LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Around one dozen people showed up to a Louisville bus stop Monday morning with posters and flyers, protesting the Transit Authority of River City, known as TARC. 

"I've known for a long time that TARC has not been living up to its potential or its promises to the community, especially the disabled community," said Michelle Bazeley, who lives in Louisville. 

Bazeley and others were at the protest as part of the ADAPT organization. 

"We're starting a chapter here in Kentucky. So, we're brand new and I'm one of the members," she said.

Others with ADAPT came from states away to show support for those in Louisville. 

"These issues do happen all over and frankly, that is why it's our job and our duty to be active and organized and to voice out issues and to help fix them. That's really what we're here to do is make it fair for everybody," said Mike Oxford, who came from Kansas for the protest. 

Amanda Stahl said she's lived in Louisville 15 years and claims TARC and TARC3 are not reliable services. 

"I've been with people for hours and they're not showing up. And that's happened to us multiple times," Stahl said. 

Stahl said she's had friends be at least an hour late to dinner dates or other meetings because of a bus issue. 

"I'm sick of waiting for my friends to not show up or not be able to come to our support group," she said. "They spend more time on the TARC than they do at our support group." 

Those at the protest said a fellow advocate from out of state recently had trouble navigating the TARC system after being dropped off in downtown Louisville, claiming website information was incorrect. 

Close to one dozen people gathered to protest TARC Monday, April 8, 2024. (WDRB image)

Close to one dozen people gathered to protest TARC Monday, April 8, 2024. A community outreach coordinator with TARC came to speak to those who were voicing concerns. (WDRB image)

A community outreach coordinator with TARC showed up to the protest to speak with those there. Several protesters brought up concerns and asked questions. WDRB News was told that individual was not authorized to do an interview the media. 

Instead, TARC's director of marketing and communications Alex Posorske released a statement saying: 

"TARC welcomes the opportunity to sit down and talk with our customers. We will always meet with anyone who wants to discuss improvements to consider.  TARC is dedicated to improving our service every day and these conversations are an important way to do that. This is the first we've heard of this particular request, but now that we have it, we will be following up shortly.

TARC has many ongoing conversations with individuals with disabilities and groups that represent individuals with disabilities. TARC also works closely with the TARC Accessibility Advisory Council (TAAC). This is a completely independent group made up of transit-riding individuals with disabilities and advocates for individuals with disabilities. Among other areas of focus, TAAC members identify areas of needed improvement and then work with TARC staff to determine how to implement those improvements. The TAAC is an open and welcoming committee and a great way to advocate for policy changes and improvements."

At the protest, Merry Reid Sheffer helped communicate for Arthur Campbell. Both live in Louisville. 

"About six weeks ago, I went to the doctor on TARC 3 and had a 6 p.m. pick up to get home. But I waited an hour, and they didn't come. It was raining hard, and I had no way to communicate on the phone with TARC to ask where they were. I ended up having to drive my chair five miles in the rain to get home," Campbell said in a statement. 

In its list of demands, the group included wanting to meet with TARC and Louisville leadership, regular updates on the TARC website "with accurate information about all ADA access requirements," and "a 1-800 emergency number for people with disabilities to call when they are stranded at the bus stop."

In November, WDRB News reported TARC planned to provide more consistent communication to riders through text alerts. Posorske said there is a new TARC app that should be available next year.

Kevin Trager, press secretary for the office of Mayor Craig Greenberg said:

"The Greenberg administration and TARC are committed to serving every person across our city and our team meets regularly with individuals and organizations to understand the unique needs of communities, including the TARC Accessibility Advisory Council (TAAC)."

Bazeley said she'd like to see action, soon. 

"If you're in the disability world in this community, we've heard about things happening over and over and over again and then they have committee meetings, there's forums, there's public comment periods, but really, really basic things are not happening," said Bazeley.

According to Posorske, in March 2024, TARC averaged approximately 19,000 daily trips on its bus system and TARC3 averaged more than 1,000 daily trips.

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