Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods has had a very busy and productive winter. We are excited by the new projects we have taken on and we are encouraged by the progress of ongoing projects. We thank everyone who has helped us reach this point and we look forward to continuing to work with you as we take on our largest project yet: an Access Guide for Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows.
CAN especially appreciates those who offer us feedback and compliments regarding our web site. Our newest project will expand our web site and we encourage you to check in every few weeks for updates as we progress with our Access Guide.
For those of you who have volunteered your time and energy we thank you. We are heartened by the effort of all involved in CAN and we wouldn’t be able to continue to move forward without your help. It is encouraging that a small group of dedicated people have been able to get the attention of larger organizations as well as to help individuals throughout the Lower Mainland, the Sunshine Coast, across Canada, and even in Japan. We truly CAN make a difference.
All of us at CAN believe that 2008 will be a very successful year. We will continue to update you with this quarterly newsletter as well as through our web site. If you have any questions about the projects listed below, or anything in this newsletter, please contact us at (604) 437-7331 or by e-mail at info@canbc.org.
New Projects:
• Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods is creating an Access Guide for the Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows area. This guide will be found on our web site. The Access Guide will have reviews of the accessibility of businesses, venues, and parks. This project has several stages and will be an ongoing project for all of 2008. Our goal is to have the Access Guide completed and available for the 2009 BC Disability Games.
Members of CAN have been working to create accessibility checklists for restaurants, shopping, lodging, entertainment, places of worship, and parks. We will be considering accessibility from the point of view of wheelchair, scooter, walker, and stroller users. We have also gathered information regarding what makes businesses accessible for those with visual and hearing impairments.
In addition to working on checklists we have been speaking with other communities who have created Access Guides in the past. Burnaby has just finished updating their Access Guide which is available online as well as in a hard copy. For the time being CAN will concentrate on the online version. We want the Access Guide to be as user friendly as possible so we would appreciate your feedback as we progress with our online Access Guide. We will send a notification to all members when we add our first assessments to our site.
Volunteers will be spending the month of February assessing various businesses and venues in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows and we hope to have the first stage of the Access Guide up by the beginning of March.
We at CAN are very excited by this project as it will not only help residents, newcomers, and tourists but it will help to educate, and promote awareness to, the business owners in our area. We have discovered in past projects that business owners are open to suggestions regarding accessibility and that accessibility is often lacking because they are not aware of the issues. When we complete the review of the cooperating business we will give them a copy of the assessment so that they understand where their accessibility strengths and weaknesses are.
Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods has spoken with the Executive Director at BC Disability Sports (BCDS) and has received encouragement with this project. BCDS feels this guide will be a welcome addition to the games and for those coming to our community for the duration of the games.
If you have any suggestions, comments, or questions regarding the Access Guide please contact us by phone at (604) 437-7331 or by e-mail at info@canbc.org.
• A representative of Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods attended the 2007 BC Disability Games in Powell River. In January CAN was asked to write a report for Maple Ridge regarding the games in Powell River. The report will be completed by the end of February and will include an overview of the event as well as feedback highlighting various aspects of the games including specific sporting events, accommodation, venues, and special events. We have been asked to include suggestions and recommendations for the 2009 Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows BC Disability Games. We are proud to work on this report.
Ongoing Projects:
• On November 20th Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods held a working meeting with Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC), TransLink, council members from Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge, and members of the Engineering Department in both Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. At this meeting we discussed the accessibility of the bus routes and bus stops in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, specifically the shuttle bus routes. CMBC asked CAN to create a list of bus stops which would be reviewed and considered to be made accessible. This list was created with the feedback from our members and we appreciated your help in letting us know what stops need to be made accessible.
This meeting was a great step forward for all present as it allowed all groups to meet each other and to understand the positions and perspectives of the various departments. CAN was proud to have a representative at the meeting. The Maple Ridge Engineering Department announced that they would work on a five year plan to improve the accessibility of our transit system. CAN would like to thank everyone who took time out of their very busy schedule to meet together so that we have a clear overview of who is involved, what their responsibilities are, and how we can work together to improve the system.
At the meeting CAN offered many examples of bus stops that should be marked as accessible. The bus stop at the top of our list was the one in front of Ridge Meadows Hospital on Laity Street. CAN is excited to announce that Coast Mountain Bus Company responded to our suggestion and has now labeled the stop in front of the Ridge Meadows Hospital as accessible. This is an example of CAN’s diligence, patience, and hard work paying off. We look forward to continuing to announce newly made accessible bus stops in our future newsletters.
