A Lower Mainland mother says her physically disabled son is frequently left waiting on the curb because wheelchair lifts on buses often don’t work, or drivers don’t know how to operate them.
Kimberley Yanko’s son Daniel, 18, who is in a wheelchair, is often unable to board the community shuttle buses between his Port Moody school, Douglas College, his work placements and their Anmore home.
“You’ve got people in wheelchairs being left at the side of the road and I’m sure it’s a daily occurrence,” said Yanko. “It’s not like they can get up and walk away.”
She said this happens about three to four times a week. In those instances, she usually ends up paying for a taxi or taking time off work to drive him.
She spent $710 over three months in taxi fares.
Daniel, a Grade 12 student at Heritage Woods Secondary School, said he is upset and annoyed when he is left behind at bus stops.
TransLink spokesman Ken Hardie said it shouldn’t have happened.
Coast Mountain Bus, he added, has taken a number of steps, including mandatory checklists to ensure lifts are working and training reviews to ensure drivers know how to operate them.
