Daniel Boyer is a hockey fan. He says that Para Transpo doesn’t have a direct route to the Gatineau, Que. arena
A long-time season ticket holder for Ottawa’s junior hockey team is worried about how hard it will be to get to upcoming playoff games using accessible transit services run by two different cities.
Daniel Boyer says he has been a season ticket holder for the Ottawa 67’s for more than 25 years. Because he uses a wheelchair, he has to take the Para Transpo bus in Ottawa to get to Ontario Hockey League games.
Ottawa usually plays its home games at the TD Place arena, but a scheduling conflict has forced the team to play its first playoff games across the river in Gatineau, Que., at the Slush Puppie Arena.
It’s too bad because for many people with disabilities, that was their only chance to get out of the house all week.– Catherine Gardner, a user of Paratransit
Para Transpo won’t take Boyer or other users directly to the arena, even though this might not be a big deal for many hockey fans. This means he will have to switch to a vehicle that is easier for him to use.Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) in Gatineau.
Boyer said, “The trouble is, I don’t know how to do that.”
Both accessible transit systems require riders to schedule pick-up and drop-off times at least 24 hours in advance, and riders need to be ready 15 to 30 minutes before the bus arrives.
If a passenger misses or is late for the bus, it won’t wait, and another one won’t come to take its place. So, if a hockey game goes into overtime, Boyer tells the other team, “You’re screwed.”
Better integration, planning neede
Laura Shantz, who works to improve public transportation, says that the two systems could work together better. At the moment, a person who takes public transportation has to “constantly” try to guess when he or she might need a car.
Shantz said, “It really makes it hard to go out.”
Shantz said that it takes about 20 minutes to drive from downtown Ottawa to the Slush Puppie Centre, but it could take more than an hour to get there using public transportation.
Catherine Gardner, who used to be chair of the accessibility advisory committee for the City of Ottawa, uses a walker and a wheelchair and takes Para Transpo at least five times a week.
She has also taken the STO service to get to Chelsea, Que., and hasn’t had any problems with it.
“You might not get it on time, but I get where I need to go when I need to get there,” Gardner said.
She agrees that there are a few extra steps, and she thinks there should be a direct way to the arena for the 67’s playoff games.
“It’s too bad because for many people with disabilities, that was their only chance to get out of the house all week,” Gardner said.
In an email statement, a representative for the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, which owns the 67’s, said that staff is working with Para Transpo to figure out how to get to the two playoff games in Gatineau. The team will also offer a free shuttle from Carleton University to the games for people who need help getting there.