I have Usher syndrome, a condition that has caused significant vision loss, and I rely on a cane to navigate safely. Every trip outside my home requires planning and caution — but even so, simply getting to transportation is a daily struggle.

I live within the city limits of San Antonio with my 4-year-old son, just half a mile beyond VIAtrans’s current coverage boundary. Under VIAtrans rules, you must be within 3/4 of a mile of a VIA bus route to qualify for service. That leaves me — and many others — without access to the transportation we need to get to work, medical appointments, school events, and essential errands. We are frequently relying on expensive rides or feeling isolated from their communities due to inadequate transit options. 

For me, this means walking long distances along busy streets with my cane, often while guiding my young child. It’s not safe. And I am far from alone — many residents with disabilities within San Antonio’s city limits are facing the same challenge simply because of where we live, even though we are still very much part of the city. 

What I’m asking for:
I am calling on the VIA Metropolitan Transit Board and the San Antonio City Council to:
    1.    Expand VIAtrans coverage to include all areas within San Antonio’s city limits, regardless of distance from fixed-route bus lines.
    2.    Ensure residents with disabilities do not have to risk their safety just to reach a pick-up point.
    3.    Launch this expanded coverage by 2026 so residents can plan their lives with certainty.

Expanding this service would not only improve safety and independence, it would also enable more people with disabilities to work — benefiting both families and the local economy.

Accessible transportation is not just about convenience — it’s about safety, independence, and equal opportunity. VIAtrans already serves many residents well, but limiting coverage leaves entire neighborhoods out, forcing people like me into unsafe situations.

I only need an extra half-mile of coverage for my own home, but this petition isn’t just for me. It’s for every San Antonio resident with a disability who is left behind by the current system. As our city grows, VIA services must expand alongside it to ensure every resident, including those with disabilities, is included and supported.  Our city is growing — our accessibility must grow with it.

Please sign and share this petition. Together, we can ensure that mobility is a right, not a privilege, and that every resident with a disability in San Antonio can travel safely and independently.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A map showing the current VIAtrans service area. It highlights full coverage inside Loop 410 and areas outside the loop that fall within approximately ¾ mile (the VIAtrans eligibility boundary) from a fixed route bus line.

 

email: AccessForAllSA@gmail.com