Cat Cab Services Not Far Enough, Says Student

After four days of transporting education major Torin Jacobs to classes, Cat Cab dropped him from the service, leaving him to walk from his off-campus apartment to class with a crutch and one arm in a sling.Cat Cab provides on-campus transportation within a one-mile driving distance from Baker Center to students, staff and faculty with temporary or permanent disabilities from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.However, Jacobs, who was severely injured after a bicycle accident along an unlit part of the bike path, lives one and a half miles away from Baker Center, a half mile too far for Cat Cab.“I severely dislocated my elbow, and I busted my knee up pretty good,” said Jacobs, who fell into a rocky drainage ditch along the bike path. “I think it took almost 40 minutes to get [to McCracken Hall] after the accident trying to walk up there myself.”According to Jacobs, Cat Cab refused to pick him up because he lived outside the one-mile driving distance and because going to his apartment was not considered university related business.“I would’ve rather not gotten picked up [by Cat Cab] in the first place, than have gotten picked up and then just dropped completely,” said Jacobs. “I thought my problems were solved, and then they’re not.  I have to go back and worry about it again.”On top of his concerns with Cat Cab, Jacobs said he couldn’t perform basic tasks like bathing himself and preparing his own food; “All that’s a new adjustment, and that’s why I say I was so stressed out.”Marty Paulins, director of transportation and parking services, explained in an email the reasoning behind the one-mile driving distance rule.“There has to be a limit set to the service as going further than one mile takes more time,” he said. “There are certain hours of the day that Cat Cab’s schedule is very tight and timing is essential to meet all riders’ needs.”Among the alternatives to Cat Cab, Paulins noted the Athens Transit, which provides transportation for those living outside the one-mile driving distance.For Jacobs, who “had no money at the time,” the Athens Transit, which costs $1.50 for a one-way trip, was too expensive.Jacobs suggested that Cat Cab expand its services and extend the one-mile driving distance.“I don’t think there’s any disagreement on [that Cat Cab should be expanded],” said Darrell Purdy, the assistant director for employee accommodation and campus accessibility. “The question is how do we fund it.”According to Paulins, Cat Cab receives its funding from the parking services revenue.“Especially with … all the faculty raises, it makes it look even worse. You guys want to allocate money for this, this, and that, yet Cat Cab can’t get all the support it needs,” said Jacobs. “That was also kind of disheartening to observe.”