By Cecilia Nasmith
Cobourg council has passed a motion at Monday's committee-of-the-whole meeting that should enhance its Wheels accessible-transit system for its users.
Though Deputy Mayor Suzanne Seguin pointed out that technically the $5,500 item is in the 2020 budget that should be approved next week, the motion calls for retrofits to the current vehicle to be considered for the budget – an InLine Assist winch and a grab-and-stability bar.
Another option that had been put forward – to purchase a new vehicle to serve as the main Wheels bus – was referred to the town's Accessibility Advisory Committee to be considered when more transit funding becomes available.
The vote came following an appearance by Cobourg resident Troy Mills, a registered user of the town's accessible-transit service in his manual wheelchair for 10 years, who offered a user's perspective.
Mills rides the Wheels service at least 40 times a month, and can board unassisted. But council's concern for drivers potentially suffering injury in assisting a wheelchair on to the bus is misplaced, he said, as he is unaware of any such incident.
On the other hand, he suffered a serious incident several months back when attempting to get his wheelchair up the boarding ramp at the Albert Street terminal. The chair flipped back and he hit his head on the sidewalk.
From his conversations with drivers, Mills said he knows very few who agree with the town's banning driver assistance in boarding.
Council briefly debated the merits of a ramp vs. a lift, but Director of Public Works Laurie Wills said the lift can be an unstable option for riders using a walker. And the report she set out with its six options was not meant to settle this debate, Wills added. The fact is that the town is part of the Metrolinx initiative that sources buses for multiple municipalities for maximum savings, and these buses come with ramps.
Councillor Emily Chorley cited a council motion from last year that allowed for “driver assistance as required.”
“I don't believe it was council's intention to have this interpreted as drivers acting as attendants or personal service workers,” Chorley said – though she also cited a TTC policy that says a driver will escort someone with accessibility issues getting off the bus to the first set of accessible doors at his or her destination.
“What I see a need for through this report is a much clearer definition of the kind of assistance the driver will provide.”
Chorley called for a clear policy on that issue, complete with consultations in advance of drafting it up. Once that policy is adopted and communicated to both drivers and passengers, she said, everyone will know what arrangements he or she must make.
She added this condition to the motion council passed.
Chorley noted Mills's presentation to council came on the same night as members of the Golden Plough Lodge Family Council had brought forth concerns about the lack of transportation for family members confined to stretchers. She asked that these issues that had been raised be considered in future policy decisions, with a report to come back to council June 1.
