Mercer Islander Vicki Rouillard doesn’t back down to obstacles.

The wheelchair user regularly relies on King County Metro busses for transportation.

And when county budget cuts slashed weekend service to Mercer Island’s route 204, Rouillard spoke up.

She designed a petition and asked Islanders who want bus service restored to route 204 to sign it. She gathered nearly 70 signatures.

She also contacted the Mercer Island City Council, and city staff said they will speak to Metro about Rouillard’s concerns, she said.

When she went to deliver her petition to the city, she encountered another obstacle — she couldn’t get to City Hall.

“… There is no way for my wheelchair to get down Gallagher Hill Road,” Rouillard said in an email to the Reporter, noting the hill is “enormous” so she couldn’t safely navigate the route. “Mercer Island used to have the 203 bus route that went to City Hall. The 203 was eliminated by the same budget cuts that took away the weekend 204 [route].”

Despite these hurdles, Rouillard is determined to advance her cause. She designed a T-shirt that states “Bring Back The Saturday/Sunday 204” with a picture of a Metro bus, and designed using Metro’s colors — yellow and green.

To help Rouillard relay her message to the city, email the City Council at council@mercergov.org.