Accessibility

Accessible Formats and Communication Supports

 

Huron Shores Area Transit can provide information in different formats to meet your needs. This includes bus schedules, fares, service updates and accessibility policies.

Information can be provided in large print, audio or electronic formats. Other formats are available upon request.

Need information in a different format?

Please contact the Transit Coordinator at 519-243-1400 ext. 8108 or email smills@lambtonshores.ca.

We will work with you to find a format that meets your needs. We will provide the information as soon as possible, at no extra cost.

Accessible Buses and Wheelchair Lifts

All Huron Shores Area Transit buses, including spare buses, are equipped with accessibility features to help passengers travel safely and comfortably. Our buses include:

  • Wheelchair lifts to help passengers get on and off the bus (capacity 1,000 lbs).
  • Two wheelchair spaces (48 in x 27 in or 1220 mm x 685 mm)) with equipment to safely secure wheelchairs and mobility aids.
  • Priority seating for passengers with disabilities.
  • Handrails and grab bars for extra support.
  • Slip-resistant floors and steps.
  • Bright lighting at bus entrances.
  • Audio and visual announcements to help passengers identify stops.
  • Wheelchair lifts help passengers who use wheelchairs, mobility scooters or other mobility aids get on and off the bus.

Wheelchair and Scooter Size Limits

To use the lift, your wheelchair, scooter or mobility aid must fit within these measurements:

  • Length: 48 inches (1,220 mm)
  • Width: 36 inches (910 mm)

If you use a mobility scooter and can move safely to a bus seat, we encourage you to do so. Some scooters cannot be safely secured.

Using the Wheelchair Lift

The wheelchair lift helps passengers who use wheelchairs, mobility scooters or walkers get on and off the bus.

To use the lift:

  • Your mobility aid must have working brakes.
  • Wheelchairs and scooters must be able to fit and be safely secured in one of the bus’s two wheelchair spaces which are 48 inches x 27 inches or 1,220 mm x 685 mm.

If you use a walker:

  • Put on the walker’s brakes.
  • Hold the walker handles while the lift is moving.

For your safety:

The lift cannot be used to carry items that are not mobility aids. Mobility equipment must have working brakes and meet the safety requirements for using the lift.

Help Getting On and Off the Bus

Passengers with disabilities will be given enough time to safely get on and off the bus.

Our drivers can help you with:

  • Getting on and off the bus.
  • Using the wheelchair lift.
  • Safely securing your wheelchair or mobility aid.

You can ask the driver for help when you need it. You do not need to travel with a support person to receive this help.

Support Persons Ride Free

If you have a disability and need someone to help you, a support person can travel with you for free.

A support person is someone who helps you with:

  • Communication.
  • Getting around.
  • Personal care or medical needs.
  • Using services or facilities.

Support Person Assistance Pass

If you need a support person because of your disability, you can get a Support Person Assistance Pass (PDF).

  • The pass is free.
  • The pass is valid for one year.
  • The pass belongs to you, not your support person.
  • You can travel with a different support person each time you ride the bus.

You do not need a Support Person Assistance Pass for your support person to ride free. Under Ontario’s accessibility laws (AODA), your support person can travel with you at no cost. The pass is optional.

Some passengers told us they were worried that bus drivers might not know this rule. To help passengers feel more comfortable, we created the free Support Person Assistance Pass.

Accessible Fare Payment Options

Huron Shores Area Transit accepts cash and Smart Cards to make paying fares easier for everyone.

Passengers who have difficulty handling cash can use a reloadable Smart Card. A family member, caregiver or support person can help load money onto the card, so the passenger only needs to tap their card when boarding.

If you have a disability and need help tapping your Smart Card, the bus driver can assist you.

We also offer discounted fares for eligible seniors, veterans and low-income residents. Children aged 12 and under travel free with an adult. Eligible support persons accompanying passengers with disabilities and CNIB cardholders also travel free. Please refer to Discounts for more information.

Backpacks and Items on Wheelchairs

For safe wheelchair lift operation:

  • Please wear or place backpacks on your lap.
  • Please remove bags hanging from a wheelchair and arrange for them to be brought onto the bus separately.

Carry-On Items and Mobility Aids

Personal Belongings

You can bring bags, backpacks, suitcases and groceries on the bus. Please follow these rules:

  • Keep your belongings with you.
  • Place items on your lap or on the floor at your feet.
  • Do not place belongings on empty seats.
  • Keep aisles and exits clear.

