Renee Riddle got to work on time four out of five days last week.

That may not be a big deal for most people, but Ms. Riddle, who uses a wheelchair and can't drive, has to rely on the Toledo Area Regional Paratransit Service scheduling system to get around.

All too often, the disability-rights advocate said, the special paratransit vans with wheelchair lifts and high roofs take circuitous detours to pick up and drop off other passengers, extending her commute to the Ability Center of Greater Toledo, 5605 Monroe St., to well over an hour. On days when the van is late to begin with, that means she can end up half an hour late to work - or later.

“I get paid on an hourly basis, not a salary. When I'm late, it comes out of my check,” Ms. Riddle said, adding that her greatest concern is for the welfare of other TARPS riders whose employers may not be as sympathetic to chronic transportation problem.

The one day last week that she was late, Ms. Riddle's bus picked up three other passengers and dropped off two during the course of her trip. She ended up 20 minutes late. She said it would have been 40 minutes, but one of the other riders was ready to go 20 minutes before his scheduled pick-up time.

Three weeks ago Ms. Riddle's TARPS ride was so late arriving at the University of Toledo that she missed an entire class. The week before that, she said, she avoided missing an exam only because she pleaded with a dispatcher, who changed the driver's route.

During the 12 months that ended Sept. 30, the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority spent $1.64 million on its paratransit service, which is run by Dave Systems, Inc., under contract. That is up $330,000 from the previous 12 months.

In August and September, TARPS carried 6,577 and 5,995 passengers, respectively - the service's busiest two months ever.

But while Richard Ruddell, TARTA's general manager, cites substantial improvement in both service availability and quality, passenger advocates contend that Toledo's transit service for disabled people still falls far short of what should reasonably be expected.

“When one customer with a disability is late for work, misses work, or misses a doctor's appointment, that's not insignificant,” said Susan Hetrick, an Ability Center spokeswoman.

The Transportation Advocacy Group, an ad hoc panel of disabled riders and advisers, recently broke off legal mediation with TARTA officials concerning their service complaints, claiming nine months of talks have been virtually futile.

“We're seriously looking at all our options,” said Thomas J. Zraik, the advocacy group's attorney.

Asked if those options might include legal action, Mr. Zraik said: “I would hope we would be able to come to an agreement before that has to happen.”

If the dispute does end up in court, the outcome will depend on how the Americans With Disabilities Act, ends up being interpreted. It is the 1991 federal law requiring “reasonable accommodation” for disabled people in all public places.

Mr. Ruddell said the best that can be expected for any paratransit service is a 90 percent on-time record.

“There are different reasons for the trips being late,” he said. “I'd like to have everything on time, but there are so many factors - we'll never reach that.”

Federal standards state that paratransit trips must be scheduled within 30 minutes of a passenger's requested pick-up time and that trips are not supposed to take more than 50 percent longer than a trip on a comparable bus route would take. TARPS rides, available within the same nine-community area TARTA serves, are door-to-door and cost $1.50 per trip; the TARTA fare is 85 cents.

According to TARTA timetables, a bus trip from the stop nearest Ms. Riddle's home to the Ability Center would take about 50 minutes, including a 15-minute connection layover downtown. On that basis, a TARPS ride should take no longer than 75 minutes to get her to work.

Ms. Riddle said her TARPS trips have improved in recent weeks since she filed complaints with TARTA, but she wondered if she is getting special treatment because she has been vocal about her problems.

Ms. Hetrick said it is not unusual for TARPS vans to be scheduled to be at two or even three different places at the same time, so drivers end up being either early or late for some of those stops. Furthermore, she said, passengers get only 24 hours notice if their scheduled travel time is unavailable and a 30-minute switch is necessary.

When the vans are even earlier, or later, than a customer requested, Ms. Hetrick said, that amounts to an illegal service denial in practice, even if one is not recorded procedurally.

“How would any of us like to live with that? You just can't plan anything,” she said. “We are not asking them to do anything more than what the [Americans With Disabilities Act] requires them to do.”

The paratransit system's no-show/cancellation policy was developed by a committee that included frequent riders, Mr. Ruddell said, and was needed to curb abuse of the system. Other transit systems have similar policies, he said.

“We're putting the service out there as best we can,” Mr. Ruddell said. “We are completely in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.”

First Published November 4, 2001, 10:57 a.m.