HSR, Metrolinx get earful on accessibility from riders

GO trains will get visual signs to help users — and more training for staff to help disabled

Mary Davidson has an issue when it comes to riding GO trains.

“At night, looking out the window for the name of the station, I can’t see it,” she said at a public meeting Monday on accessibility on GO Transit and Hamilton HSR buses.

The GO station signs are too small and dimly-lit to see, she and others said.

Davidson is deaf, so she can’t hear each station name being called out when coming home to Hamilton. She recounted through a sign language interpreter how she once got off and on the train three times at Clarkson because she couldn’t see a sign.

“Sometimes, the train is stopped and I have no idea why,” she added.

In Oakville once, when the train didn’t appear to be going further, she wrote down her question to the conductor, but he wasn’t helpful, she said.

“I had to take the bus from Oakville (station), but I didn’t know how and I ended up in Mississauga.”

Mark Rejohn, using a laptop to communicate, said he, too, has trouble figuring out which stop to get off at, and asked about the availability of electronic signs on the trains and buses.

By the time the meeting at Hamilton Central Library ended, however, those attending were encouraged to hear Metrolinx, which runs GO, will install visual signs on all train cars devoted to the disabled — and will “robustly” train staff on assisting the disabled public.

But Craig Ellis, who is hard of hearing, said he’s not sure why it’s so difficult to get visual signage on all the train cars instead of just the one that is accessible.

And when Metrolinx’s Ash Matthews was asked if coming signage will explain to the deaf if it’s an explosion or terrorist attack that stops the train, Matthews said “the technology is not there right now.”

The 35 residents at the meeting heard about the progress at Metrolinx and at the HSR when it comes to accessibility, but there were still plenty of concerns to go around — all of which, officials said, they wanted to hear so they could work on better accessibility.

At the HSR discussion table, rider Terri Wallis said, “I’ve heard people ask if this bus is going down the street and drivers being sarcastic in their answers.”

Mark Webster recounted on how one time, “a blind guy got on and asked the driver to tell him when the bus gets to his stop, and the driver responded ‘If I can see it.’”

Wallis, who is on the city advisory committee for persons with disabilities, suggested people take note of such incidents and call them in. She said the buses have cameras now, so you can be backed up. HSR director Debbie Dalle Vedove, agreed, but said for the most part drivers are respectful.

Monday’s Metrolinx and HSR presentations — and a summary of the feedback can be viewed at metrolinx.com/accessibility.