Drivers do not help with personal belongings. If you need help carrying your items, please bring a friend or support person. Support persons ride free.

Wheelchairs, Walkers and Mobility Aids

  • You can bring wheelchairs, walkers and other mobility aids on the bus at no extra cost.
  • Drivers will help safely store and secure your mobility aids when needed.
  • All mobility aids stay in the passenger area of the bus.

Medical Aids

  • HSAT permits passengers can travel with medical aids, including portable oxygen supplies and respirators, provided the equipment can be transported safely.

Keeping Everyone Safe

  • Please do not block aisles, doors, exits or accessibility equipment.
  • Bags or other items attached to wheelchairs or scooters must not prevent them from being safely secured.
  • Make sure your belongings are safely stored so they do not move or fall while the bus is moving.

Remember: Loose items can move when the bus stops or turns and may cause injuries.

Bus Stops

If you cannot safely use a bus stop, the driver will help you find the closest safe place to get on or off the bus. This may happen if a bus stop is blocked by snow, ice, construction or other barriers.

Finding a Safe Place to Stop

  • The location must be along the same bus route.
  • The driver will consider where you would prefer to get on or off.
  • The driver must make sure the location is safe for you and the bus.
  • If you use a wheelchair lift, there must be enough safe space to use it.
  • The driver will make the final decision about where the bus can safely stop.
  • Need Help Getting Off the Bus?

Please tell the driver if you need help getting off the bus safely. The driver will give you enough time and provide assistance when requested.

Drivers will also report bus stops that are temporarily blocked or unsafe so the problem can be addressed.

Priority Seating

Priority seats are for passengers with disabilities. If you do not have a disability, you may use these seats when they are available. However, you must give up your seat if a passenger with a disability needs it.

Please give up your seat when asked by:

  • A passenger with a disability.
  • The bus driver.

Wheelchair and Mobility Aid Spaces

Each bus has two spaces at the rear for passengers using wheelchairs or other mobility aids. These spaces are closest to the wheelchair lift. Drivers will help secure wheelchairs and mobility aids for safe travel.

Remember: Not all disabilities are easy to see. Please be respectful of other passengers and their needs.

Service Animals

Passengers with disabilities are welcome to bring their service animals on HSAT buses at no extra cost.

A service animal helps a person with a disability.

How to Identify a Service Animal

A service animal must meet at least one of these requirements:

  • The animal can be easily identified as a service animal, for example, by wearing a vest or harness.
  • You have a letter or other document from an accepted health professional confirming that you need the animal because of a disability.
  • A service animal does not need to wear a vest or harness if you have the required documentation.

Travelling with a Service Animal

  • Your service animal must stay under your care and control.
  • Your service animal must not block aisles, doors or exits.
  • You are responsible for your animal’s behaviour while on the bus.

Accepted Health Professionals

If documentation is needed, it must come from a member of one of these Ontario health professional colleges:

  • Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists
  • Chiropractors
  • Nurses
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Optometrists
  • Physicians and Surgeons
  • Physiotherapists
  • Psychologists
  • Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists

For more information, see Ontario’s Accessibility Regulation, Sections 80.45 and 80.47.

Emergency Preparedness and Passenger Safety

Huron Shores Area Transit s committed to keeping all passengers safe, including passengers with disabilities.

Our drivers are trained to respond to emergencies and help passengers who need assistance. If an emergency occurs, the driver will contact emergency services and dispatch, as needed, and help passengers stay safe.

Passengers with disabilities may need different types of assistance. Drivers are trained to manage each passenger’s needs and arrange additional help when necessary.

Alternative Accessible Transportation

We recognize some passengers with disabilities may require transportation services beyond those available through HSAT’s regular bus routes.

Specialized and accessible transportation services are available in some communities throughout our service area. To help passengers find transportation that meets their needs, HSAT has prepared a list of local providers, including their contact information and service areas.

Download the Alternative Accessible Transportation Reference List (PDF)

Services, eligibility requirements and availability vary by provider. Please contact the provider directly for more information.

Accessibility Feedback

We welcome feedback about the accessibility of our services, including buses, bus stops, schedules, passenger assistance and communications.

Passengers may provide feedback by telephone at 1-888-465-0783 or by calling the Transit Coordinator at 519-243-1400 extension 8108 or by sending an email to smills@lambtonshores.ca.

Accessibility-related feedback will be reviewed, and responses will be provided in an accessible format upon request.