Para Transpo riders apply more pressure for better booking options

Advocates say the City of Ottawa needs to pick up the pace and launch an online booking system for Para Transpo users.

Members with the Healthy Transportation Coalition andOttawa Transit Riders are kicking off a three-day ParaParity campaign Tuesday, part of an ongoingpush forthe service for people who struggle with taking conventional city buses to not just take reservations over the phone.

They're calling for an online booking system to be in place by the end of 2020, a 50/50 split for seats to be booked over the phone and onlineand for the city to allow same-day pickup service.

Sally Thomas relies on Para Transpo in the winterbecause snow-covered sidewalks makeit nearly impossible for her to get to the bus stop, but leaving her house is also a burden.

She sets an alarm tocall Para Transpo at7 a.m. thenspends up to two hours waiting to book a pickup for the next day.

"I pay the same price as other users of OC Transpo, it should be the same service and I'm not getting anywhere near the same service," she said.

She feels the current system is alsoinaccessible for people with certain disabilities.

"People with dexterity problems, people with hearing issues, people with speech issues, currently cannot really use the phone by themselves and have to get others to make their bookings for them."

Para Transpo customers call for same-day online booking option

5 years ago

Duration 1:06

Sally Thomas and Kyle Humphrey say having to book a ride the day before over the phone leaves no room for spontaneity and very little freedom when it comes to getting around.

'Feels like I'm trapped'

Kyle Humphreyhas spina bifida and said not having the option for same-day pickup can affect both his social life and being able to makeit into work on short notice.

"I have the freedom, during the summer, to walk my 400 metres to the bus and take the bus, but when the wintertime comes it's impossible to get out anywhere," he said.

"It feels like I'm trapped."

He wants the city to invest in botha Para Transpo app, similar to ride-hailing services, and an online booking system.

"It would change, not just my world, but it would change the lives of so many people."

Toronto has dual booking

Rideau-Rockcliffe Coun. Rawlson King hasraised questions to the city's Transit Commission about why there is still no online booking system in place for Para Transpousers.

• Councillor asks why there's still no online booking for Para Transpo
• Para Transpo improvements aimed at reducing 'frustrating' wait times
• Para Transpo weighs pros, cons of move to online booking

King points to the City of Toronto as an example of a city which hasa dual reservation system in place online and over the phone for people with disabilities.

"It's my intent to, in the next budget, to ask that become a budget priority, so that we can treat people with dignity and respect when they're seeking public transport," he said.

In June, OC Transpo's general manager John Manconi told the transit commissionit would cost around $1 million and require five full-time employees to implement an online booking system.

However, he said the focus has been on getting the new LRT system up and running.

A report by OC Transpo is expected by the end of the year, including"an outline of the project's scope, timelines, and budget, as well as any policy recommendations that transit commission and city council would need to consider as part of the introduction of a new online service," according to a statement issued by the city.