Calgary HandiBus to stop operations in 2015

Calgary HandiBus will stop operations next year and focus instead on fundraising and advocacy.

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The decision comes after a recent survey for HandiBus found the market for accessible transportation in Calgary is evolving and that the current model is not sustainable.

"Calgary HandiBus has been providing transportation for Calgarys disabled community through Access Calgary a division of Calgary Transit that manages eligibility, booking, scheduling and dispatching of shared-ride accessible transportation," said the city in a release.

"CalgaryHandiBus is one of four service providers Access Calgary uses to provide trips for those with disabilities."

With a fleet of about 100 specially-equipped vehicles, HandiBus operators make 35,000 trips per month to service 17,000 people with disabilities in Calgary.

The City of Calgary funds about 95 per cent of the Calgary HandiBus budget.

But the organization is a registered charity and organizers need to raise at least $1 million each year to keep the fleet in good condition.

No impact, says Calgary HandiBus

"We don't want any of this to be done in a rush," said Jim Brown with Calgary HandiBus. "We want to come to solutions that ensure that the service to be provided for the disabled community is unaffected."

The organization says work is underway to make sure there will be no impact whenoperations end.

"They would have to have a plan on how they are going to absorb those 100 buses because it's very much needed and HandiBus is at capacity," said MezaunLakha-Evin, associate executive director at theCerebral PalsyAssociation in Alberta."They provide services for so many of our members, which would ultimately impact the quality of life."

She says it's also a door-to-door service.

Jesse Pozzo, who is visually impaired, is concerned. He uses the service to get around in Calgary, and says a lot of people that take it are going to become more vulnerable.

"I am actually one of those people, because I am blind, and with the snow and ice, it's really dangerous for me to take transit in the winter time," he said.

"If they were to get rid of the handibus, that would mean more people have to go in the cabs."

Taking a cab also makes him nervous because some cab drivers are not properly trained to handle people with disabilities.