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Minivan drivers, the leftovers of Wheel-Trans


Wheel-Trans is a terrific system that transports the handicapped at normal transit fares, that would leave them normally at home. At one point however a glitch that could cause an accident was pointed out while taking advantage of the service.

The minivans are vans that have re-enforced floors that can take the wheel-chairs, both manual and electric costing around $85,000 fully equipped. Driver/operators own the vehicles and work for brokers who take a percentage as well. In good years they would earn what a Wheel-Trans driver would make but by working twice the hours.

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The driver/operator pointed out a worry he had and that he had to transport mentally challenged persons that could get violent. Wheel-Trans personnel have been given training as how to deal with them but minivan driver operators have not.

I was hit quite hard by a person, but on a Wheel-Trans bus the operator immediately isolated the person and then demanded that he be escorted by a trained assistant. In a minivan people are in very close proximity.

The driver/operator I spoke to is always worried whenever someone is assigned on his minivan.

 

Adu Raudkivi, Toronto

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