Stories like this one, "Able to get on the GO train, wheelchair user struggles to get off" aren't taken seriously.
If accessibility was as important as GO Transit claims, in this day and age, we wouldn't be reading about a man who was left embarrassed and humiliated because he was unable to ride the system, from start to finish, in his wheelchair and with dignity.
It doesn't matter how bad the service is at times, or how non-compliant Metrolinx (the corporation that owns and operates GO Transit) is, by dragging their feet on creating a barrier-free system, they don't fear the wrath of the public. Bad publicity doesn't affect their bottom line. GO Transit is the only regional transit system operating trains and buses across the GTA. Their trains are the only public transit option for many people commuting in from east and west of Toronto. People aren't about to abandon the system in droves out of disgust. There are no transit alternatives. I'm not about to buy a car so I can avoid giving Metrolinx any more of my money.
Despite stories as horrible as James Gilfoy’s, Metrolinx isn't going to be holding a special board meeting or demanding immediate changes. Their reaction to Gilfoy's dilemma was to blame him and his wife for his transit woes.
In a statement to the Toronto Star, a Metrolinx spokesperson said, "“We encourage customers to contact GO Transit to determine whether their trip is accessible. Our call centre representatives can help customers plan their routes based on their needs.”
And Gilfoy's response?
“GO’s reaction was that if we had planned it out better it wouldn’t have happened,” said James. “It’s almost 2013. I didn’t think I’d have to plan whether I could get off the train. They really aren’t addressing the situation. Knowing that it won’t be until 2016 means nothing to me. And what about the next person to encounter this? They may be in a worse situation: unable to walk, or elderly."
And don't get me started on how GO Transit still doesn't adequately accommodate the hearing-impaired ... it's quite shameful, really, that our tax and fare dollars support this nonsense.
10 comments:
Absolutely disgusting! And to think that Metrolinx/GO/etc. feels no shame in the lack of service provided.
Now, if the fare increases were going to the station/platforms upgrades, I would fully support that. It is a shame that it hasn't been done yet. I thought there was a law or something saying that public transportation needed to be fully accessible?
If safety and comfort were as important as GO Transit claims, in this day and age, we wouldn't be seeing clusters of smokers by entrances, ticket machines and under no smoking signs...
If new revenue streams were as important as GO transit claims, in this day and age, we would see enforcement officers ticketing foot donkeys and door donkeys and butt-donkeys...
GO Transit claims a lot, but one of their claims and a buck or two might buy a cup of coffee...
Amen, deepfish.
I'm not sure why Metrolinx can't see what we see.
CJ, they can't see what we see because they don't use the system! They're riding in their private cars. Get some regular joes and janes (and I mean people that USE the GO system all the time) on the board. None of these CEOs and bigwigs from other companies that don't use it.
Okay, rant over. Please go about your day.
True, true. The CEOs of both GO and ML make over half a mill a year so I doubt they're schlepping it on public transit.
I read this story in the Star. Unfortunately, the ticket agent dropped the ball in not informing Mr. Gilfoy that Long Branch is not yet an accessible station (along with Mimico on the west end and Eglinton on the east end) unless of course the ticket was purchased by his travelling companion or he did not interact with the ticket agent.
That being said (and this is where I'll likely catch some shit from the easily outraged), if I were in Mr. Gilfoy's place (new rider who is unfamiliar with the system and this station in particular), I would have looked at the website, found the tab labelled accessibility and looked it up. If we lived in a perfect world, everything would be accessible to everyone, everywhere and all the time. The trend of running to the media whenever someone has their feelings hurt is getting a little tired when all it takes is 30 seconds on the website to find the information you need.
An easy workaround for this situation (and this was the csa's dropped ball)...bypass Long Branch and stay on to Port Credit which is 1 stop further west and is accessible. Due to the circumstance, GO can (and will as I have witnessed it myself) arrange for a taxi to take you to your destination. No idea why this was not suggested by the csa (new? Unfamiliar with stations and procedures?). It's not perfect by any means but it sure beats dragging your wheelchair down the stairs and up again.
Fire away....
GO had many years and ample time and money to equip the system with barrier-free measures.
However, I'm not keen on blaming the disabled, so yes, accountibility lies with GO Transit based on what you outlined, so more training and education is needed internally to ensure employees can be pro-active and informative.
But one cannot reasonably expect all GO customers to read a passage on a website prior to travel, that's a stretch.
its disgusting, I've faced the SAME problem, I lived less than 40 minute TTC ride away from Long Branch station IF it had been accessible, It would have been a mere 1 bus/ 10 minute wheel to my old apartment = 40 minute ride home, it would have made it so much easier to get home to Etobicoke, rather than the alternative, of having to go all the way to union, then wheel from union station all the way to Osgoode or Queen subway station then attempt the transfer at bloor, for my train to kipling station, or worse, the ride from Port Credit, & 2 buses/120 minutes to get home..
GO does NOT do the taxi thing for DISABLED people, I've tried, to no avail, also from p.C its mississauga transit, & youd be paying BOTH Mississauga Transit Fare + TTC Fare, as neither accept each others transfers..
NONE of the Go Stations WEST of union in T.O are Accessible, (( Yes the EX is itself physicially accessible, BUT there is NO accessible TTC routes from there, as BOTH 509 & 511, are STREETCARS, therefore NOT accessible..))
Also GO TRANSIT is inaccessible for blind ppl as well, in many ways, but I'll leave THAT can of NASTINESS till another day, cause I could get nasty, I dont want to on this forum, as I have massive respect for CJ.
GO Transit still has a LONG way to go in terms of accessibility, particularly regarding their buses. I took the 95 westbound bus to Scarborough Town Centre today. My late sister used a wheelchair. The driver told me that about 7 times out of 10 the wheelchair lifts get stuck, don't work at all - or the seats that are supposed to move forward, don't. He told me that everything looks great in the promotional video, but in real life it's vastly different. He once witnessed a wheelchair user crawl up his bus steps so that he could get home in time. This shouldn't be happening, in this day and age!!!!
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