[tabi] Greyhound Concerns

From: Tiffany Baylor <gtaw06e@xxxxxxxxx>
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sat, 22 Sep 2018 08:49:39 -0400

   While in transport on the Greyhound bus last night I was told that I
would need to pay for a second fare because my guide dog is large and
spills over into the seat beside me. I tried to get a friend to drive me to
Tallahassee and also attempted to advocate to the driver, but since the bus
that I would be transferring to in Tallahasse was fully booked, and I would
encounter the same situation there.
(May I also mention that the ‘Disabled Seating’  that is directly behind
the driver was occupied by the driver’s luggage and a handbag belonging to
the lady in the seat in front of me, and the woman in front of me was
seated individually in a pair of seats without a dog/wheelchair/etc.)
   Yes, you’re right; the requirement to pay extra for my mobility aid is
ADA Illegal, but I learned from the station counter personnel that it is
Standard Operation Procedure for Greyhound patrons with service animals.
When I stated that I wasn’t prepared to pay an extra $115.00, the counter
person, (after contacting his supervisor) stated, “You chose to have a big
dog” and “You knew you were bringing him, so why didn’t you buy two seats
to begin with?”
   I am now in Tallahasse working on transport back home without Greyhound,
and will also loose the $119 that I paid for my hotel, not to mention the
original $119.00 that I paid for the trip in the first place. Needless to
say, it has been an eventful night.
    I would like to know from other guide dog users. Has this been common
practice with Greyhound when you travel? Should I contact someone about
this, or is it really Standard Operational Procedure?

(There is a photo of my guide dog laying on the floorboard in front of me)

--
Thank you,
Tiffany

Follow-Ups:
- [tabi] Re: Greyhound Concerns
  - From: Shelley Sawyer

[tabi] Greyhound Concerns

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