Open Letter Regarding Wheelchair Accessible Public Transportation in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

CC: Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montreal

Philippe Schnobb, President of Société de transport de Montréal (STM)

Robert Poëti, Quebec Minister of Transport and Minister responsible for the Montréal Region

Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport (Government of Canada)

October 19th, 2014

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Open Letter Re: Wheelchair Accessible Public Transportation in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

As a Montrealer who is disabled and uses a motorized wheelchair to get around the city, I find it quite ironic that Montreal is the host of the first “World Summit Destinations for All” (October 19th to 22nd, 2014). This conference will be a platform for the global tourism industry to discuss issues regarding accessible tourism and transportation. Organizers and the city should be congratulated for this initiative; however, all city officials must be aware that Montreal has not progressed far enough as compared to other large cities in North America.

Although I can discuss what it is like being hampered by the lack of accessible bars and restaurants on Crescent Street, a popular location for tourists, my concern is accessible public transportation, not including adapted taxis and mini-buses. 2

Open Letter Re: Wheelchair Accessible Public Transportation in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

In the past 11 years, I have been an user of the large STM buses which are intended to be used by individuals in wheelchairs and scooters. From 2003 to 2009, I had experienced many problems with the older model of buses where the ramp was located in the back. These problems came in the forms:

1. Ramps that did not work due to lack of maintenance

2. Driver did not know how to deploy the ramp

On six occasions, I had to instruct the driver on how to deploy the ramp, despite the STM contentions that all drivers were properly trained.

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Open Letter Re: Wheelchair Accessible Public Transportation in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

In a reply to an email that was sent to the STM in September 2011 regarding trying to embark on three consecutive buses that the ramps did not work, I was told that the introduction of a new fleet model (LFS Artic model manufactured by Nova Bus - Volvo Bus Corporation) where the ramp is located in the front were going to “improve reliability of the wheelchair accessibility service”.

Based on my experience within the last 4 months, it is certainly not the case.

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Open Letter Re: Wheelchair Accessible Public Transportation in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

On two occasions, I was not able to embark on these “accessible” buses because the ramps were not functioning. Thinking that it was just my bad luck on two different bus lines on two different days, I was able to reach other disabled users and discovered that they had experienced the same problem with the new buses on different parts of the island of Montreal throughout the past few years.

If I am to believe that all drivers are trained to work with the ramps in the “accessible” buses, then there is a serious problem with the maintenance of the buses. Based on the circumstances that I have gone through in 2003 to 2009, I fear that disabled users will be faced with “waiting for the next bus” if the STM continues to ignore this issue.

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Open Letter Re: Wheelchair Accessible Public Transportation in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

In a recent interview with CBC Montreal * (September 23rd, 2014), a STM official said, “We offer it, but it’s not a lot of people who use it,” when questioned about the buses and the maintenance of the ramps. In addition, the official claimed that the service is “not popular”.

Is the STM operating and maintaining its services based on popularity and not necessity?

Is the city selling a bag of ketchup chips** at a depanneur (corner store) or providing an essential public service?

*Faulty STM bus ramps anger wheelchair user. September 23rd, 2014 (http://www.cbc.ca/1.2769800)**Quebec! #1. In Quebec, we love Ketchup Chips. That’s right, ketchup chips. March 8th, 2010 (http://robertkarch.com/2010/03/08/quebec-quebec-1-in-quebec-we-love-ketchup-chips-thats-right-ketchup-chips/)

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Open Letter Re: Wheelchair Accessible Public Transportation in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

While it is great to have an action plan for the future for accessible public transportation, the STM and The City of Montreal have to focus on the present issues. Not being able to deal with current problems will lead disabled users to lose trust in the STM and its ability to provide a transit service that is truly “accessible” and “reliable” no matter what is in a plan, claimed in a mission statement or discussed at an international conference.

Ian SmithCote-St.Luc (Montreal), Quebec, Canada

October 3rd, 2014 (10:31 pm)STM – Bus 138 West

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Open Letter Re: Wheelchair Accessible Public Transportation in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

History of problems with STM wheelchair “accessible” buses (2014) (Sample)

Date Bus Line Old / New Fleet

Key Issue(s) Observation(s)

October 3rd, 2014

138 West New Ramp did not function

Driver seemedto be unprepared to deploy the ramp.

July 16th, 2014 161 West New Ramp did not function

Driver seemedindifferent. Told to “wait for the next bus”.

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Open Letter Re: Wheelchair Accessible Public Transportation in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

History of problems with STM wheelchair “accessible” buses (2014) (Sample)

Date Bus Line Old / New Fleet

Key Issue(s) Observation(s)

July 1st, 2014 161 East Old Told the ramp was not functioning. Embarked after: i) asking the driver to prove that the ramp was not working and ii) instructing how to deploy the ramp.

1) Driver was quick to inform me that the ramp did not work.

2) Driver was unpreparedto deploy the ramp.

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Open Letter Re: Wheelchair Accessible Public Transportation in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Below is a listing of link to television reports, editorials and videos documenting the history of problems with the STM low floor buses. Despite the evidence over the years, the transit agency claims that it is a small issue.

• Problème d'accès aux autobus de la STM #289 - 11 Mars 2015 (March 11, 2015, Source: YouTube)

• Editorial: Transit should be accessible (March 10, 2015, Source: The Montreal Gazette)

• Accessibilize Montreal Claims the STM Has an Institutionalized Culture of Ableism (March 6, 2015, Source: Link Newspaper)

• Why Should It Be Your Problem? - Universal Accessibility in Montreal(March 4, 2015, Source: Montreal’s Community Contact)

• Bus driver refuses to lower mobility ramp for woman (February 28th, 2015, Source: CTV News – Montreal)

• STM bus driver refuses to lower ramp for woman with walker(February 27th, 2015, Source: CBC News – Montreal)

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Open Letter Re: Wheelchair Accessible Public Transportation in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

• Wheelchair users should be free to travel like all Montrealers(November 10, 2014, Source: The Montreal Gazette)

• STM can learn a lot from Dublin on bus accessibility (November 5, 2014, Source: The Montreal Gazette)

• Montrealers with disabilities demand accessible transit system (July 28, 2014, Source: The McGill Daily)

• Dans la peau d'une personne en fauteuil roulant (May 27th, 2014, Source: 24 Heures)

• Wheelchair users frustrated by lack of buses to Ile Ste. Helene (August 16, 2013, Source: CTV Montreal)

• Problème d'accès #88-Discrimination et autobus de la STM 101 –VIDEO (September 19, 2011, Source: RAPLIQ)

• Problème d'accès #87-L'accessibilité des autobus de la STM négligée (September 18, 2011, Source: RAPLIQ)

• Defective bus fleet leaves wheelchair users stranded(August 2, 2008, Source: The Montreal Gazette)

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Open Letter Re: Wheelchair Accessible Public Transportation in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

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