'Just screwed', says London, Ont. woman who can't get mobility scooter on transit to Toronto
The Go Train could accommodate the scooter but the service between London and Toronto ends this week
Travelling back and forth from London to Toronto with her mobility scooter is about to get much harder for Charlene Finch, 75, once the Go Train service between the two cities permanently ends on Friday.
The train is the only service in London that Finch says can accommodate her scooter for the nearly 200 kilometre trip she makes every few weeks to visit her daughter. Not having any other travel options has left her feeling stranded and forgotten.
"It's very frustrating and gets me to the point where I totally break down in tears because I'll have no other options to see my daughter when the service ends," said Finch, who has osteo-arthritis and can't walk distances.
Her foldable scooter is 23 inches wide and 53 inches long, and weighs 500 lbs. The Metrolinx Go Train has been able to accommodate the device but other forms of public transport can't deal with the size and weight.
WATCH | Charlene Finch on lack of accessible transporation:
Finch said she used to rely on Greyhound buses which had ramps and wider aisles but the service ended in 2021.
ONEX, Megabus and Flixbus said they all allow scooters as long as they can break down into separate parts, and fit height and weight requirements unique to each service. The Intercity bus service which launched on Sept. 27 at the former Greyhound terminal in downtown London said they're working on adding ramps to their fleets.
"People with accessibility problems are just screwed, you know? Transportation for anybody with a mobility problem is non-existent and if you don't have that problem, you probably don't even think about it," she said.
VIA Rail was an option that Finch tried in August when she booked a ticket from London to Toronto. The train company's website states that mobility scooters are accommodated.
Criteria for other transportation services
Finch explains that the customer service agents took her scooter's dimensions over the phone and assured it would get on the train, but when she got to the station, she was told it wouldn't fit.
A VIA spokesperson told CBC News in an email there are only three types of scooters allowed, adding that aisles may be too narrow for larger four-wheel scooters, and apologized for the inconvenience Finch endured.
"In [Finch's] case, our customer relations team thought we would be able to accommodate this scooter, but although the scooter was able to board the train, it was very difficult to manoeuvre inside, and it was very heavy (500 lbs) so staff was unable to help manoeuvre it into place.
For the safety of the customer and the staff, it was decided not to board the scooter, and instead to accommodate the passenger free of charge on a private accessible van to Toronto," the VIA spokesperson said.
'It excludes us' disability advocate says
Accessibility challenges prevent people with disabilities from connecting with their loved who don't live nearby, said Penny Moore, co-chair of the City of London's accessibility advisory committee.
"Not having a way for a scooters or wheelchairs excludes us and it causes a lot more depression and mental health issues because it takes away belonging," said Moore, who uses an electric wheelchair.
"Some people who work in Toronto, travel back and forth to London because it's cheaper to live here but if there's no transportation, how are people with mobility issues supposed to work?"
Moore said more people will require accessible transportation as the population continues to age, and areas can be adapted to be more accessible through wider doorways and removing seats to make room for scooters.
Finch said she has no idea how or when she'll be able to visit her daughter next and hopes that more accessible options can be made available to those in her situation.
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