ABQ Sun Van

I am a disabled patron of Sun Van Paratransit services. As a matter of fact, I am a Blind patron. At this point Sun Van's services are no where excellent. Almost every single time I ride the Sun Van, I have to call 311 and file a complaint with the city of Albuquerque. I have called the Mayor's Office with no resolutions or help. All I am told by the Mayor's Office is that Sun Van has loop holes and refers me back to Sun Van's supervisor, Phyllis. When I talk to Phyllis, all she does is make excuse after excuse. Yesterday, July 16th I was the Presbyterian Hospital on at 1100 Central Ave., I was taken there and asked for a call when ready pick up. I called and the dispatch logged me in at about 4:42pm.I sat in a wheelchair outside of the hospital by the main entrance by the valet because I asked valet to keep a look out for the Sun Van for me. Yesterday, was hot as are most days in Albuquerque during the summer. I was drinking lots of water because I didn't want to get dehydrated. I called dispatch at 5:45pm to see when the Sun Van would arrive. He said, in 5 minutes so, I didn't have enough time to go to the restroom. I didn't go during that hour because I was in fear of being stranded by Sun Van as it has happened in the past. I finally get picked up. Guess what?! The driver had another patron on the sun van and we drove from Presbyterian Hospital on Central to Academy near Tramway. I was clear across town on the opposite side of town of where I live. I live in Ventana Ranch passed Universe. Meanwhile, I needed to go to the restroom and the driver told me he's not allowed to make stops for the bathroom. If the driver can't make stops, why have disabled patrons on the Sun Van for an extended period of time?Phyllis did return my call today, except she left me a voicemail with an invalid phone number. I called the number three times and each time said, you've reached a number that has been disconnected or no longer in service. I've also been stranded by Sun Van. I've called dispatch and there was no answer. I called 311 and made a complaint. The 311 operator also called dispatch with no answer. I attempted to call five times. one call I let it ring for 15 minutes. I have the phone records to prove this. I eventually had to call UBER to get home. My list goes on when dealing with Sun Van. I don't recommend using this service. Some of us disabled patrons depend on this service. Changes are necessary!!! I've also started a petition on Change.org

Sadly, I'm unable to drive with any predictable results. I have dialysis 3 times a week Mon., Wed., and Fri.; 12 noon 3 days a week, getting off at around 5 pm. Like clock work. Around Christmas and Thanksgiving they change the schedule around. So, rather than relying on people who'd rather do anything than take me to dialysis, I've decided to start using public transportation. They have the "Sun Van" here in ABQ. They come to your door and take you ( or me in this case) to where ever you want to go. You can't just set up a scheduled ride, 3 times a week. You have to make scheduled appt. actually two days in advance. Even though the Sun Van has been to Albuquerque Kidney Center 10 million times for years you have to have the exact address. The fare is $2.00 each way. It would seem that they would have a prepaid card or something but they don't. You can get 5 passes for the price of 6, but you gotta go to the damdo bus station to get them. I wonder if the ride to the bus station costs $2.00. Anyway, people at least as dumb as me have been doing it for as long as I've been going to dialysis, and that has been 5 years. I'm going to give it the ol' collage try, but not without a bunch of complaining. Not only is it inconvenient (What's a little inconvenience?), It's my life. So far, I've got one ride to dialysis. I ordered one ride for tomorrow, but I get off at 5 pm and the earliest I could get a ride home was 6:30 pm after sitting in dialysis The service is good enough that the City can claim that they have para transit services. I'm going to do everything in my power to find another way to dialysis.