Montreal, 2 January 2004 ; The Société de transport de Montréal will make two additional lines in its regular network accessib

Press release

The STM makes the busiest line on its bus network accessible to those in wheelchairs

Montreal, 2 January 2004 – The Société de transport de Montréal will make two additional lines in its regular network accessible to those travelling in wheelchairs. To that end, as of January 5, 2004, lines 535 – R-Bus Du Parc/C�te-des-Neiges and 106 – Newman will be added to the 93 lines already providing this service, bringing the total number of accessible lines to 95.

In 2002, line 535, in combination with lines 80 – Avenue Du Parc and 165 – C�te-des-Neiges, proved to be the busiest in the STM’s bus network with average daily weekday ridership of  71 600.

It was in the spring of 1998 that the STM, in collaboration with Regroupement des usagers du transport adapté (RUTA), conducted a pilot project involving some one hundred people in wheelchairs who had a certain level of autonomy or who were accompanied during their travel.  The positive results of this trial led to the permanent establishment of the service the following August 24.

At that time the service was provided from Monday to Friday, outside rush hour, as well as all day on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Since June 18, 2001, the service has also been offered during rush hour.

The complete list of accessible lines is available on the STM’s Internet site (www.stm.info) in the Paratransit section.

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