Woman claims she’s been left out on bus route

Sometimes, Jackie Lodder needs help around the house. Often, her neighbor’s daughter helps move furniture to vacuum, change lightbulbs, and even grab something too low in her freezer outside.

A lot of it has to do with her poor eyesight. As a result of macular degeneration, Lodder is legally blind, and because of that she can’t drive. To make things more difficult, the local grocery store in Lava Hot Springs doesn’t have everything she needs.

That said, she relies on Pocatello Regional Transit buses to take her to the Gate City to bring her to bigger grocery stores.

Right now, PRT opens its Soda Springs bus on the second Tuesday of the month to let people outside the route, such as Lodder, to get to Pocatello. However, she feels this isn’t enough to serve her needs.

“I’m not asking to go every week, twice a week, or anything (like that),” Lodder said. “I’d love to go twice a month if possible and I’m only asking for a couple hours to shop.”

When asked about the situation, PRT said it has provided courtesy rides for people such as Lodder for years with its Soda Springs bus. Demand in Soda Springs has increased, however, and because of the grants PRT operates under they it has to honor that commitment first.

“If we’re able to and we can fit in the schedule to come down to Pocatello and allow them to do some shopping beforehand– we’re more than willing to do that,” said Skyler Beebe, PRT’s operations manager.

Lodder feels people with the need should be priority.

“The No. 1 priority is the ladies who need it,” Lodder said.

PRT also said the retirement of a bus driver could be a reason Lodder is experiencing a difference in service, since he had gone of his way to help bring her to Pocatello.

For rides, PRT buses have a three-person minimum, but rides can be negotiated depending on the circumstance. Beebe said PRT is willing to alter or add routes depending on demand.