Alternative transportation service takes a hit

By Nadine Armstrong

The Hants Journal/NovaNewsNow.com



For the first time in four years, West Hants Dial-A-Ride is in the red and will need to request funding from the municipality.

The non-profit organization provides at-cost transportation primarily for medical and employment or educational purposes, but since the emergence of Kings Transit, the service has taken a hit, says Dial-A-Ride director Mike Little. “We’ve sustained heavy losses since Kings Transit came. We’ve never had an issue with money before, this year we do.”

Although the organization supports transit service, its officials had no idea it would take such a pounding. “I initially knew we’d see some decrease in riders,” Little said, “but I thought it would eventually level out.”

Despite a progressive 10 per cent yearly increase in rides, numbers have now dropped dramatically. “This is the first time we are in the tank.” Last year, Dial-A-Ride provided 3,100 rides, compared to 2,100 for this year-end.

Dial-a-Ride receives an annual operational grant from the province, and obtained a grant from the municipality and the town during its first year of operation, but has since kept itself afloat. Little noted, “we haven’t had to go to the municipality for the past four years, we’ve always been in a break even situation. I’ve told them, if the day comes that we need money, we’ll as. And we’ve never had to until now.”

Little said that Kings Transit has taken much of their core ridership with the addition of wheelchair-accessible buses and additional routes to areas like Kendal Lane.

Duplicates service

“Kendal Lanes is one of the places we were called out to most,” Little said. “I understand public transit is about mass and getting people from point A to point B, but they are now coming into Dial-A-Ride areas in order increase services. What it amounts to is a duplication of services, the municipality is now really subsidizing both.”

Little is also concerned that transit wheelchair service is misleading. “I doubt anyone with Kings Transit really understand disability issues.”

He said the time and effort involved in accessibility has not been realistically addressed by the transit service. “It would take a minimum of 15 minutes to get a person in a wheelchair settled on to the bus and another 15 minutes at the end of their ride. How are they able to do that and keep runs on schedule? There is no real understating on their part of what is involved.”

Kings Transit general manager Ron Mullins had addressed the issue of accessibility with the municipality recently commenting that the wheelchair lifts could not be properly operated when there is snow banked along bus stops. Kings Transit is also in the process of conducting a study on disability issues.

Little pointed out, however, 20 percent of the population has some sort of disability, and mobility issues are not just about wheelchairs. “There are invisible disabilities than transit won’t be able to recognize, and they are the ones who often face the biggest barriers.”

Personal touch

For one, Little said some clients would be confused by the routes and schedules or feel uncomfortable travelling by bus when they are ill. “Seniors on medications that make them dizzy are not going to want to ride on the bus alone.”

He said part of what makes Dial-A-Ride so essential is the personal touch offered. “It’s also about social interaction which is very important to our seniors.” There are currently 10 dedicated volunteer drivers with Dial-A-Ride, who not only provide transport but also wait with clients during appointments. “You can’t stop and have a bus wait while you pick up you’re medications, but we will,” Little said.

Dial-A-Ride will be making a presentation to the municipal and town councils requesting funding for this year.

Municipal Warden Richard Dauphinee sits on the Dial-A-Ride board and says he is supportive of that organization and Kings Transit, as well. Coun. Shirley Pineo has asked, if Dial-A-Ride is sustainable, why not enhance that service for some of the same cost they’ve invested in KT? “Some of our rural routes are not even getting riders, Dial-A-Ride could be a cheaper option there,” she said. “If I were a senior going in for medical treatment I’d certainly rather go by Dial-A-Ride.”

Despite the current hardships, Little said, they won’t turn clients away but may have to look at increasing the cost of rides. “We would never turn anyone away if they really need it just because of cost but it’s going to be tough to continue if we face another year like this one. Something has got to give.”