Transportation

Research Highlights

• Transportation has been identified as one of the major barriers to accessing health and social services.
• Transportation enables people to gain access to services and to remain connected within their communities.

And in Guelph & Wellington…

• Recent initiatives have allowed for the creation of a Rural Transportation Coordinator, which has greatly enhanced the provision of transportation services in Wellington County.  
• There is a lack of transportation options (including wheelchair accessible vehicles) in rural Wellington.
• Volunteer transportation programs are struggling to meet current and growing demand for service due to a shortage of voilunteer drivers and limited funding.
  

                                                  
                                          
For the homeless, working poor, seniors, persons with disabilities, and low-income families with children, transportation represents more than a means of getting from point A to point B.  A lack of transportation is a major impediment to accessing necessary social services, and can contribute to social isolation and undermine independence ^{1, 2, 3, 4}.
 
Walking
The basic means of transportation – walking - can be a problem for many people. For people living with physical disabilities, walking to access needed services is often not a possibility.  This is also true for people in rural areas, where larger travel distances make walking impractical or impossible. Walking is also not a feasible option for parents or guardians with small children, who cannot be left alone and likewise cannot be expected to walk more than one or two blocks.
 
For individuals with mobility impairments, particularly those who use walkers, canes or wheelchairs, crossing intersections can be difficult.  This problem is worse in bad weather or when the pedestrian walk signals are too short. 
 
After motor vehicle collisions, pedestrian accidents are the primary cause of injury for seniors.  Seniors accounted for 26% of pedestrians killed in traffic accidents (1993), while comprising less than 13% of the population. Overall, 66% of all collisions involving older pedestrians occur at intersections ⁵.
 
Driving
Automobiles provide individuals with considerable freedom and convenience.  Families with young children and people living in rural areas rely on driving to access even the most basic services, such as groceries and banking.  However, many Ontarians find themselves unable to access a motor vehicle. The main issue is often affordability. The high cost of gas and insurance makes owning a private automobile impossible for many low-income households.  For new immigrants, the procedures and tests involved may make obtaining a drivers licence very difficult, beyond the high cost of applying for the license and acquiring a vehicle. 
 
Chronological age alone does not determine a person’s ability to drive.  However, with Canada’s rapidly aging population it is important to recognize the increased risk posed by elderly drivers.  Driving ability may be compromised by medical conditions or prescription drug use. Hearing loss, reduced peripheral vision, night vision and depth perception, stiffness or pain that restrict the range of motion, declines in mental acuity, and general frailty can all affect driving safety, especially in combination. 
 
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation has established a Senior Driver Renewal Program.  This program requires that senior drivers aged 80 years and over complete a vision test and a knowledge test and take part in a group education session every two years.  Drivers may also be asked to take a road test to have their in-car skills assessed.  This program was revised in 1997 and has contributed to a 35% decrease in the fatal collision involvement rate of seniors from 1997-2005 over 1988-1995.

In Ontario, 210,328 seniors aged 80 and over had driver’s licenses in 2005, up from 77,489 in 1996.  The difference between life expectancy and driving expectancy is approximately six years for men and ten years for women⁶.
 
Public Transit
Public transit provides an affordable and convenient means of transportation for many individuals, in particular seniors, students, and low-income families. 
 
In Guelph, buses operate Monday through Saturday, excluding holidays, commencing at 5:45 a.m. until the last trip at 12:15 a.m.  Buses leave St. George’s Square at quarter after and quarter to the hour.  Services on Sundays are reduced – commencing at 9:15 a.m. until the last trip at 6:15 p.m.  Tickets are $2.00 per ride.  Seniors and students may purchase 10 tickets for $13.50 (regular price $17.00) or a monthly pass for $52.00 (regular price $58.00).  
 
Guelph Transit and the Barrier Free Transportation Committee offer a Subsidized Bus Pass for adults (18–65) with a disability and those on a limited income. An application must be completed and returned with supporting documentation to verify income.  If approved, the applicant may purchase a subsidized monthly bus pass for $30 for a period of three months.  United Way of Guelph and Wellington helps fund this service.
 
There is no public transit system serving the County of Wellington.
 
