Helping two older women using walkers try to transfer from the 509 streetcar to the 510 Spadina heading north made me realize - once again - that Toronto does a pretty terrible job making transit accessible and easy to navigate for citizens and visitors alike. P.S. Bring back the Yayoi Kusama wrap!
We have gotten to know some of our elderly condo neighbours (85 to 95 years) and two have been injured in recent years either boarding or leaving TTC vehicles. In both cases doors slammed shut on them and they were knocked out into the street. Luckily both recovered.
Downtown living served them very well through their 60s and 70s, but after that the physical demands of transit - the steps, snowbanks, and the rush rush of the drivers and other passengers - makes it pretty hazardous. Not sure what the solutions are. Uber and taxis add up in costs if taken daily.
I need a walker to get around now. Was excited to be able to get to a doc appointment on my own. I really believed it'd all be cool in the city core. Wrong. So depressed ever since.
I’m so sorry to hear that. These two women were quite annoyed and unclear about where to go. Trying to cross criss-crossing streetcar tracks with their walkers before the walk timer ran out was a whole other stressor.
No doubt. I need to figure out how to research accessible options.
Eliminate ALL wraps. Let paying customers see out the goddam windows so they know where they are.