Kingston Transit Accessibility

Why we engaged

Providing accessible services and removing barriers for persons with disabilities is a priority for Kingston Transit. As part of the 2018-2022 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan, Kingston Transit asked for feedback about the accessibility of transit services.

How we engaged

A survey was hosted on Get Involved Kingston from Oct. 20 and Nov. 4, 2022. The community was provided opportunities to engage online, by phone or by mail. An in-person pop-up engagement opportunity was hosted at the Cataraqui Centre transfer point on Oct. 22, 2022

Who we heard from

• 59 engaged participants completed surveys
• 163 aware participants visited the project page

Next steps

The 2023-2025 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan was presented to Council on Nov. 10, 2022. Goals for Kingston Transit and Kingston Access Services are included in the 2023-2025 plan.

What we heard

The following are a list of comments provided by Get Involved Kingston participants. Feedback that did not follow the City of Kingston's Guidelines for Participation were omitted from the feedback. Feedback below has been organized into two themes: in scope (specific to accessible services offered by Kingston Transit) and out of scope (comments on routes, schedules, or other municipal services unrelated to Kingston Transit).

Question 1

Do you feel the services offered by Kingston Transit are accessible? (Accessible services include, but are not limited to, lowered floors, ramps, mobility aid spaces, grab bars and widened doors.)

Yes: 28

No: 14

Somewhat: 17

Question 2

Please provide any additional comments.

Sidewalk infrastructure at stations is not always very accessible.

There is a significant accessibility issue for bud service to Providence Care Hospital. The bud does not go to the front door, and it is nearly 1km to get from the nearest stop to the entrance. This is very difficult for anyone with limitations in mobility.

Access to the bus stops at the ground level needs work in places

I do feel that sometimes there isn't enough space for those who are in wheelchairs, as there can be numerous parents with strollers or those with grocery carts who are using those spaces.

Electric buses not as accessible as non-electric. For some.

Some users need their chairs tilted and or reclined while being transported or need to change position.

- Those with fine motor functions. May have difficulty.

- Much More difficult with Dog Guide.

No accessible buses or any buses in our west end community. Buses are adapted quite well.

More ways to alert riders that the first seats on the Bus are for specific passengers

Often the only thing to grab when walking past the seats dedicated to those with mobility issues are the overhead grey loops. I don't find that very easy to do so while trying to keep my balance.

A lot of riders do not seem to know how to unfold seats that have been folded up to accommodate wheel chairs. It is not always easy to keep the seat down until one gets seated.

The vehicles are accessible for the disabled, but not seniors. You give free passes to almost everyone in Kingston except seniors, most of who are on limited income. When will seniors get a break on bus passes?

I think KT is doing a good job about accessibility. I think you are doing a good job in difficult times. Hope you are able to restore all the buses to their normal schedule soon

Bus drivers need to enforce rules regarding accessible seating.

Services vary considerably by bus type; various models in operation and some better than others particularly with mobility aid spaces and grab bars; overcrowding and passengers not respecting rules/recommendations for access on certain routes presents serious barriers to accessibility // all the accessibility on board is moot when the actual bus stops themselves are not, including snow removal, location of poles in vicinity of entrance points when drivers pull up.....

Driver education /sensitivity training is SERIOUSLY lacking re: comments made to wheelchair users. Not just individual situations. It is not easy to move a dog guide from one side of a wheel chair to another whenever possible choice of side of bus should be given to rider . Dog Guide needs to be in the aisle in order for wheelchair to be secured properly.

"buses are convenient and well organized and equipped allowing people with disabilities to travel.

I am travelling with a service dog. I try to keep him under the seats as quite bulky (lab) but floors are wet and dirty on rainy and snowy days.

The comments below were offered by participants but were not within the scope of accessible services on Kingston Transit.

I would like to see the route expanded to go to the mosque on Sydenham Road or the Cataraqui Community Centre rink.

The downtown bus stop areas are polluted with tobacco and cannabis making them inaccessible to anyone allergic to these substances and exposing people to dangerous levels of secondhand smoke.

There is no public transit in my part of the city, although I’m sure I pay for it. My daughter does use the Access bus and it is wonderful.

I pay city taxes. My community had bus service for decades up to and including when I purchased my Westbrook lot in 2009. A few months later bus service was terminated. So, no, Kingston Transit is not accessible to me in my community.

A lot of bus stops have no weather shelters ,the ones that do have a shelter are outrageously filthy .

