This article describes the new transit service for disabled people in Vancouver. BC Transit and the Vancouver Regional Transit Commission have recently implemented a policy of full transit accessibility for persons with disabilities in the Vancouver region. All new buses will be equipped with wheelchair lifts and two interior wheelchair spaces. During 1990 and 1991, 221 new lift-equipped diesel buses were put into service on 49 routes. Another 43 routes will begin to offer accessible service using 77 new buses to be purchased in 1992. It is expected that all 690 diesel buses and 244 trolley buses in the regional fleet will be replaced by lift-equipped vehicles by the year 2006. This new accessible bus program will supplement the parallel transit service - handyDART - which has been available since 1980. It will provide opportunities for spontaneous travel and enable persons with disabilities to become regular transit passengers. A second initiative, the taxi saver program, was introduced in 1991 to allow persons with disabilities direct and immediate access to subsidized taxi service throughout the Vancouver region.
Abstract