Advocates seek safer transit access

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Advocates say accessibility on Bowling Green’s transit system remains a daily challenge for people with disabilities, with some bus stops and sidewalks still difficult or impossible to navigate.

The issue is highlighted at the Center for Accessible Living, which recently moved to a new location, 1600 Scottsville Road. A bus stop outside the building, intended to serve riders, currently lacks a safe, accessible path to the parking lot.

“If someone uses a wheelchair or walker, there’s literally no way to get from the bus stop into the building,” said Kent Madison, independent living specialist and KED mentor at the center. “It’s a daily barrier for the very people this place is meant to support.”

Madison said the lack of accessibility extends across the city, with missing sidewalks, curb cuts and inconsistent routes, forcing people with disabilities to plan their entire day around these limitations.

“We’re stuck canceling plans and living on someone else’s schedule,” he said. “We shouldn’t have to risk our safety just to go grocery shopping, work, or meet a friend.”

Lindsey Chaffin-Scott, manager at the center, said the organization has begun advocating for improvements.

“We’re respectfully calling on city and state officials to help us create direct, safe access from bus stops to our building and across the community,” she said. “Accessible transit isn’t just convenient—it’s a fundamental right.”

Local officials are taking steps to evaluate and improve transit services. The Bowling Green-Warren County Metropolitan Planning Organization recently released a request for proposals for a new Transit Development Plan. The plan will evaluate GoBG Transit and WKU Topper Transit services, exploring ways to merge operations, improve routes and enhance accessibility for all riders.

Tasks outlined in the plan include analyzing current service effectiveness, surveying riders on travel needs, evaluating potential transfer hubs, and creating a unified travel map. The plan will also assess integrating technology and fare systems and developing a five- to 10-year capital improvement and asset management plan, with a focus on ADA-compliant infrastructure.

“Making every stop accessible would change our consumers’ lives,” Chaffin-Scott said. “Right now, too many people are isolated at home because they can’t safely get out. This is about equity, independence, and the ability to fully participate in the community.”

The MPO expects the consultant for the plan to be selected by mid-June, with a draft project delivered by November 30 and a final plan by December 20, 2026.