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Shuttle accessibility presents challenges for students with disabilities

  • Gabby Roscuata

    • According to psychology student Devon Pizano, who uses a wheelchair, the ramp is shaken by drivers to see if it works. He said this happens often and sometimes does not work on the first try, which makes it hard on the driver. Pizano said he has to report malfunctioning ramps every couple of weeks. Sabriel Zapata | Poly Post

    By Gabby Roscuata, October 6, 2025 

    Changes to Cal Poly Pomona’s Bronco Shuttles have raised accessibility concerns among students with disabilities, including issues with wheelchair lifts, limited space and the location of shuttle stops.

    Parking and Transportation Services revamped the shuttles this fall to provide better transportation across campus, but students with disabilities are still reporting issues with whether those features consistently meet their needs.

    Mike Yu, executive director of parking, transportation and administrative services, said the shuttles have accessibility features including ADA wheelchair ramps and lifts, which have wheelchair tie-downs to keep wheelchair passengers secure while they are driven.  

    The last two seats of every shuttle fold up, allowing space for wheelchair users to sit. According to psychology student Devon Pizano, who has needed to use the shuttle on a wheelchair, all shuttle drivers are trained on how to tie down wheelchair restraints. Sabriel Zapata | Poly Post

    Complaints of the shuttle are not new. Through a Reddit post three years ago on r/CalPolyPomona from u/lemonlimespaceship, they said the shuttle was “barely accessible.” According to them, their driver damaged their wheelchair and the lift in the back of the bus is rickety and takes up to 10 minutes to set up. 

    Psychology student Devon Pizano, who is a member of the California State University Committee for Disability Access and Compliance, advocating for equitability in education, said moving the shuttle stop from Building 94 to the Student Services Building was impractical. 

    “In a case of someone like me going all the way to business or the psychology building, that’s not an easy track,” Pizano said.  

    Since the new shuttles were introduced, PTS repaired the wheelchair lifts used to board and exit the shuttle at least twice, according to Pizano. When it failed, he said someone had to hold his walker while he went up the shuttle stairs, but if he was using his wheelchair, he was simply “out of luck.”  

    If he is able to get on to the shuttle, Pizano added it can be packed inside, making it hard to have enough space in the designated wheelchair area in the back. 

    “Because the new shuttles are smaller, there are people standing in the back, in front of me,” Pizano said. “When the shuttle is full, it makes it very hard for me because there’s only one spot I can go in and if there’s people sitting there, they have to move in order for me to get tied down.” 

    According to Yu, drivers should inspect the shuttles daily, like checking the vehicle, including the ramps, to make sure they work before driving.  

    According to Cal Poly Pomona’s website, before 4:30 p.m., the mobility assistance cart must be scheduled 30 minutes in advance. After 4:30 p.m., rides have to be requested at least one business day before. The cart driver will arrive at the pickup location and wait three minutes for the rider. Rides can be requested 30 days ahead. Sabriel Zapata | Poly Post

    If a shuttle fails, Yu said the driver notifies a road supervisor, who then deploys a backup shuttle. 

    “We all had to get off the bus we were on and wait because that ramp did not work,” Pizano said. 

    Yu said PTS partners with the Disability Resource Center to offer mobility assistance carts, which is a golf cart that can transport students and their mobility aid. The MAC service is granted to students who have applied for DRC accommodations. 

    DRC Associate Director Andrea Reyes said students who applied for accommodations may be approved for a MAC if access specialists determine they need one. Students who receive the accommodation can schedule their rides through a designated website. 

    “We work with PTS to deliver the service,” Reyes said. “We continue to look at student feedback to upgrade student features in the future.” 

    Although, students with disabilities also had issues with the MAC. According to previous Poly Post coverage, members of advocacy among disabled CPP students group Sunflower Collective said they got left behind or their rides were misscheduled. Additionally, theater student Nicollette Davis and psychology student Dashiell Morales-Robledo said the MAC failed to arrive for their scheduled pickups on multiple occasions. 

    According to Reyes, PTS and DRC communicate almost daily via email, phone and Microsoft Teams. They also hold meetings throughout the semester to update each other on student inquiries. 

    Although Pizano said he encountered issues with the shuttle, Yu said PTS only became aware of one report through a Reddit post. No reports came to PTS’ email or phone number, according to Yu. 

    Reyes said the best way to share concerns with the DRC is through its email, drc@cpp.edu and students will receive a response within five business days. As for PTS, Yu said students can expect a response within 24 hours, but “if it requires more research, it will take probably a few more days.”

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