Many people with disabilities cannot drive backwards.

Complain about peoples wheelchair set up – tie down system. Riders don’t make them they are set & placed by wheelchair manufacturer according to chair base for safety.

Too many bags on chairs handles are peoples hands

Service animals vs strollers issues.

There is no transit service in our neighbourhood

Westbrook neighbourhood has no bus. This in itself is an accessibility issue. The area has grown tremendously and there is a need.

I live in Westbrook, we have no bus service that is accessible. There are many seniors living here. If there was a bus that could go to the Cat Centre we would have access to the whole city.

I live in Westbrook and need transit services.

Happy with current service and don't need public transit

We need transit accessibility in Westbrook! There are a lot of new homes in the area, with some streets actually having concrete transit stop pads put in.

Please provide an access bus AND a regular bus route to the citizens of Westbrook. Many students cannot easily get a job due to lack of service in this area due to parents working. Thank you for your consideration!

Westbrook is not included

There is no transit from my neighborhood

We have no bus

Westbrook Meadows has NO Bus Service.

I do not have access in Westbrook

There is no bus service to Westbrook. Given the dramatic housing expansion that has taken place in this area over the past 10 years, with now several hundred new homes having been built, this essential public transit service is desperately needed. As things now stand, we have no option other than to rely on driving our own cars into town, which adds to the problems of traffic congestion, wear and tear on the roads, air pollution and the unnecessary use of fossil fuel.

I wish the rear door had a lowered option as I find it difficult to use.

I haven't required them, but whenever I've witnessed others using them, I am impressed.

I can't get home to Westbrook because no bus at that area.

Don’t know for sure how good or bad service is but I hope it is good when I’m going to need it in about 5-8 years

The busses are great, but they do not come to my Westbrook home! I must call an accessible Taxi/Uber to the Cat Centre to get the bus.

The Kingston buses may be accessible in terms of disability accessibility but in terms of servicing (i.e. making accessible) the rural Kingston population, the buses are not accessible. Making Glenburnie and the Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area accessible to the Kingston population has a huge benefit. Please consider adding a route up Hwy 10/Perth Road to Glenburnie and back to downtown.

Little Cataraqui Creek CC and Glenburnie should be accessible via transit.

We need bus service to Westbrook Meadows area

I would like for accessibility to also include location. There are no buses in our area of Westbrook which makes it difficult for individuals who cannot drive or who cannot afford to drive have access to cost effective means to travel to work or for people to be able to visit or help families in this area. The lack of access to a transit system isolates us and our children from activities that are available to other subdivisions (i,e. libraries, medical appointments, rinks, fields, downtown etc.) An equitable transit system would very much be appreciated.

They are not "accessible" because there is no service to access in my community!

Transit services should be extended out to Westbrook.

it would be nice to have a way to keep floors dry....or at least wipe them during the day?"

I am physically disabled and have to use a walker (very rarely, a cane will do) - I am not small and frail but I do have very serious mobility limitations and I am always at risk of damaging falls. I have been asked, while using my walker, to give up my seat to a woman with a stroller who, with the stroller, took up fully three seats. I have asked for a handicapped seat to be cleared and the driver told me to move towards the back and find a seat. It was busy so there was no choice except to stand, which was extremely painful and put me at a very high risk of falling - I nearly did, several times, on that trip. In both instances, the handicapped seats were full of people who had no visible disabilities and I find it unlikely that every one of them had an invisible mobility limitation. I found Kingston Transit dangerously unhelpful even before COVID became a new risk. I have NOT used Kingston Transit since Covid started as I am at medium/high risk and I do not trust the buses to be "safe". [P1]

Someone in management needs to make policy so it isn’t an issue for driver at the stops on the bus which becomes accessibility /riders problem. Ie cats in strollers in access spot across from service dogs hissing & spitting. Drivers have voiced concerns that there hands are tied.

-A Chihuahua in a man’s coat that growls and barks at my service dog from time he gets on till he gets off.

They said they don’t have time to make sure everyone’s following rules made by the city council. .

I know the drivers are just that drivers and not animal police. But this can really affect a service animal let alone others safety. Last Thursday a Mom and 2 kids in stroller had to wait 1/2 hr for next bus as dog in stroller was beside me. The rules say crate not stroller but now people are being bumped.

What position are we putting the drivers in and next time will it be a wheelchair[P2] ?