I am legally blind, and getting to where I need to go has been one of the most difficult things to handle. The closest bus stop to me was roughly a mile away from my home, and I made that walk often. In July of 2022, Byron Township ended their contract with the public transit system known as The Rapid. This also means that the disability transportation service, The GoBus, is also canceled and not available in the area. They canceled their contract after 33 years.

Township supervisor, Don Tillema, stated that he was unaware of how many people use the GoBus when asked, and his reasoning for ending the contract was that the board felt it wasn't getting enough value for it's money. I take this as the board sees no value in its disabled residents, or any other resident who relies on public transportation. Tillema said that they are considering other cheaper options, back when the decision was made, but nothing has happened since. 

Since then, I have struggled to find strictly remote job opportunities, as they are becoming less common. This has resulted in me being unemployed for extended periods of time more than once.

Public transportation is essential for many residents who rely on it for commuting to work, school, medical appointments, and other daily activities. Without it, individuals like myself face significant challenges in maintaining employment and accessing necessary services.

Byron Center deserves a reliable public transportation system that meets the needs of all its residents. Please sign this petition to urge local officials to reinstate public transportation services in our community!

If you want to let Don Tillema, the Township supervisor, personally what you think about this decision, his email is amos@byrontownship.org and phone number is 616-878-1222