• CAN continues to be contacted by people in other communities. We receive e-mails weekly from people who have discovered our web site and who ask us to help them with information, guidance, or direction. We are pleased that people respond to our web site and that we are able to help others even if they do not reside in Maple Ridge or Pitt Meadows. We have realized that the CAN may be based in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows but that we are part of a virtual neighbourhood and we enjoy helping anyone who contacts us. Among those who contacted us are:
A woman who has been working for years to get funding for a community playground on the Sunshine Coast. They have raised $40,000 so far and were asking for direction as they had exhausted their resources. We were able to make some suggestions as to where they could go from here for funding.
A contractor from Grand Prairie, Alberta who is doing a project in Dawson Creek and needed to know about universal design, specifically for a footbridge. He was having troubles finding information about pathway accessibility when he came across our web site and phoned us. We had the proper document to give him (from the ADA) and e-mailed him immediately. He thanked us for the help and asked for any other documents we have pertaining to universal design as he may need it in the future. We appreciate contractors like Mr. Anderson who continued to dig to get the answers to make sure that his finished project is accessible for all.
A researcher who has been hired by the City of Abbotsford and Spirit BC to develop a tool that could be used to improve accessibility for residents of Abbotsford. She is working on two projects: an evaluation of the transportation services, and choosing a a central location in Abbotsford to evaluate for accessibility. The evaluation of the central location was done by physically walking the route and observing the side walks, traffic lights, bus stops, curb cuts, signage, etc., and reporting back with recommendations for improvements. CAN was able to supply her with a document that we created for Maple Ridge which lists important accessibility issues for the downtown core. She was very thankful and said that if gave them direction and helped them understand the issues. Ms. Urquhart also requested permission to reference the universal design information on CAN’s web site in her report. We, of course, gave her permission and were glad to do so.
• TransLink’s Access Transit Users’ Advisory Committee held their their first meeting in November. It was a workshop/orientation in which the nineteen members were introduced and they discussed meeting information. Heather McCain from Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods is on the committee and is excited by the seriousness of TransLink in wanting to make sure that this is an effective committee.
The role of the Users' Advisory Committee is to assist TransLink to ensure implementation of the Access Transit Plan and provide ongoing advice on all plans, programs, and other initiatives that TransLink funds. This includes:
Advising TransLink on matters which will enhance accessibility
Acting as TransLink's organizational conscience on accessibility issues
Assisting TransLink in setting priorities on accessibility issues
Providing comment on TransLink policies and strategy
The next meeting is in January and we will update all CAN members in our Spring newsletter. If you have any questions please contact us by phone at (604) 437-7331 or by e-mail at info@canbc.org
• After years of research and consultation with organizations like Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods TransLink has created an Access Transit Plan to ensure accessibility is a priority. As part of the Stakeholders group CAN was sent the Access Transit Stakeholder Update which outlines TransLink’s goals, plans, and current projects. CAN put this document on our home page where several members saw it and commented on it. We appreciate all feedback. The document is attached at the end of this newsletter. If you have any questions or comments please contact us at (604) 437-7331 or at info@canbc.org. We have included an e-mail address at the end of the document for those who would like to contact TransLink directly about the Access Transit Plan.
• We continue to work to keep our web site up to date. We have received several e-mails from people/organizations who see our web site and ask to be added to the listings. We are proud of our web site and ask that if you see anything on it that is incorrect or outdated to let us know. Likewise if you know of anything that should be added please contact us by e-mail at info@canbc.org or phoning us at (604) 437-7331. We appreciate all feedback.
• Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods continues to communicate with BC Disability Sports (BCDS). We have been in talks about upcoming BCDS projects that CAN may be able to assist with, and to talk about CAN’s upcoming Access Guide. We look forward to working with BCDS in the upcoming year to help with the Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows 2009 BC Disability Games.
Completed Projects:
• Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods was part of the ‘2040 Planning for People Transportation 2040 Dialogue: A Dialogue to Shape the Future of Transportation’. CAN had a representative who attended meetings, dialogues, and forums to help develop TransLink's 30 year transportation strategy. We worked to:
Identify the opportunities and challenges
Envision the potential issues
Craft strategies to address future transportation needs
CAN, among other organizations such as SPARC and Community Living, are part of a network that TransLink contacts when they need community based organizations to represent social interests. Our representative found the discussions very interesting and vast. The transportation network is amazingly complex. We were proud to offer our opinions on how to ensure that those with mobility difficulties are included in all future plans.
Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods is excited about the progress being made to educate, promote, and implement barrier-free designs and ideas. As always, if you have any comments, questions, or experiences you would like to share contact us by e-mail at info@canbc.org or by phone at (604) 437-7331.
We appreciate the time and assistance of CAN’s volunteers and look forward to continuing to improve the accessibility of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows with you.
Remember together we CAN!
TransLink Access Transit Stakeholder Update
January 2008
Universally Accessible Transit in Metro Vancouver
TransLink, and its operating subsidiaries, Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC), SkyTrain and West Coast Express (WCE), have taken the lead role to provide “Universally Accessible Transit” for the Metro Vancouver region.
Over the past two years, TransLink went to the experts – transit users with physical, cognitive or other mobility challenges plus agency and community representatives to conduct an extensive review and pinpoint key issues and develop a framework for making transit more accessible. The result was a comprehensive action plan called “Access Transit” that is designed to remove both physical and logistical barriers that prevent people with disabilities from effectively using public transit.
The following is a snapshot of proposed and existing accessible features that support universal accessibility:
Developing and/or Pilot Phase:
‘Universal Accessibility Guidelines’
Path-of-travel and tactile way-finding aids
Visual and auditory aids
Elevator and ramp characteristics
‘TMAC’ (Transit Management and Communications)
Audible and visual ‘Next Stop’ features provided for all stops; a pilot to be launched January 7, 2008 testing TMAC and these attributes on 4 new trolleys and 4 99-BLine buses. 316 buses have been equipped with the audio-visual next-stop feature and will go into service following the pilot.
Strategizing to equip all Metro Vancouver transit buses with the audible next-stop feature.
Global Positioning (GPS) feature provides real-time service adjustments and enhances emergency response.
‘Humanware Trekker’
Currently pilot-testing this hand-held GPS device that will provide the user with audible directions within 30 feet of a bus stop.
Current Applications:
‘Google Transit’
Web-based tool, compatible with VIP screen-reading applications, allows for easy trip planning.
SkyTrain & West Coast Express Stations, Bus Stops and Transfer locations
SkyTrain and West Coast Express rail transit provide audible station and stop information.
VIP Assistance Line for accessible transit users to access assistance on the SkyTrain system.
Bus Operators call
major stops and transfer points;
all stops on limited-stop and/or express routes; and,
all customer-requested stops.
We strive to meet your needs every time you access our transit system and should we fail, we urge you to contact TransLink Customer Relations at 604-953-3040. Whenever possible, providing bus or train number, date, time and any other specific details that will ensure our ability to act on your behalf.
Through continued consultation with our partners in the disabled community and input from individual citizens, we’ve been able to raise our level of awareness from a state of responding to the needs of people with disabilities to anticipating them. In the near term, the introduction of the Universal Accessibility Guidelines and a complete installation of TMAC and the enunciator system will continue to improve our performance in meeting the goal of a universally accessible transit system. Much more is planned in years to come as TransLink and its operating subsidiaries implement the complete Access Transit strategy.
‘Next Bus’ Info on Mobile Phones
Next Bus is a new TransLink information system for customers that delivers information specific to your bus stop, right to your mobile phone. If you can send a text message, you can find out when the next six buses are due at that particular stop. To use Next Bus, begin by looking at the bus stop sign. You’ll see a five-digit number – that bus stop’s unique identification. Next, activate your phone’s text messaging function. In the “Send To” field, enter “33333” (the same as the last five digits in TransLink’s Customer Information hotline), then, under “Message”, enter that five-digit bus stop code (make sure you’re in “Number” mode). Within seconds, you’ll receive a list of the next six buses scheduled to arrive at that stop.
Committee of HandyDART Users (CHU)
On December 11, 2007, Martin Lay and Peter Hill met with the Committee of HandyDART Users to update them on the status of the Access Transit Implementation Strategy. The BC Coalition of Persons with Disabilities hosted the meeting.
Questions or comments regarding the status of the Access Transit project can be emailed to: accesstransit@translink.bc.ca
