Leslie MacEachern is happy her clients have a little less to worry about when trying to get around town.
“I really believe [the city] has made it a priority,” said MacEachern, executive director of the St. Albert Senior Citizens’ Club, referring to St. Albert Transit’s new status as 100 per cent accessible to those with mobility challenges.
The city made the announcement about its 55-bus fleet on Monday, saying St. Albert was one of the first municipalities in Western Canada to have a fully accessible buses for patrons. The city also maintains three specialty buses for those who need more assistance.
According to transit director Bob McDonald, city council made accessible transit a priority in 1990. Over a 20-year period, old buses were replaced with low-floor buses that can descend to curb level and extend a ramp for patrons.
“It’s been an integrative process the whole way through,” said McDonald, adding St. Albert was the first transit system in Canada to operate a low-floor bus on a regular route.
The new buses will benefit all passengers, making general boarding easier especially for those with strollers, small children or who are carting large items, he added.
MacEachern said the seniors’ club hosts a Learn to Ride program for seniors to educate them about the transit system and what tools are available, such as the built-in ramps.
However, she believes there are more issues the transit system needs to address to make the fleet more inclusive and useable for patrons, something Lo-Se-Ca Foundation executive director Marie Renaud agreed with.
“It’s really the special transportation that we need help with,” said Renaud. “People are on a limited income, so it would be nice to have bus passes or subsidized bus passes.
“[But] I think it’s terrific … it’s positive attention.”
McDonald said the city was starting to look at the idea of using smart cards on buses, similar to the system used by Edmonton Transit. They are also planning to start mounting bike racks on buses later this year.
