TTC Wheel-Trans: Accessible transport for people with disabilities in Toronto

In Canada, the North Americans are far ahead of us Germans when it comes to accessibility. If you are a guest in Toronto, you not only have the possibility to travel with the usual public transport, but you can also opt for the 100 percent accessible alternative and use Wheel-Trans. Whether from door to door or for temporarily use – TTC Wheel-Trans is the safe and reliable transit option for people with disabilities in Toronto.

REHACARE.com asked the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) what exactly Wheel-Trans is and how all transit users benefit from accessibility.

How did the idea of Wheel-Trans Toronto come about?

TTC: With the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, or AODA, since 2005 all public transit agencies are required to also provide an accessible transit option.

But the actual story of transit for individuals which may have mobility, agility, hearing, mental, seeing, or speaking functional limitations begins in September 1926. In that year 3 coaches were used to transport approximately 30 children who used a wheelchair from their homes all over the city to school. Through the next several years, modified buses entered wheelchair service and people, who had previously been transported by ambulances, were making trips to and from work, doctor’s appointments, etc. The history of accessible transit began a long time ago but the goal to make the entire system accessible continues.

Our TTC Wheel-Trans in particular provides a safe and reliable transit option for persons with disabilities. You can use our Wheel-Trans service if your disability prevents you from using TTC’s conventional transit for all or part of your trip.

Who can use Wheel-Trans and how?

TTC: If your disability prevents you from using conventional transit some or all of the time, then you may wish to apply for our service. Eligibility is not based on disability type, income or age. It is based solely on the presence of a disability that impacts a person’s ability to travel on conventional transit.

In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), you can either use Wheel-Trans to get a door-to-door-service, or only in parts because you may be able to use conventional transit for all or part of your trip but may also qualify for door-to-door service under specific circumstances (e.g., weather, travel to a non-accessible location). But of course you are also eligible for our service if you have a temporary disability that prevents you from using conventional TTC service for a defined period of time (e.g., following an injury or surgery).

But also visitors of Toronto with a disability can apply for temporary service for up to 3 weeks. If they are registered for a specialized transit service in their city we will provide them with our service.

You can book occasional trips up to seven days in advance of travel or regular trips, which are recurring at the same day of a week, time and to the same destination for a minimum of two weeks. But you can also book trips the same day that you want to travel. You should only book them at least four hours prior to the desired time and you should always schedule your arrival 30 minutes prior to your required arrival time to allow for traffic or other unforeseen circumstances.

How well is Wheel-Trans accepted?

TTC: Currently, there are more than 42,000 registered customers who use our service and we provide over 4 million door-to-door trips each year in the City of Toronto. We have an overall customer satisfaction rating of 90 percent satisfaction.

What does inclusion mean to you?

TTC: We are following the AODA-inclusion. The act aims to identify, remove, and prevent barriers for people with disabilities. Most people will experience some form of disability during their lives. Universal access provides people with disabilities more transportation choices and enables them to participate fully in their communities. And universal access is not something that only people with disabilities can profit from, it also helps other transit users meet their daily needs. But making conventional transit more accessible, requires a set of comprehensive measures that address the entire trip from getting to the transit stop to boarding to reaching the trip destination. Such measures include accessible vehicles, accessible bus shelters, bus stops and stations and transit information that can be understood by people of all abilities, including newcomers.