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1. SENIORS’ SAFETY CONCERNS RE: OC TRANSPO PRÉOCCUPATIONS
EN MATIÈRE DE SÉCURITÉ DES PERSONNES ÂGÉES RELATIVEMENT À OC TRANSPO
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Committee recommendation
That Council approve that OC Transpo ensure that operators receive adequate training and instructions to give senior passengers sufficient time to be seated, or to have a stable stance, before the bus proceeds, and where possible the bus should brake slowly.
Recommandation dU ComitÉ
Que le Conseil d’approuver que OC
Transpo s’assure que les chauffeurs reçoivent un entraînement adéquat et des
instructions afin de démarrer après avoir laissé suffisamment de temps aux
personnes âgées pour s’asseoir ou prendre une position stable et, autant que
possible, de freiner en douceur.
Documentation
1. Seniors Advisory
Committee, report dated 23 April 2008 (ACS2008-CCV-SAC-0002).
Report to/Rapport
au:
Transit Committee /
Comité du transport en commun
and Council/et au Conseil
23 April 2008 / le 23 avril 2008
Submitted
by/Soumis par: Seniors Advisory Committee/
Comité consultatif sur les personnes âgées
Contact/Personne-ressource: Tania Richard,
Committee Coordinator/coordonnatrice du comité
consultatif
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Ref N°: ACS2008-CCV-SAC-0002 |
SUBJECT: SENIORS’ SAFETY CONCERNS RE: OC TRANSPO
OBJET: PRÉOCCUPATIONS EN MATIÈRE DE
SÉCURITÉ DES PERSONNES ÂGÉES RELATIVEMENT À OC TRANSPO
REPORT RECOMMENDATION
That the Seniors Advisory Committee recommend that the Transit Committee
recommend to Council that OC Transpo ensure that operators receive adequate
training and instructions to give senior passengers sufficient time to be
seated, or to have a stable stance, before the bus proceeds, and where possible
the bus should brake slowly.
Que le Comité consultatif sur les personnes
âgées recommande que le Comité de transport en commun recommande au Conseil que
OC Transpo s’assure que les chauffeurs reçoivent un entraînement adéquat et des
instructions afin de démarrer après avoir laissé suffisamment de temps aux
personnes âgées pour s’asseoir ou prendre une position stable et, autant que
possible, de freiner en douceur.
The mandate of the Seniors Advisory Committee is to act as a liaison to enrich and enhance the lives of seniors in the City, identify barriers, form partnerships with the community, and act as a public forum for issues affecting seniors.
At its 15 November 2006 meeting, the Seniors Advisory Committee discussed safety concerns of seniors riding OC Transpo buses and approved the following motion:
WHEREAS some seniors are unwilling to ride OC
Transpo buses because of safety concerns such as:
a)
The bus is moving before they can be seated;
b)
The drivers are reluctant to lower the ramp on kneeling
buses;
c)
The names of the stops are not announced;
d)
Priority seating is already occupied; and
WHEREAS the bus drivers are often under
pressure to meet time requirements resulting in unsafe practices.
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Seniors Advisory
Committee recommends that the Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee
recommend that the OC Transpo bus route planners provide a wider time frame for
the driver’s schedules.
As a follow-up to the above recommendation, the Seniors Advisory Committee received a verbal presentation from Ms. Kathy Riley and Mr. Joel Koffman, Transit Services Branch, at the SAC meeting of 17 January 2007 (Document 1). The Committee also received a staff update from Mr. John Donaldson, Transit Services Branch at its meeting of 19 September 2007 (Document 2).
DISCUSSION
At the Seniors Advisory Committee meeting of 16 April 2008, concerns
were raised regarding injuries being incurred by some passengers on OC Transpo
buses because of drivers braking suddenly.
Members did recognize however that some bus drivers are considerate
toward their passengers and drive very well.
As a result of these discussions, the SAC approved the following motion:
WHEREAS seniors are being
encouraged to use buses rather than their cars for transportation; and
WHEREAS people can and do fall
during rapid acceleration or sudden stops of a bus.
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Seniors
Advisory Committee recommends that the Transit Committee recommends that OC
Transpo ensure that operators receive adequate training and instructions to
give senior passengers sufficient time to be seated, or to have a stable
stance, before the bus proceeds, and where possible the bus should brake
slowly.
CONSULTATION
Bus operators
receive training and instructions through the New Bus Operator Training
Program. The training does enforce the
need to give senior passengers sufficient time to be seated, to provide stable
stance and to ensure that brakes are applied in a slower fashion. Seasoned operators receive refresher
training, which includes this aspect.
Riding checks are conducted to monitor bus operator performance with
individual coaching and follow-up as required.
As issues are raised by passengers, bulletins are issued to all
operators to inform them of the concerns and ensure emphasis on this important
aspect of customer service.
