Wheelchair-friendly transit lacking, says Dartmouth woman

A Dartmouth, N.S., woman who relies on a wheelchair says accessible public transit is unacceptable and unreliable.

Tammy Robertson, who started using a wheelchair about a month ago, said she has to set aside most of a day for a trip to the doctor.

"Basically I'm only allowed to get on and off certain stops. I'm only allowed on certain buses," she said.

She said it can be a long wait before a wheelchair-accessible bus arrives.

"I have to give myself three hours just to get to a doctor's appointment. It's utterly ridiculous," she said.

She said it takes her another three hours to get home.

Robertson, who can walk a bit but finds it painful, said she's considered Metro Transit's Access-A-Bus service, but the two-week booking requirement is unmanageable.

Halifax regional Coun. Sue Uteck said complaints about accessible transportation are valid, but noted HRM is working to improve accessibility. More than two dozen new wheelchair-accessible buses are expected to be on the roads by next year, she said.

"But I do think, in fairness, HRM is trying to make a move forward," she said.

"We've ordered 20 new buses, they'll all be low floor with wheelchair accessibility. It's a matter of getting them out on the routes where they're needed the most."

Uteck said the new buses should be on the road by next spring.

Of the 59 routes listed on Metro Transit's website, 24 are designated as having as low-floor buses.