By Cecilia Nasmith
With its increased focus on accessible transportation, Cobourg council voted at Monday's committee-of-the-whole meeting to refer a certain purchase to their Jan. 9 budget discussions.
Protection Services Co-ordinator Aaron Burchat presented his fellow council members with a motion in support of retrofitting the Wheels bus with a winch system to assist wheelchair users in boarding and debarking.
Though the matter was referred to budget, some questions arose.
“I appreciate the initiative the committee took to look into this alternative option,” Councillor Nicole Beatty said, though she wanted specifics in terms of cost and implementation that were not noted in the motion before council.
Director of public works Laurie Wills gave a cost of $4,500, and noted that this technology is already in use in transit systems in Barrie and Toronto.
“And it actually has been on the market over five years, so it's not too new.”
Hours of accessible service have been expanded, Wills continued. And while the conventional bus “kneels” at curbside for access, the Wheels bus relies on a ramp. For these passengers who require a ramp and are unable to propel their own wheelchairs up the ramp, the winch will do the trick.
“The committee members did like this initiative, and I believe we saw a video of them pulling up a motorized wheelchair which, of course, is a lot heavier than a manual chair,” Burchat said.
“It looked really good, and the committee was really supportive, and that's why I encouraged them to bring a motion before council.”
