TTC Changes are Inconsistent with Citizen’s Needs

By Lily Luong Do 

Grassroots organization the TTC Riders may be only in its second year, but in the time allotted, they’ve managed to make their presence known advocating for all public transit users.

On June 24th, 2015 TTC Riders held a rally outside of City Hall along with the Fair Fare Coalition.

With all the recent contention the Toronto Transit Commission had over their budget issues on transit projects like the Spadina subway expansion, and the LRT city Councillors were amicable to accepting the TTC Riders report and mandate “Affordable TTC: A Ticket to the City.”

In meeting with Council members and other city staff, both groups indicated in discussion that while money has been spent on upgrading their infrastructure technicalities, their policies continue to fail their riders.

The riders most affected continue to be from communities like Downsview, where many riders have low-incomes, are adult students, or part-time workers, and also those who are disabled, but struggle with meeting the cost of accessing Wheel Trans services.

Some of the most affected are those on social service programs such as the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) where the support it gives lacks attention to the financial cost of transportation.

Stephen Johnson from Mayor Tory’s office agreed that there are major gaps to fill, and that he will bring the issue forward as priority.

As it stands a person on ODSP receives an average stipend that is anywhere between $300 and $400 a month, in relations to TTC costs it falls short on helping low-income households and individuals in accessing affordable transportation. At the end of the day, ODSP individuals can barely survive.

Councillor Joe Mihevic spoke about the new Presto system now utilized in most stations, but while the “pilot project” is streamlining: there are still many differences of opinion about whether this will save riders and the city money.

At the end of the day, the nickels just aren’t adding up.

Tell us what you think about the cost of riding the TTC. E-mail us at

info@downsviewadvocate.ca

Out of Order

By Howard Moscoe

I’m disabled. Like thousands of Canadians, as the population ages, more and more of us begin to function less efficiently.

In this article I provide information on some of the best places around Downsview to find these scooters, and some stores to avoid if you require a scooter.

In my case I have a breathing disability resulting from heart surgery, and I also have an ailment called ‘drop foot’. I am unable to walk long distances. You learn to adapt. I drive with hand controls and when I shop I look for stores that provide scooters.

You know, those electric wheeled shopping carts you pick up at the store entrance that allow you to zip around the supermarket like you used to be able to do. They are usually found at the larger chain stores.

Conscientious businesses that want to keep their customers have them, but unfortunately not all large businesses do.

I do my food shopping mostly at Coppa’s Fresh Market (formerly Highland Farms) on Dufferin Street, and from time to time at Costco on Wilson. One of the reasons I do is because not only do they provide scooters, but they keep them charged up, clean, and well maintained.

There is nothing that makes you feel more helpless than having a scooter give up on you after you’ve spent an hour selecting your groceries.

Last week I went into the Home Depot on Steeles Avenue between Keele Street and Dufferin. In the first place, their scooters are kept near the exchange counter entrance and you usually find them blocked by shopping carts full of returned goods.

They are in the same location in their Wilson Avenue store. They had two scooters. One of them had an “OUT OF ORDER” sign taped to the seat. It was the same sign I saw on it a month earlier. I dug out the second scooter, unplugged it, travelled the first ten meters and then it began to beep loudly and conked out. I ended up leaving the store as I wasn’t provided any assistance.

Just to be sure, a few days later I returned to see if anything had been done. Nothing had changed and both scooters were still

inoperable.

This time I did get to see the manager. He identified himself as Dominic and in response to my story was, “I’ll put in a service request”

Another customer told me that she had reported the same broken scooter to Home Depot’s head office a year ago and nothing was done about it. It’s kind of ironic that a “fix up store” doesn’t seem to care enough to keep their scooters in good repair.

If you experience any of these issues, I suggest you complain, sometimes it helps.

I once tried shopping at the Loblaw Superstore at Dufferin and Steeles. It has an east and a west entrance. The service counter is somewhere in between. I entered at the east entrance and asked a clerk where to find the scooters. “Oh they’re at the other entrance.” So I trekked over to the other side of the store and located a scooter but I couldn’t use it because it required a key.

“How do I get a key?”

“You have to pick one up at the service desk,” said a clerk.

“What’s the point of having scooters to help disabled people get around the store if they have to walk a kilometre to get one?”

I wrote in a complaint to the manager. The next time I came into the store there was a scooter at each of the entrances and each of the scooters had a key wired onto it. SMART!

Unfortunately, not all stores are as accommodating. The Walmart on Keele and Broadoaks has received numerous complaints from disabled customers. A customer, who had used a scooter to shop, was on her way to her car in the parking lot when she was confronted by a Walmart greeter who told her she couldn’t take the scooter out of the store.

To make a long story short the same incident happened twice even after the store claimed to have ‘fixed’ the problem.

This matter is now before the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

Hopefully all large stores in the Dowsnview area and beyond will soon accommodate those of us with mobility issues.

Have you had similar issues

while trying to shop?

Send us your stories at

info@downsviewadvocate.ca

Debate Continues Over Future of Bathurst Manor Plaza - Part 2

 

We asked what you wanted to see at the site of Bathurst Manor Plaza: Here are some of your responses:

“I grew up in the manor and am very familiar with the neighbourhood . . .All of us read the article in the Downsview Advocate and agree with Mr Pasternak. We should rebuild the plaza with some modest residential [developments].- Leah“In the grand scope, I could envision a 2 storey similar structure making more use of the land, with a traditional northern "homey" type structure - roofed with shingles, not square buildings, with a complex but traditional design, to incorporate commercial offices, retail and possibly some modern type row of towns across Wilmington. ” - Adam “I would like to see a grocery store a no frills or fresh content would help a lot in the community there are many people who don't drive and it would be great to be able to shop without having to take a taxi” – Mailyn“The current state of the plaza is in disrepair and creates a slum look to the area. It needs a complete, head to toe remodel, and needs it quick.” - Ira“I would like to see housing/condo and retail” – Earl“What I believe would be a major benefit would be an revamped, updated plaza that will bring the community together . A place where people can walk to for ice cream or a coffee shop. The manor is a beautiful pocket that has potential to have a strong community; however, it requires areas to bring a community together. Adding buildings would just lead to more congestion and frustrate fellow neighbours.” - Residents of the Bathurst Manor“I think the development should go as planned.  Lets start digging” – PeterI've been a resident for 11 years. Would love to see grocery store, coffee shop, quaint lunch/ dinner restaurant. We are desperate for a nice place to go to.  This whole area needs new restaurants and shopping!  Possibly a Gap? – Debra“As a member of this community, I would appreciate a return of a small retail strip plaza, with a continued presence of medical offices on site. Increasing the residential population into this corner would be a terrible and reckless decision.” – Aaron“It would also be nice to have a place for little kids/babies, since there are more and more young families moving in the neighbourhood.  A play place/baby classes could be nice, along with doctor's offices.  Maybe even something like a kid's hair salon. ” – Jessica