This article is also available in: 日本語
One of the dramatic changes compared to my previous life in Tokyo is “taking a bus”.
I was very shocked when I first saw the time schedule.
Very few buses are operating.
Mostly 1 bus for 1 hour.
I understand this because the passengers who can take this bus are only people who either go to Syracuse University or work there.
When I lived in Tokyo, I took a bus only once a month.
I didn’t need to take one, because I could go anywhere via train or subway.
But the number of bus operation was pretty good.
I checked the time schedule at the place where I used to live, and found13 buses comes and goes for 1 hour! Wow!
I kept complaining about this, but found a good point.
The good thing is…the same driver drives for the same period of time everyday!
They remember me after I took the buses for several times.
Why am I happy about this?
Because wheelchair users cannot get in bus without driver’s help.
In both Tokyo and US, we need to ask a driver to prepared a ramp for us to get on the bus.
When I first came to Syracuse, I was very nervous especially when taking a bus from the campus.
There are 20-30 people waiting for the same bus.
When the bus came, everyone just rushed on the bus.
I was worried if the driver can find me in the crowd.
However, Mr. driver remembers me already!!
“Back off, please!”
He says to people.
They give me a way and the driver pushes a ramp button (it gets ready automatically by the button near the driver’s seat).
He even remembers where I gets off at the apartment area.
I really appreciate his perfect support.
I always say “Thank you. Have a good day/night.” with smile when getting off.
I find a priceless merit in the limited bus operation.
For your information, there are many buses going around in Tokyo which means there are many drivers are driving.
Therefore, some drivers take care of passenger in wheelchair well, but some do not.
I have met few drivers who obviously are mad at me when they see me taking a bus.
I also have heard from some wheelchair users that they don’t want to take a bus because of the driver’s attitude towards passengers in wheelchair is bad.