SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4 News) – A disabled man was stranded in Salt Lake City all because the bus didn’t have a wheelchair lift to get him on.
“I’ve been sitting here all day,” said Joe Sanders. “It hurts to sit here all day.”
Sanders must use the wheelchair to get around. He’s boarded Greyhound bus in Grand Junction Colorado headed for Butte Montana.
He needed to transfer to another bus carrier in Salt Lake City.
But Friday he was stuck in the Greyhound terminal in Salt Lake City.
It turned out the bus to Montana wasn't wheelchair accessible.
“They said ‘no we can't take you because we don't have a handicap bus,’” Sanders said.
When he made reservations Sanders claimed he was assured all buses including the transfer would be wheelchair accessible.
He was told the next bus for Butte was scheduled for 6:15 p.m.
“But they don’t guarantee it will be wheelchair accessible,” he said.
ABC4 News took action to help Sanders.
Greyhound workers advised us to call corporate headquarters.
And while corporate was looking into Sanders case ABC4 News found a driver for Salt Lake Express.
That was the bus Sanders was supposed to transfer to but it didn't have a lift.
“As long as they let us know in advance we make sure we bring a van for them," said Dave Cisneros.
He said the company was never told about a disabled passenger needing special access.
And Greyhound claims it didn't know either.
“He requested assistance, but he didn't request a lift request bus,” said spokesperson Bonnie Bashtion of Greyhound.
Greyhound said it didn't get a forty-eight hour notice as required by federal law.
So ABC4 News went to Salt Lake Express one more time to make sure Sanders would get the proper bus.
“He is on the 6:15 shuttle to Butte and there is a wheelchair accessible van coming for him,” said bus driver Cisneros.
And that was good enough for Sanders.
“You (ABC4 News) coming down here and putting pressure is what fixed the problem,” said a grateful Sanders.
