Getting around the streets of St. Albert can be challenging in winter, but the people who probably notice it most are those with the most difficulty getting around at the best of times.
Seniors, people with disabilities or mobility issues, and those who don't have a driver's licence must rely on the various other methods of public and private transportation to do banking, shopping and get to medical appointments.
Transportation just isn't the same as it used to be. In fact, it's a lot better and things are still on an upswing.
That's the word from St. Albert Transit, the St. Albert 50+ Club, and Driving Miss Daisy, three separate but equally important groups that make it easier for so many to get from Point A to Point B, even if it means a trip into the big city.
"It's just so much better than it was even a couple of years ago," began Leanne MacMillan, community development co-ordinator with the city's Family and Community Support Services department, specifying that people's options have greatly expanded. "We're quite pleased with that."
She's also a member of the Transportation Sub-Committee of the St. Albert Seniors' Working Group, a collective of individuals representing organizations that are invested in the well-being of the city's ever-growing population of seniors. That group includes the Community Information and Volunteer Centre, Alberta Health Services, the St. Albert and Sturgeon Primary Care Network, the 50+ Club, St. Albert Transit, the Sturgeon Foundation and the Youville Home.
"We've gone from very limited and now we have something for people that have mobility challenges to get into Edmonton. We have low-income options for people who can't really afford to pay extra for transportation, and that's new within the last couple of years."
She said that the sub-committee is also very pleased with the progress so far and is very hopeful that there will be nothing but green lights for even more progress in the months and years to come. After all, seniors stand to benefit and we can expect a lot more seniors around in the coming years. Statistics indicate that there are currently almost 9,000 St. Albert residents aged 65 or more, with nearly 13,500 people between the ages of 50 and 64.
Another way of looking at that is by reviewing past census figures. Seniors accounted for only seven per cent of the population in 1998, but that went to nine per cent in 2002, to 11 per cent in 2006. It now stands at 14 per cent and the upward trend doesn't seem to be ready to waver any time soon.
That's why the sub-committee is so pleased that there are so many transportation options.
"The better people get around, the less isolated they are," MacMillan continued. "We're so pleased that [the Handibus] goes into Edmonton now because that had been a gap for so long."
Handibus now handier than ever
The Handibus is a door-to-door service for anyone who isn't able to use the city's regular bus fleet because of a physical or cognitive disability. Keep in mind that all of the city's conventional buses are fully accessible and offer easy entry for persons in wheelchairs, scooters or otherwise have mobility restrictions.
The distinctive Granny Smith apple-coloured Handibus vehicles essentially open the door to anyone who needs a ride and can't get it anywhere else, without extra expense. Even the fare is comparable at $3.25 for a local ride or $6 for a commuter trip.
Recent data from St. Albert Transit show that riders took almost 1,000 trips on the Handibus just for the month of December, and approximately 10 per cent of those were commuter trips into Edmonton, a still relatively new service. Compare that to the 673 trips that were taken in Sept. 2013 and it's easy to see the growth.
"People are getting more rides. They're finding there's greater availability," stated Will Steblyk, manager of planning and customer service at St. Albert Transit.
There are still some limitations but the service is ever expanding. A few months ago, it extended its hours of weekday service into Edmonton, increased trip availability, and began a new partnership with Edmonton's DATS service to improve its booking and scheduling.
Lois Maskell has used the Handibus for 10 years and has never had a problem with it.
"Every experience is very good."
She especially appreciates how she gets a phone call when the bus is five minutes away so that she can be ready at the door when it arrives. Riders must register to qualify for rides and they must book their trips in advance also.
All information on this service can be found at www.ridestat.ca or by calling St. Albert Transit at 780-418-6060.
50+ Club can take you places
City seniors can also benefit from the transportation services offered by the St. Albert 50+ Club.
"It was like a miracle!" exclaimed Sandy Milne, a local resident in her 60s who is also a caregiver to her mother who is in her 90s. "I can't say enough about it."
She said that the service has taken all of the anxiety out of getting around. Taxis are unreliable, according to her, and buses don't suit her and her mother's needs.
"It's wonderful."
Riders must be at least 65, be receiving Alberta Seniors Benefits, must be able to get in and out of the vehicle on their own and make their own decisions. The rides are free and can be used to access destinations in St. Albert and Edmonton.
Heike Hatcher, the club's transportation co-ordinator, said that the service averages about 45 rides per month.
"There's still a growing need."
She is always working on acquiring funding (through grants or gifts) in order to expand the service.
Bob Bjorkquist is one of the drivers and sees the value in it firsthand.
"I think it's just a terrific service. The people I drive are all really grateful," he said.
The club also offers a 15-passenger, wheelchair lift bus for door-to-door rides inside St. Albert only. That costs $4 per person per ride and the bus runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 pm. during weekdays only.
Just like the Handibus, people must book their rides in advance.
Call the club at 780-459-0433 (ext. 5) or visit www.stalbert50plus.com to learn more.
Private company suits the public good
Driving Miss Daisy is a personalized transportation service that was started in St. Albert as a way of filling in the gaps of getting seniors around. Adam Vranas has been the local franchisee for slightly more than a year and has already expanded his fleet to meet the growing demand for rides.
He started with two vehicles in Nov. 2013 and added another immediately the following month. The fourth arrived just this last fall. The customer base grew enough to support that expansion, and he sees more growth in the years ahead. Right now, they take 20 to 30 riders each day.
"The numbers don't lie. The baby boomers are getting to the age where they're going to need a little more help with transportation and living."
As with everything else, riders are requested to book in advance. Same day calls are possible but generally not that easy to accommodate, Vranas admitted.
"The business has grown and it's starting to look like the same-day calls aren't going to be able to be handled as well as they used to be. Everything's starting to get a bit tight."
This franchise can accommodate people in wheelchairs as long as they can transfer in and out by themselves. If they can't, then Vranas can refer them to other Driving Miss Daisy franchises that can. He noted that he has only needed to do this on a handful of occasions. Some taxi companies also have wheelchair accessible vehicles too, he added.
People can use the service for trips of any destination.
"We take them anywhere they need to go."
Each franchise has its own pricing system but they're all within the same ballpark. Within St. Albert, it's $12 for a one-way ride and $22 for a round trip. Round trips into Edmonton start at $30.
Call 780-777-2023 or visit www.drivingmissdaisy.net for more details.
The road ahead
There are still shortfalls in service but every one is an opportunity to improve, MacMillan says.
"I think we're always concerned about the moderate-income folks. They don't qualify for some of the low-income things but they still may struggle in some areas. Sometimes they're caught in the middle. We're trying to keep our sights set on that, trying to figure out if there's any options for them."
She said that the sub-committee is also looking forward to further Handibus expansions into weekend and evening service.
Coun. Wes Brodhead is also on the Capital Region Board Transit Committee. He sees that things are operating at a pretty good level and encourages people to remember that every bus on the road and every expansion of service comes with a price tag.
"We've got an appropriate service for our city today. We should always look to assess the needs of our community and then work to meet them. Can we improve? Sure. With improvement though comes additional costs. The balance is to provide the needs with our ability to pay for it."
He ended by saying that the committee is always looking to explore efficiencies to provide better transportation on a regional basis.
