HandyDart users rally for better service at TransLink board meeting

A group of elderly and disabledprotesters rallied atTransLink's open board of directors meetingto voice concerns over HandyDart service.

ProtesterBeth McKellarsaid ever since TransLink contracted the running ofHandyDart to a Californiacompany in 2009, the service has gone downhill to the point where itis now "oppressive and discriminatory."

"It's just run amok.It's chaos," she said. "They have broken the systemand it's time we all worked together to fix it."

Most of the protesters were in wheelchairs, many holding signswith slogans like "Better transit, more HandyDart" and "People not Profit".

Under the currentHandyDartsystemusers have to book seven days in advance. Taxis have also been recruited but users have complained about slow service andunhelpfuldrivers who don't know or care about helping people withspecial needs.

"I think all of us were moved by the comments we heard today," said TransLink chariman Barry Forbes. "We need to hear their stories."

Forbes indicated TransLink would look at bringing the service back in house. The third-party contract expires in 2017.

McKellar would like to see TransLink consult more with HandyDart users and include a disabled person on its board of directors. She says the best solution is to run HandyDart as a non-profit, similar to the pre-2009 set up.