Rural Transportation
People living in rural Wellington have a need to access the same social, medical and employment services as everyone else, but are often constrained by transportation restrictions.  Longer distances make traveling by private vehicle more expensive for people on fixed incomes.  Local public transit systems are non-existent.  Few communities have taxi providers and inter-regional transportation operates sporadically.  In the winter, weather conditions can compound transportation issues in North Wellington.  As a result, there are limited options for people living in rural Wellington who require transportation for activities of daily living.  Many people choose to migrate to larger centres because transportation restrictions make it difficult for them to obtain the services they require.
 
The Community Resource Centre in Fergus recently received funding from the County of Wellington to hire a part-time Rural Transportation Coordinator.  The need for this service was identified several years ago, and its creation is due in large part to the efforts of the Rural Transportation Committee.  The Coordinator’s role is to facilitate the provision of voluntary transportation services to residents of rural Wellington.  The creation of this position has greatly improved access to transportation in the rural communities.
 
The Rural Transportation Committee was also successful in obtaining an 18-month Trillium grant.  This funding will allow the committee to develop a model for coordinated, community-wide, rural volunteer transportation service.  This initiative will remove barriers to obtaining service, and will improve transportation supports for low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities.
 
Recent funding has been made available through the United Way of Guelph and Wellington to support VON’s volunteer transportation subsidy.  This subsidy allows VON to provide rides to clients even when they are unable to afford the fees for service.  Although modest, this subsidy fund has a significant impact on the ability of low-income rural residents to access transportation for their medical, economic, and social needs.
 
Interregional Transportation
A major source of interregional travel is the need to access specialized medical services.  People needing medical care beyond what can be offered in Guelph or Wellington often must travel to Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton or Toronto to receive treatment.  For those requiring ongoing care, this may mean several trips a month.
 
A majority of Guelph residents work in Guelph while most Wellington residents work outside of Wellington County.  Approximately 74% of people living in Guelph work in that city.  The remainder commute to Mississauga, Toronto, Kitchener, Cambridge, Waterloo and Wellington County. Only 63% of the people working in Guelph are residents.  Many people travel from Kitchener, Cambridge, Wellington County, Waterloo, Hamilton and Toronto to work in Guelph.  More than 7,000 Wellington County residents work in Guelph.  A private operator provides weekday service between Fergus and Guelph – one Guelph-bound am trip and one Fergus-bound pm trip, which allows many rural residents to access transportation to and from work and services in Guelph.
 
With the growing demand for travel between Guelph-Wellington, Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge and GTA areas, the level of interregional transit serving these areas will have to be significantly increased.  Guelph and neighbouring municipalities are involved in a number of initiatives to enhance interregional transit service in their areas.
 
Child Restraints
A new law went into effect September 1st 2005, making it mandatory for anyone transporting children to ensure all children up to 8 years of age are properly secured in either an infant seat, child seat, or booster seat. 
 
For families without access to a personal vehicle, the need to ensure that their children are in child restraints makes travel more difficult.  This can be cumbersome and difficult, particularly with more than one child.  Some volunteer operators will not accept small children because of the challenge involved with properly installing and removing child seats.  Having to have child restraints at all times places limitations on the transportation options available to families with small children.
 
Volunteer Transportation
Volunteer transportation programs are community-based services that complement or supplement existing transportation services.  What sets them apart from other transportation programs is that they rely on volunteer drivers, who typically use their own vehicles to provide the service.  Volunteer driving programs fill an important niche for people who are unable to access public transportation, require escorted transportation and for those who live in rural communities. 
 
A number of local agencies offer volunteer driver services.  Eligibility differs by agency, but typically includes individuals who require transportation to medical appointments, shopping excursions, as well as to various social activities.  Each service maintains its own roster of volunteer drivers.  Drivers are typically reimbursed $0.29/km - $0.38/km by the agency.  Client fees range from $0/km - $0.38/km. 

Accessible Transportation
Guelph Transit currently has a fleet of 20 Accessible Low Floor vehicles. These vehicles are designed to assist in accommodating customers who use wheelchairs, walkers, and canes. Each of these vehicles is capable of accommodating two wheelchairs.  Accessible Low Floor buses are currently in operation on 12 routes which have been designated as priority accessibility areas.  
 
