All buses are equipped with an accessible wheelchair lift, for passengers with limited mobility or who use a mobility aid such as a wheelchair or mobility scooter. Important Note: the Summer Bus is not equipped with a wheelchair lift.
To use the accessible lift, the wheelchair or scooter must fit into a 48-inch (1.22m) long by 36-inch (91cm) wide space.
If able, we encourage scooter passengers to transfer to a fixed seat when on the bus, as some scooters cannot be secured firmly enough to carry a seated passenger when the bus is in motion.
Using the Wheelchair Lift
The Wheelchair lift can only be used to move passengers and mobility equipment, such as wheelchairs, scooters and walkers. Mobility equipment must have brakes and be able to be secured at one of the two wheelchair stations.
When using a walker on the lift, the walker’s brakes must be engaged, and the passenger must hold onto the handles as the lift is put into motion.
Non-mobility equipment items that do not have brakes or cannot be secured for lift operation or at the wheelchair stations cannot go onto the lift.
If the passenger is in a wheelchair and has a backpack, the backpack must be worn by the passenger or held on their lap when the lift is in operation. Bags hanging off the wheelchair must be removed and brought onto the bus separately. This is due to the importance of proper balance of the mobility device and passenger when on the wheelchair lift.
Carry-On Items
All passengers, including accessibility passengers, must be able to manage carry-on items, such as backpacks, purses, briefcases, suitcases, tote bags and shopping bags themselves without the driver’s help. If this is not possible, please bring a Support Person or friend to help.
Drivers are not required to help with carry-on items at any time.
Carry-on items are not allowed to stick out from the wheelchair, scooter or other assistive device as this could interfere with the safe securement of the device.
Place carry-on items on your lap or the floor to minimize the space and impact on other customers.
Please consider that any item not secured becomes a potential projectile when the bus is in motion and creates a dangerous situation for everyone on board.
Bus Stops
If a bus stop is temporarily inaccessible, people with disabilities can board or exit the bus at the closest safe location. The driver will consider the passenger’s preference when determining where the safe location is, however, the final decision will be the driver’s.
Priority Seating
Priority Seating is for passengers with a disability. Each bus has a designated location found at the rear of the bus for people using a wheelchair or other mobility aid. If you do not have a disability or mobility challenge, please leave these seats when asked by a person with a disability or the driver.
Service Animals
Passengers with disabilities who are accompanied by their service animal are welcome on our vehicles. Service animals must be clearly identified (such as by a vest or harness), and must be in the care and control of their owner at all times (Ontario Regulation 429/07 of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, S.O. 2005, c. 11).
Under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (https://aoda.ca/service-animal-laws-for-ontario-workplaces/), a service animal for a person with a disability is an animal identified as such due to its vest or harness OR the passenger provides documentation from a member of one of the following regulated health professions confirming the animal is needed for reasons relating to the passenger’s disability:
- A member of the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists
- A member of the College of Chiropractors
- A member of the College of Nurses
- A member of the College of Occupational Therapists
- A member of the College of Optometrists
- A member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons
- A member of the College of Physiotherapists
- A member of the College of Psychologists
- A member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists
Support Person
Support Persons travelling a passenger with a disability are allowed to ride the bus for free. A support person is someone who assists a person with a disability, with communication, mobility, personal care/medical needs, or with access to goods, services or facilities. The support person does not have to be the same person for each trip.
