Lynx says that in Jan 07 only 1700 senior bus passes were sold but in May 08 2000 were sold indicating a 30% increase. How much has gasoline increase percentage wise since Jan 08? There appears to be a nexus between more seniors riding the bus now because of their limited income. Are seniors and disabled people turning into gangsters because of the economy?

I would appreciate readers comments.

 

 

18 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 18
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80sMetalHead read my blog view my photos
May 19, 2008 | 1:39 PM

I can see maybe putting up a sign stating that re-selling is illegal. To jump the gun and tell you that she thought you were re-selling and if you got caught, etc etc...that's just over the top. I don't think seniors and disabled people are turning into thugs b/c of the economy. I think this cashier is just RUDE.

YBSRobin read my blog
May 19, 2008 | 1:51 PM

Unfortunately, we are living in the world of "stereotyping" people. And I bet, sabaii, that more than likely other people heard the comment as well, making it seem as if you were being discriminated against. Scalpers are everywhere but I never thought about it at a bus station. 80sMetalead summed it up perfectly, with the thought of putting up a sign. However, though, in order to be politically correct, I wonder how many signs it would take reach all languages....LOL.

Abunai read my blog view my photos
May 19, 2008 | 4:14 PM

My question... why one weekly pass and one monthly? My guess is multiple pass purchases may be suspect.

Hey I feel the same what when I see seniors at the military commessary purchasing diapers and baby food!

sabaii read my blog
May 19, 2008 | 4:56 PM

Weekly passes are good for me when I don't have a lot of scheduled medical appointments for a period of time. If I see that I'll be needing to use a pass frequently during an entire month, I go ahead and activate a monthly pass. Actually, I really think that an eligible person should be able to buy passes that don't expire to keep from getting nailed by the inevitable rate increases coming. Kind of like the long lines at the post office where people stood in line to buy "forever" stamps which only saved pennies.

bchans read my blog
May 19, 2008 | 7:15 PM

I see your point, and agree with all what you say except for one point...your rights to free speech were not denied...you JUST excercised them...and that right is "protected"...many assume we have rights granted...when in fact we always had them...the Bill of Rights simply protects the rights we already have.

BornToBeWild read my blog view my photos
May 19, 2008 | 8:48 PM

You are behind the times here. It has been said over and over about people getting desperate because of the fast increase of costs. The only thing that hasn't changed is the rich side of life! People will turn and change and those could also be the very ones that you only thought you knew! It's a power game and we are the little soldiers who work for them!

BornToBeWild read my blog view my photos
May 19, 2008 | 8:57 PM

Just because of a few bad apples and the growth in crime, companies get tighter with rules. You know...like our government...act first ~ think later! Desperate people tend to do desperate things.

BornToBeWild read my blog view my photos
May 19, 2008 | 8:59 PM

All in all...I would be really pissed if my dad wen through something like that!

BornToBeWild read my blog view my photos
May 19, 2008 | 8:59 PM

All in all...I would be really pissed if my dad went through something like that!

sabaii read my blog
May 19, 2008 | 11:55 PM

Channel 9 should be commended to acting so fast. They taped me at 10am and I was on the noon news and afternoon news.Now you all know what I look like. Do I look fatter on TV? Not possible. I asked my friend Tom Sussi (35) to act but he must have been busy or something.

sabaii read my blog
May 20, 2008 | 12:05 AM

By the way,I did the research and found to my amazement that gasoline has risen 72% since January 07. Diesel is worse. Poor truck drivers.

Ericjhach read my blog view my photos
May 20, 2008 | 5:45 AM

For one to assume is wrong and everyone knows the spelling of assume.

Native_Floridian read my blog view my photos
May 20, 2008 | 10:10 AM

Cashier WAS and IS in the WRONG here, I would have gotten here name, time of the incident and reported her to the higher ups at LYNX.

I've called Lynx many a time on how their LYNX ACCESS drivers are driving many times and I'm certain quite a few of these have lost their jobs over their INABILIT to drive and transport disabled/seniors to/from their destinations.

sabaii read my blog
May 20, 2008 | 11:47 AM

NF; I did email lynx and call them and the email was adamant that they would continue with their program that they don't consider harrassment.I got the time and the cashiers number as she wouldn't give me her name. Channel 9 news got the same response live on camera from the Lynx manager.Orlando Police Dept. has officers on duty at the terminal so I went today to the OPD HQ and got a print out of all calls for this year at Lynx only. There were 216 and not ONE incident of scalping tickets. I am awaiting a call from an OPD detective (Montgomery) and the Lynx safety/security manager Bill Zielonka but they haven't responded. What a shock! Incidentally, VOTRAN,Volusia Co's bus system is cutting routes and other measures in a legal way to deal with fuel costs. Not tormenting the old and disabled.

Native_Floridian read my blog view my photos
May 20, 2008 | 2:33 PM

Wow sabaii, that's messed up. When I've called and complained about drivers or rude cashiers, I got responses that were most often favorable. Sounds like you got them on a really bad day or something! Hope it all works out for ya. We're rooting for ya!

sabaii read my blog
May 20, 2008 | 3:12 PM

NF; where are you from? I was born in Daytona Beach on the beach side in a small doctors office that they later turned into a funeral home. Come and go at the same place! Neat. By the way, I've talked to the VOTRAN representative Robert and he sure is a nice person. I bet he is also a good administrator.

TAllen read my blog view my photos
May 20, 2008 | 10:57 PM

Sabali have you ever checked to see if they have any services in Orange county that provide transportation to the disabled and Seniors for Medical Appointments. They are usually van's of some type well at least here in Lake County they are. I know when my Dad needed to get to a doctors appointment a few time when I was out of town he called them and they were always very good about being on time and being very nice. Anyway, just a thought in case you run into problems with the buses again.

sabaii read my blog
May 21, 2008 | 4:22 AM

Yes,and thank you for the tip. The bus runs right by my house and it's only one bus change at the central Lynx station. It does take an hour to get to the VA for my endless stream of treatments but I prefer the bus as I never know how late the doctors at VA will be and I often have to wait for up to an hour for my prescriptions if I need them right away. The VA system is hopelessly broken at Orlando. I have submitted so many complaints to Administration and my congressman but nothing changes. It now appears that VA is also treating foreigners as it is full of people who can't speak English. I can't figure out what is going on unless it is Vets from PR families getting treated for free. My wife is Asian and she can't get treatment.

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sabaii

Retired firefighter and Nam vet

Member Since: 1/10/2008