N/A
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Document 1 – Extract of Seniors Advisory Committee Minutes – 17 January 2007
Document 2 – Extract of Seniors Advisory Committee Minutes – 19 September 2007
Staff from Planning, Transit and
the Environment will respond to the Committee and Council recommendation
accordingly.
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seniors advisory committee extract of minutes 8 17 october 2007 |
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comitÉ consultatif sur les personnes ÂgÉes extrait de l’Ébauche du procÈs-verbal 8 le 17 octobre 2007 |
Document 1
PRESENTATION
PRÉSENTATION
1.
CITY ACTIONS
TO ADDRESS SENIORS' CONCERNS ON OC TRANSPO VEHICLES
MESURES
DE LA VILLE EN VUE DE RÉPONDRE AUX INQUIÉTUDES DES AÎNÉS CONCERNANT LES
VÉHICULES D'OC TRANSPO
Kathy Riley, Accessible Transit Specialist, OC
Transpo and Joel Koffman, Acting Manager, Transit Service Planning and
Development, Transit Services Branch provided a verbal response to the
Committee’s concerns on OC Transpo vehicles.
The more salient points were noted:
·
Bulletins are sent regularly reminding the bus operators about priority
seating and stop announcements;
·
There is no policy at this time for the operators to wait until someone
is seated before pulling away;
·
OC Transpo prefers that the customer ask the operator to lower the bus
because they don’t want to insult customers by automatically assuming they need
the service;
·
Certain intersections and designated spots are called out but a customer
can always ask that specific stops are called out;
·
A plan will be developed on 1 March with a variety of interest groups
partnering in the shifting gears program, such as CAA (Canadian Automobile
Association);
·
A campaign is being organized to group seniors with grade twelve arts
students from Sir Robert Borden High School to develop a poster for the buses
focusing on awareness and slogans reflecting intergenerational issues;
·
Negotiations are underway with CAA and Loblaws to partner with OC Transpo
to create opportunities for seniors to ride the bus by using a coupon; and
·
OC Transpo will be creating a specific brochure for seniors with the
appropriate information by mid-February.
Questions arose on whether operators need more time on their routes, how seniors can find out if a bus will be low-floor, whether there is a By-Law reflecting priority seating, whether sensitivity training is performed and what happens when a complaint is made about an operator.
Following this exchange, Chair Coll noted
that Ms. Riley would be back before Committee in March to provide an update on
the seniors brochure and other specifics.
Action 1: The
Coordinator will provide Kathy Riley, Accessible Transit Specialist with the
names of those who wish to volunteer in the poster campaign with grade 12 arts
students from Sir Robert Border High School.
Action 2: SAC
will provide suggestions of the senior’s brochure to Kathy Riley, Accessible
Transit Specialist once it is presented and finalized.
Action 3: Kathy
Riley, Accessible Transit Specialist will provide the specific phone centre
call number, where staff are specifically trained to plan a route for
customers, being mindful of the accessible buses.
Action 4: Kathy
Riley, Accessible Transit Specialist will update SAC with progress updates,
including issues pertaining to the motion.
Action 5: The
Coordinator will provide Kathy Riley’s coordinates to all members and invite
her to attend the March meeting.
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seniors advisory committee extract of minutes 1 17 january 2007 |
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comitÉ consultatif sur les personnes ÂgÉes extrait de l’Ébauche du procÈs-verbal 1 le 17 janvier 2007 |
Document
2
3. CITY ACTIONS TO ADDRESS SENIORS’ CONCERNS ON OC TRANSPO VEHICLES – STAFF UPDATE
MESURES
DE LA VILLE EN VUE DE RÉPONDRE AUX INQUIÉTUDES DES AÎNÉS CONCERNANT LES
VÉHICULES D'OC TRANSPO – MISE
À JOUR DU PERSONNEL
John Donaldson, Program Manager,
Transit Information and Customer Relation, Transit Services Branch, Planning,
Transit and the Environment provided a verbal overview of OC Transpo ensuring a
level of consistency for 100% compliance of its policy to call out stops and
making sure that announcements are in fact heard and advised that this is being
achieved through consistent coaching, training and enforcement with the 1,600
bus operators.
Member Elliott noted that bus operators have a stressful job, but for seniors and people with disabilities, it is reassuring to have drivers call out stops that will allow everyone to enjoy a hassle-free drive and user-friendly bus system. She advised members that several councillors moved motions at the 4 July 2007 Transit Committee Meeting relating to improving customer relations, training requirements in communicating with all customers; in particular seniors and people with disabilities, disciplinary action taken if policy is not followed and bus stops called out on all regular routes and for drop off locations on express routes and implementing a training program to ensure compliance with the policy.
Action: John Donaldson will keep the
Committee informed on the calling out stops policy and the Department’s 2008
Capital Budget priorities and advise the Coordinator once the report goes
forward.