Oh, Canada! Getting around is easy in Vancouver By Jennifer Harrison

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While I was living in Ontario I was always fortunate enough to have a car at my disposal. Although it's true that public transportation in Toronto is reasonably fast and affordable, it was a long and boring trip to the city, and very messy when traveling in the deep winter slush. Then again, I am an able-bodied person. I do not rely on a wheelchair or motorized scooter to get around.

For those who need extra assistance, Toronto's public transportation is less than perfect. Just over half of Toronto's trains are wheelchair accessible, and very few city buses are equipped for wheelchairs or easy-boarding. Therefore, many elderly people or those with scooters or wheelchairs often have to pay for a specialized taxi service in order to travel around downtown Toronto.

When I moved to Vancouver in September, I knew that I would be using public transportation much more frequently. My boyfriend and I are sharing a car now and parking in Vancouver can be a real problem. During the summer, buses in Vancouver were on strike for three entire months. This meant that thousands of people had to find alternative ways to get to and from work and school.

Despite the recent bus strike, Vancouver's public transportation system is one of the most comprehensive and accommodating in North America.

Public transportation in Vancouver is run by a corporation known as TransLink, which operates ferries to and from Vancouver, the Handy Dart (a door-to-door custom transit system), city buses, the Sky Train (Vancouver's train system), the Sea Bus (ferries that operate in Vancouver itself) and the West Coast Express (commuter train access between the suburban town of Mission and Vancouver).

Vancouver was one of the first cities in Canada to introduce accessible buses. In 1986, Vancouver hosted an Expo introducing the theme of "Freedom to Move," which had a hand in starting movement toward barrier-free transportation for all. City buses can carry up to three wheelchairs, and the city is planning to make all buses and routes wheelchair accessible by 2006.

For passengers who don't live near an accessible transit route, or cannot use the buses without assistance, Handy Dart is a great alternative. It uses specially equipped cars designed to carry passengers with special needs. People can also arrange regular pick-up and drop-off times with the Handy Dart in order to commute to and from work or school.

The Sky Train is Vancouver's monorail system that links the downtown area with the suburbs to the east of the city. Every station has an elevator, and there are no gaps between platforms and trains so that people who require assistance can get on and off with ease.

At Granville Station, which is the only station without an elevator, the Sky Train provides a free shuttle to the next closest station, Burrard.

As Vancouver is intersected with various bodies of water, the Sea Bus is also a necessity for Getting around downtown, and these little ferry boats are also easy to access for people using wheelchairs, scooters or crutches. Sea Bus attendants are also on hand to assist people who may need a little extra help.

Finally, the West Coast Express is a fully accessible train, where each railcar features an accessible boarding ramp, accessible washroom and two wheelchair spaces.

As a person who now relies on public transportation every day, I can really appreciate how important it is for buses, ferries, trains and monorails to be easy and safe to ride for everyone. How frustrating it must be to live in a city where a specially equipped taxi is the only way one can get to where they need to go.

How do physically challenged people feel about Vancouver's TransLink system? One individual who uses a motorized scooter said, "It's good, but it could be better." During the strike most of us just couldn't get where we needed to go. I mean I was practically house-ridden. I needed to wait for hours to pay for a taxi. But in general the system is pretty good.

Today, as I rode the bus and the Sky Train on the way home from work, sipping my coffee, watching the scenery zoom past, I was happy to give up my seat to an elderly woman with a cane. I'm sure she is very glad that Vancouver has made an effort to make public transportation available to everyone.

Shukan ST: Nov. 23, 2001

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