Edmontonians depending on dedicated accessible transit stuck at home with poor road conditions

As temperatures in Edmonton warm up this week, it’s wreaking havoc on residential streets, and some Edmontonians with mobility issues who use wheelchairs say they are confined to their homes with disabled transit unable to make it down the road.

“Being stuck, it’s kind of like isolation, so it’s very frustrating. Because you have to cancel appointments and outings where I could be having fun and spending some money in the city,” explained Ryan King, who depends on Dedicated Accessible Transit Services (DATS).

King uses a wheelchair and is blind and deaf. He relies on Edmonton’s dedicated accessible transit, known as DATS, to get around.

He’s told that DATS vehicles can’t pass through due to the state of the roads in front of his home, which he believes was skipped because of the number of drivers who disobeyed the parking ban.

King says he’s missing crucial doctor’s appointments and feeling forgotten.

“DATS are important. We spend money in this city and should be thought of more often, not as second-class citizens,” said King.

Bobbie King, Ryan’s mother, said, “We put in two complaints, one says it’s closed, I don’t know why, and the other one is open.”

CityNews couldn’t get through my interview with Ryan’s mother outside their north Edmonton home without vehicles struggling with deep ruts in the road, including a moving truck.

Bobbie is frustrated with vehicles left on the road during the parking ban, but adds that the City should be doing enforcement, saying she’s not the only other family on the block impacted.

“Even ticketing. It’s like, c’mon, how big do the signs have to be, the big orange signs at the entrance at both ends, before people pay attention? There’s six houses on this block that have handicap parking,” said Bobbie.

Those in charge of snow clearing at the City of Edmonton told CityNews that streets with too many vehicles may have their snow plowing rescheduled or skipped.

But vehicles left on the street were not towed during this year’s phase two parking ban, something Edmonton’s mayor says he wants talk about in the next city budget. But for the King family, it’s too late for important appointments this winter.

CityNews reached out to the City of Edmonton for a response on DATS buses and options for Edmontonians like Ryan. In a statement, the City said they understand the frustration faced by clients, adding that while some trips have been cancelled because of road conditions, they have completed over 37 hundred trips per day this week.

“With the phase 2 residential parking ban and residential roadway clearing underway, we are confident that these issues will clear up soon,” said Paul Schmold, the manager of ParaTransit of the Edmonton Transit Service.