A program that subsidizes cab rides for people with disabilities has been chopped in at least two British Columbia communities.
Taxi Saver is a B.C. Transit program that provides half price taxi coupons for people to use when HandyDart fails to accommodate their needs, according to B.C. Transit's website.
In Vernon the public transit company has told people who use the program that no more coupons will be available until April 1 because the “initiative has reached its budget for the current fiscal year,” the Vernon Morning Star reported Saturday.
And a commenter on a Prince George website said that in his or her community the number of Taxi Saver coupons people are allowed to buy has been cut in half.
The Vernon paper quoted a B.C. Transit spokesperson saying HandyDart is available 12 hours a day, Monday to Friday, in the Okanagan city. * The story also quoted a client saying HandyDart needs to be booked a week ahead.
A commenter on the story wrote, “While the dignitaries rub elbows and accept free tickets to the Olympics, my life is put on hold, no independence to choose activities without planning a week in advance.”
A B.C. Transit spokesperson said she would be able to answer questions about the cuts later tonight.
* B.C. Transit spokesperson Joanna Morton later told the Tyee that HandyDart is available in Vernon from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon. to Thurs. and Sat., as well as from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fri..
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.
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DPL
2 years ago
Sad state of affairs. There
Sad state of affairs. There are times when a sudden need for an appointment means a person has to use the taxi.sometimes HandiDart can't manage to arrive for a confirmed trip so they call the taxi and the customer pays with a Handi Dart trip ticket rather than maybe a 20 buck trip. People will start missing apponitments because a full fare taxi ride gets expensive really quickly. People with disabilities are not considered of any value to this bloody stupid, non caring government.
Realist
2 years ago
Disabled father and son made homeless
As a disabled man and father of a ten year old boy we get $375/month for shelter. B.C.Housing has raised our rent to $510. We can no longer afford to live in housing that was created for us. What hurts the most is that as we will be thrown out into the street April 1st the public just does not care and my son and i will become just another statistical victim of the olympic greed. No one will help us not the NDP who claim that my MLA is Shirley Bond and thus they don't have a voice in our riding. Pivot legal services will not help because we live in Prince George and they do not have an office here. No one cares about us. I guess we will just "go away" and the public can forget about us as we will be out of sight and thus no longer deemed worthy of societies dignities. Our society is so sick that it will just say oh, that's not right but then tune into the olympic hockey while my son and I shiver in the snow. Thanks Gordo and all your supporters at least I know we'll see each other on judgement day when your lives will be held accountable. If only it could happen while we are alive.
zalm
2 years ago
bloody hell....
I don't know what to say....
jim1966
2 years ago
More Cuts
Is anyone surprised by this?, When cuts come to programs and services, who is usually affected first?. Usually low income folks and the disabled. I fear that despite the smiling faces and welcome we are offering the world is not enough to remedy this mess made by the BC Liberals. I and others are expecting major cuts after the games are gone and the tab has to be paid. This combined with the dishonest manner re: the hst, all I can say is God help us, especially for those that need or rely on more than just charity. When are basic services like these going to made "essential?", Maybe when ambulance drivers are?.
More to come I'm sure...
Curt
2 years ago
Absolutely shameful!
I am so disgusted with this government! Let the international media see what is going on in this province in the name of the "OWELYMPICS".
Skywalker
2 years ago
Agreed
Are there no lengths that these government clowns will go to create misery. Damn those Olympics anyway. What a cost.