Refugee blocks Toronto bus with his wheelchair after frustrating wait

Let's try to guess how much success he might have with this strategy back in Syria.

I fully support him or anyone that wants to get on the bus. Waiting 90 minutes is outrageous! Especially at a stop marked for wheelchairs.

Further, someone on any one of those 6 busses should have moved out of the designated area for the chair.

Is that what happened? I can't find that in the article, and damned if I can make that video play.

In Vancouver there are wheelchair accessible shuttle-buses, but they don't look anything like the Bus being stopped in the picture. And there's a special procedure for accessing them, I think. That's the way it used to be anyway. Is it different in Toronto?

In any case what I don't understand is why is this only a headline story when it happens to a refugee? Does it only happen to Syrians in Toronto?

Is that what happened? I can't find that in the article, and damned if I can make that video play.

In Vancouver there are wheelchair accessible shuttle-buses, but they don't look anything like the Bus being stopped in the picture. And there's a special procedure for accessing them, I think. That's the way it used to be anyway. Is it different in Toronto?

In any case what I don't understand is why is this only a headline story when it happens to a refugee? Does it only happen to Syrians in Toronto?

Toronto has gone away with the majority of it's "Wheel-Trans" fleet and made the buses wheelchair accessible. 6 busses past this guy, all accessible, but there was "no room" for him despite areas on the bus designated for this.

There's a big focus on TTC service issues right now which is why this made headlines. This TTC has had some very bad PR in the first half of this year.

Oh wait, I think I think I see.



Is it that white arrangement attached to the bus's front bumper?

We have some of those. How do they work? Do they detach? Do they sit him there as he drives along? Does the driver lift him up in his chair through the front window?

That's kind of fascinating. The things you see every day, but you don't even notice.

I used to know an old lady who used to use the shuttle buses, but that was years ago. I imagine things have modernized.

Here's a better picture of that white arrangement.

Well how do they get the wheelchair guy up into the bus then? Where's that gizmo? That's what I wanna see. Inquiring minds want to know.

I need to start taking buses, so I know this stuff.

Through the regular door... they have a ramp that the driver can activate for wheelchair access.

Have you even been on a TTC bus in the last few years or so? I took it to work for four months a couple times when I was between cars and still living at my previous address. I had to let a few buses go by because they were overcrowded, and times when I was lucky enough to get a spot, the drivers would blow by stops full of people (standing, strollers, chairs) because of the same problem. The only reason why this is news at all is because A) He's a 'refugee'. and B) because he was fool enough to park himself in front of a bus.

I'm by no means sticking up for the TTC, as they have gone downhill in recent years, but this guy could have dealt with his frustration properly, instead of acting like an ass. There are better ways to go about things that than.

That being said, the TTC needs to do something more about the overcrowding, as well as the politicians who keep dragging their feet on badly needed relief projects.

-J.

Have you even been on a TTC bus in the last few years or so? I took it to work for four months a couple times when I was between cars and still living at my previous address. I had to let a few buses go by because they were overcrowded, and times when I was lucky enough to get a spot, the drivers would blow by stops full of people (standing, strollers, chairs) because of the same problem. The only reason why this is news at all is because A) He's a 'refugee'. and B) because he was fool enough to park himself in front of a bus.

I'm by no means sticking up for the TTC, as they have gone downhill in recent years, but this guy could have dealt with his frustration properly, instead of acting like an ass. There are better ways to go about things that than.

That being said, the TTC needs to do something more about the overcrowding, as well as the politicians who keep dragging their feet on badly needed relief projects.

-J.

How would you handle waiting for a bus for 90 minutes with your child? You said there's a better way and I'd love to hear what that is.

I don't think he's a fool. He's brought to light something that happens far too often.

What difference does it make that he is a refugee?

Go back and re-read what I posted. This DOES happen far too often, but without proper funding to desperately needed transit options, it will keep happening.

I believe I said there was a better way to deal with the frustration, and the last thing I would do is put myself in jeopardy by moving in front of a rather large vehicle. You want attention to a problem? Call the TTC, call the newspapers, call the TV station.

Instead of a 90 minute wait, I would have arranged alternate transportation (possibly to the TTC headquarters) , then raised hell over what had transpired. Holding up others won't secure sympathy. More likely apathy and resentment.

-J.

TTC already apologized as they have a protocol for this that the drivers didn't follow. When a bus can't pick up a wheelchair, the driver is supposed to call in to Dispatch. Dispatch then radios the next bus to see if it can accommodate. If it can't, or if the wait for the next bus is too long, Dispatch sends a Wheel-Trans to go pick the person up. Apparently none of the drivers that passed this guy up called it in.

Is that what happened? I can't find that in the article, and damned if I can make that video play.

In Vancouver there are wheelchair accessible shuttle-buses, but they don't look anything like the Bus being stopped in the picture. And there's a special procedure for accessing them, I think. That's the way it used to be anyway. Is it different in Toronto?

In any case what I don't understand is why is this only a headline story when it happens to a refugee? Does it only happen to Syrians in Toronto?

Toronto has gone away with the majority of it's "Wheel-Trans" fleet and made the buses wheelchair accessible. 6 busses past this guy, all accessible, but there was "no room" for him despite areas on the bus designated for this.

There's a big focus on TTC service issues right now which is why this made headlines. This TTC has had some very bad PR in the first half of this year.


Wheel Trans is still there, but it's not a route service, it's point to point, you have to schedule your trip 24 hours in advance and they come get you.