Comments on: Public transport Vs Brain injury

By: Michelle #jumbledbrain

Michelle #jumbledbrain — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 23:46:37 +0000

In reply to Stephanie. That's so good that you can get a bus take you to your final destination rather than the nearest bus stop. And it's great that it's an affordable option too.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 22:34:49 +0000

Following my brain injury and having lost my ability to drive, I had many experiences getting endlessly lost attempting to navigate a simple bus route. In North Carolina, some city locations allowed me to apply for Special Transportation due to disability where the bus takes you door-to-door and costs only a dollar extra than city bus fare. Having a quieter bus with fewer people helps immensely with my PTSD and anxiety due to the injury, which makes the time I then spend at Speech Therapy or Occupational Therapy more focused and productive. I appreciate the option.

By: deborah alvarez

deborah alvarez — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 14:38:58 +0000

i can finally navigate our transit system, but not without “tricks of the trade”. when i first tried it, i ended up so lost and turned around. now the first thing i do is hand the bus driver a post it with my needed stop. that act alone lets him know i’m not an average able bodied person. as for getting a seat, i just sit myself down on the little corner of the seat occupied by baggage without looking at anyone or saying anything. i guess i just become mute and avoid eye contact. here, there are so many people who walk to the tune of a different drum that my lack of social graces are a dime a dozen. during commuting hours i will bring along my cane to let others, at a distance, know that they need to give me space. i have to tell myself that i’m just being kind to myself to use these methods to get where i need to go unscathed and not so anxiety ridden.

By: michelle.munt@yahoo.co.uk

michelle.munt@yahoo.co.uk — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 16:25:59 +0000

In reply to David Cropp. David that is so good that you are now confident enough to travel to your appointments on your own. It gives you that independence. I completely understand you arriving early for appointments, I can't bare being late or feeling hurried either.

By: michelle.munt@yahoo.co.uk

michelle.munt@yahoo.co.uk — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 16:22:54 +0000

In reply to Helen Caligiuri. Helen,I hope your foot gets better soon. I'm pleased the public transport in Melbourne is usually pretty good. It feels difficult giving your license back, as you like to know you have that option. But perhaps as you haven't driven since, you've proved to yourself you don't need it? Even if you ever do decide to drive again, it would be a good idea to have another driver come with you for a while to get used to it again. After my accident, even though I had been driving for 15 years, I still needed James to come with me as I got comfortable with it again.

By: David Cropp

David Cropp — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 01:49:04 +0000

Loved your observations about public transport. During my ABI rehab, here in a northern Ontario city, I was given the chance to have a therapist assist me to use the bus. I was encouraged to get to my outpatient appointments on my own, rather than relying on someone taking me. After a few times it started to feel empowering. Missing stops shouldn’t be a problem because it’s announced over a speaker and there is a visual display at the front of the bus. The busses aren’t as frequent as in the UK and you have to be confident in your ability to make the correct connections. I turned up at outpatients 1 hour early more than once because I wanted to make sure to get there in time. I hate running late and having to rush to go anywhere.

By: Helen Caligiuri

Helen Caligiuri — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 10:08:05 +0000

So happy I just found your Like button! Where I live in Melbourne Australia I can walk 10-15 minutes to a tram but I mostly get a taxi to a train closer to the city and train it from there. I would say 90% of the time I’m offered a seat and I do use a walking stick. I generally do a lot of walking and catch public transport home. May have overdone it yesterday as today my bad foot hurts painfully. I spent 2 years in the country before my disability and I didn’t drive and had to be driven 20 minutes to the only bus, so I understand your predicament. I got my license in time for my diagnosis at 34. My neurologist suggested I give it back. I didn’t but I’ve not driven since.