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If you are a wheelchair user - whether you're able to get around by yourself or must be accompanied to do so - you should know that the STM accessible network is expanding, making it possible to travel on either north-south or east-west axis. Moreover, according to the STM 2000-2002 purchasing plan, the accessible network could be provided by no less than 100 bus routes by the end of 2002.
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| Service to wheelchair users is offered 7 days a week | ||||
| Low-floor buses are not meant to replace the Transportation service for the Disabled. It is rather a complement. Low-floor buses can carry only one wheelchair at a time and are to be boarded through the rear door. We suggest that you attend to an information session prior to your first trip in order to be informed about the procedures for using the service. Additionally, we recommend that you be accompanied for your first few trips. Your friend will not have to pay for the ride. Bon Voyage!
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The reserved area for the wheelchair user is located near the rear door and is well identified inside low-floor buses – either by marking on the floor or with stickers.
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Boarding Procedure
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The accessible service is available only at stops displaying the universal accessibility symbol. The latter may appear in a blue square or in an orange circle. |
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If the universal accessibility symbol appears in a
blue square on your stop: Ounce the regular customers will have exit or boarded the bus, the driver will lean the bus towards the sidewalk and deploy the ramp; |
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If the universal accessibility symbol appears in
an orange circle on your stop: Ounce the regular customers will have exit or boarded the bus, the driver will not lean the bus towards the sidewalk, but will deploy the ramp. |
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| For obvious safety reasons, the bus driver will not deploy the wheelchair ramp until all other customers have boarded or alighted the bus. The wheelchair user must wait for the full extension of the ramp before moving the wheelchair on it. Once inside, please wait till the rear door is completely closed, then backup the wheelchair until it sits firmly against the cushion as shown on the illustration below.
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You will be facing toward the rear of the bus. Do not place the wheelchair any other way. Because of driving hazards, the bus could be forced into sudden manoeuvres. Be sure to block the brakes on your wheelchair before the bus starts moving. And if your wheelchair has a seat belt, we would advise you to buckle up! |
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All low-floor buses are equipped with a radio-communication system. The bus driver can communicate with the Operation Centre at all time. If a problem — mechanical or else — should arise, STM employees will intervene rapidly. The driver monitors the full-length of the bus — including the wheelchair reserved area — with the rear-view mirror.
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Press the push-button under the foldaway seat.
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| For safety reasons, if there is an obstruction at your stop, the driver will ask you to exit at the next accessible bus stop. Once the bus has stopped and after other customers have alighted, please move your wheelchair in front of the rear door. The driver will then activate the wheelchair ramp and command the opening of the door.
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The driver calls the Operations Centre and a Supervisor is dispatched on-site. A Supervisor will attend to the wheelchair user at all times. If the problem should be mechanical, while other customers are invited to board the next bus, the wheelchair user is invited either to stay on the bus or to move to a more secure location with the help of a Supervisor. If the next low-floor bus is expected in less than 30 minutes, the wheelchair user is invited to wait and board this next bus. Otherwise, the Supervisor calls for a minibus from the Transportation service for the Disabled. The wheelchair user boards the minibus and is carried to destination.
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Do I have to pay for this service? Regular fare — or reduced fare, if applicable — is mandatory to board low-floor buses. However, you will not have to show your fare to the driver. If you do not have a monthly or weekly pass, you will have to pay by the means of a payment envelope. The envelopes are available by calling at the STM (514) 280-5100 or the RUTA (514) 255-0765. No money should be sent in these envelopes; tickets or cheques in the name of the STM are the only accepted payments. |
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| What will be the next routes to offer the accessibility service? Accessible service is offered on the following 93 bus routes: |
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| Wheelchair Accessible Bus Routes |
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| Planibus
Folders in PDF format The Acrobat Reader software is required to be able to consult PDF Format pages. If you don't already have the software, you can download it from Adobe's Web site. It's free! |
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We will inform you of every service additions through our usual communication means. What if a failure happens late at night? In order to avoid problematic situations, we strongly suggest that you travel during the Paratransit operation hours, that is from 6 to 1 a.m. Sunday to Thursday and from 6 to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Is the service available during winter? The accessible service is available year-round. However, it might be suspended for a few days due to snow accumulation. To get the latest news on this matter, listen to the message on the service's hotline by calling A-U-T-O-B-U-S (288-6287). This information is also available by calling at the RUTA. Is the service offered on all low-floor buses? Once the modifications will have been brought on the 39-places vehicles, all the low-floor buses in service on the designated lines will provide service to wheelchair users. Until then, the service is provided by 31 or 36-places vehicles. Are all types of wheelchair accepted onboard? Regular wheelchairs, Motorized wheelchairs and power scooters are accepted. However, dimensions should not exceed:
Note that wheelchairs equipped with a large bag in the back might be problematic.
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Standard Wheelchair |
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| Power Wheelchair |
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Scooter
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Leaving times of the buses offering the service are identified with a star in the Planibus of the routes where accessible service is available. The Planibus are available upon request. You may also get schedule information for your bus by calling the TelBus number that appears on your stop. The Accessible Service Hotline gives you the latest news concerning the service. To reach it, call A-U-T-O-B-U-S (288-6287). Finally, this document may also be seen on the STM web site which is full of useful information. For document request, contact the STM by calling: (514) 280-5100. For more information, to receive documents or to participate in group discussions about the wheelchair accessibility service in low-floor buses, contact: the Regroupement des usagers du transport adapté (RUTA) by calling (514) 255-0765. Information: A-U-T-O-B-U-S (288-6287)
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