Users of Access Calgary, a special-needs transportation provider, applauded city council’s decision to save a $500,000 taxi-chit program but said much work remains to be done to improve the service.
After Monday’s budget meeting, Mayor Naheed Nenshi said the 15–0 tally in favour of keeping the $500,000 program shows that council has “been listening” to Access Calgary users.
But Clement Uwoghiren, an aid worker, said yesterday he and his client David often spend hours on the bus each day, riding to and from destinations such as the Rehabilitation Society of Calgary facility in the northeast.
“Since the winter began it has been really difficult,” he said. “We don’t get the transportation according to schedule.”
Anna Skalka, program co-ordinator with the society, confirmed that attendees often arrive at sporadic hours.
Byron Morey, who has been using Access Calgary for about a dozen years, said that the system’s not perfect but that he has learned to work within it, scheduling appointments during non-peak hours.
“The drivers out there do the best they can,” he said.
Calgary Transit spokes-person Ron Collins was unable to comment, citing ongoing budget negotiations.
