Bus Protest by Disabled Snarls Traffic

A protest by about 20 disabled people in wheelchairs in downtown Los Angeles against the use of Greyhound buses on Orange County Transit District routes caused an afternoon downtown traffic gridlock Friday but resulted in no arrests.

However, one of the leased Greyhound buses on a Fullerton route was surrounded by the demonstrators from American Disabled for Accessible Public Transportation (ADAPT) and the bus’ driver remained parked at the curb at 6th and Flower streets for more than nine hours.

Members of ADAPT, some of whom actually crawled under the wheels of the bus, said they have selected Greyhound nationwide for demonstrations because it has made no accommodations for the disabled. Diane Coleman, an ADAPT spokesperson, said Greyhound is in “flagrant violation of California’s access laws” requiring mechanical lifts for the disabled on public buses.

In the past, Greyhound has denied discrimination against the handicapped

The rerouting of traffic caused a domino effect and downtown traffic inched along on other streets. Motorists sounded horns incessantly as engines and tempers overheated.

Although some of the demonstrators openly said they hoped to be arrested, Los Angeles Police Department Capt. Gregg Berg said “we don’t have any intention of taking these folks into custody.”