Guelph recently acquired two accessible taxis, which are operated by Red Top Taxi.  The Guelph Police Services Board, who oversees the taxi by-law, has recently appointed a Taxicab Services Review Committee whose mandate is “to ensure that in the future the community of Guelph has a sustainable and affordable accessible taxicab industry”⁷. 
 
In June 2005, St. Joseph's Health Centre started a new transportation service for seniors and individuals with disabilities.  This service was made possible by a grant from Ontario's Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.  In addition to volunteer drivers, St. Joseph’s is using its wheelchair accessible bus to provide services in Guelph and Centre Wellington.
 
What are the social service issues in Guelph & Wellington? 
Supply not meeting demand
The demand for service currently outweighs the amount of availability.  Due to funding requirements, programs have established strict eligibility.  Many requests for service are denied.  Also, many transportation providers do not advertise their services due to the fact that they cannot meet the present demand.  Demand will only continue to rise as the population grows, particularly as the number of seniors in the community increases.  
 
Accessibility
With respect to transportation, accessibility can have two different meanings – (1) access to service (eligibility) versus (2) access for individuals with disabilities.

Eligibility criteria for many of the programs are restrictive due to limited resources (volunteers and financial) as well as funders’ requirements.  Clients are expected to pay for rides, which can result in hardships for people on fixed incomes who need to travel long distances for medical care or community services.  Through funding from the United Way, VON is now able to offer client subsidies for people on fixed incomes who would otherwise be unable to afford transportation.
 
Presently, rides for medical purposes get priority over ones for social functions.  There is a need to develop a balance, as many social rides can be just as important as medical ones (e.g. grocery shopping, banking, etc.).
 
Few volunteer transportation providers are able to offer services on the weekend, in the evenings, or book services on short notice for emergency purposes.
 
The cost of purchasing, operating and maintaining accessible vehicles is high.  As a result, there are limited transportation options available for individuals with disabilities, especially for those who reside in rural areas and are in wheelchairs.  Individuals with disabilities also report difficulties bringing attendants and/or family members (especially children in car seats) with them on trips.  The re-introduction of accessible taxis in the City of Guelph will help solve some  of  these issues, however, it will not relieve service needs in rural Wellington.
 
Volunteer Recruitment and Retention
Service providers report difficulty in recruiting and retaining volunteer drivers.   Reasons are varied, but include the high costs of insurance, gas, and wear and tear on vehicles.  There are inconsistent practices and policies among providers with respect to driver reimbursement and education and training.  There is a perception that volunteer driving is not an appealing activity, and that volunteers prefer to give their time to a particular cause versus a type of service.  The time commitment required of volunteer drivers is considerable – many drives are to/from out-of-town medical appointments, requiring the volunteer to wait while the appointment takes place.  Many volunteers are themselves older adults, making assistance with transfer of fragile passengers difficult.   Due to vehicle sizes and liability issues, many volunteer drivers are reluctant to accommodate escorts, such as family members including children in car seats, and/or shopping bags. 
 
Rural Issues
The importance of supporting the transportation needs of clients in rural areas cannot be underestimated.  Individuals residing in rural communities have reduced access to formal services due to distance from service centres⁸. As previously stated, there is no public transit in rural areas. Transportation rides tend to be lengthy.  In the winter, weather conditions can compound transportation issues in North Wellington.  
 
Taxis are not able to address the needs.  In fact, many do not offer services within small towns (e.g., Erin, Mount Forest) as they earn little from the short distances of the trips and low volumes.  As a result, there are limited options for people living in rural towns who require transportation for activities of daily living like grocery shopping.

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3. Health Canada. (2001). General Barriers to Treatment.  Best Practices Treatment and Rehabilitation for Women with Substance Use Problems.  Retrieved June 14, 2006 from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca
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7. (n.d.).  Taxicabs Review.  Retrieved June 23, 2006, from http://www.gwsa-guelph.ca/taxicab.html.
8. Dobbs, B. et al. (2004).  Caring Context of Rural Seniors - Phase 2 Report.  Ottawa, Ontario: Veteran Affairs Canada.