City may tighten eligibility rules on disabled bus passes
By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Eligibility for disabled bus passes could become more stringent as the city tries to weed out those who should not qualify for the discounted fares.
The city's Department of Transportation Services does not believe abuse is widespread, but has acknowledged weaknesses in the eligibility criteria, certification and approval process.
"As a result, we feel ineligible applicants are being approved for this particular bus pass," Paul Steffens, chief of the city's public transit system, told the City Council Transportation Committee.
Disabled bus riders pay $1 per ride, instead of the regular $2 adult fare or they can buy monthly passes for $5 rather than $40, or annual passes for $30 instead of $440.
Between 1998 and 2003, the city issued on average 4,700 disabled bus passes a year. The passes are supposed to go to those with physical or mental impairments. While physical disabilities are generally obvious, mental impairments are not. Mental impairments include difficulty using the bus because of confusion or disorientation and difficulty reading informational signs.
The problem with the current pass system came to light last year after a psychologist told the city one of his patients had asked him to sign a disabled bus pass application. Although only medical physicians and approved government agencies can certify a disability, psychologists and drug-abuse counselors have been signing the applications as well.
Currently, an applicant only needs to supply some personal information and have it certified by a doctor, and approved at TheBus offices.
The city is looking toward independent disability verification, like that used in the HandiVan approval process, in which applicants are sent to the Rehab Hospital of the Pacific to determine eligibility. The application will require more information and will be kept confidential.
Steffens emphasized the city is not trying to leave out anyone who is eligible for the passes.
Reach Treena Shapiro at 525-8070 or at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com .
