A disabled driver attempts to enter her vehicle. (Photo: didesign021, via Shutterstock)OPINION: Reliable transportation is an important part of everyday life, from getting to work, to going to the doctor, to staying connected with friends and family. However, for nearly 8 million Californians with disabilities, transportation can be anything but reliable, especially for those who drive.
A rush-hour traffic jam on the approach to the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge. (Photo: Aaron Kohr)OPINION: If you’ve ever sat in traffic crawling at 5 miles per hour or been late to an appointment because of inadequate public transportation, I don’t need to tell you that transportation represents a constant challenge in California. Too many of those problems stem from a planning process that has consistently failed to put people first. California can do better. And let’s not kid ourselves about which people are most likely to get left out of transportation planning decisions: Low-income communities of color.