Sault Ste. Marie Transit Services is committed to improving transit accessibility for all passengers. For several years, Sault Transit has been making accessibility improvements to its bus fleet.
Sault Parabus is a service offered by Sault Transit for people with physical disabilities who have been approved for transportation on the curb to curb service, through an application process. For more information, visit Parabus or call 705-942-1404.
Transit Services is committed to informing the public of the Priority and Courtesy Seating program. This information is posted at the bus terminal, on City buses and through various media channels.
Bus Features
Regular Transit Bus Features
- Low Floor – All Orion and Nova buses are low floor design (1 step on, 1 step off) at the front and rear door areas, for persons with walkers and canes, or who are able to walk unassisted but have difficulty using stairs.
- Ramp – All Low Floor buses are equipped with a folding ramp for easy boarding, with slip-resistant and raised edges to prevent your assistive device (wheelchair, walker, cane, and strollers) from slipping off. Upon request, the transit operator will lower these ramps at the front door area in order to assist people with disabilities board and get off the bus more easily with their assistive devices i.e., wheelchair, walker, cane.
- Kneeling Feature – Low Floor buses are equipped with a kneeling feature that allows the front right hand corner of the bus to lower to the curb so the first step is easier. Bus operators will kneel their bus at the request of a member of the public. Where an individual is having difficulty stepping into the bus, the operator should explain that the bus can be lowered and assist the passenger by lowering the bus. A visual warning light and an audible alarm on the outside of the bus indicate the bus is kneeling.
- Next Stop Announcement System – Automatic announcement of the next bus stop are audibly announced and visually displayed within the bus.
- Slip resistant, low-glare floors.
- Lights at the doorways to light up passage areas inside and outside the bus while passengers are boarding and exiting the bus.
- Colour-contrasted handholds, grab rails and seat back handles.
- Colour-contrasted LED destination signs on the front and curb side of the Low Floor buses.
Parabus Features
- Ambulatory entrance door on the right side of the vehicle, with steps fitted with a colour-contrasted front edge.
- Mobility aid entrance or ramp is a lift devise with handrails and guards on each side of the lift platform, and a restraining belt to prevent your assistive device from rolling off the platform.
- Lights at the lift door and passenger access door to automatically light up the area when the doors are open.
- Colour-contrasted grab bars at the inside entrance area. Five spaces for persons with assistive devices. Each of these spaces is equipped with Q-Straints so the transit operator can secure your device.
- Ambulatory seating for 5 or 6 passengers.
Courtesy Seating
Courtesy seating is marked with decals, is available near the front of all Sault Transit buses for passengers with disabilities, who have first priority. Others, such as caregivers with strollers or passengers with bundle buggies, may use these seats if space allows but should vacate them when needed. If necessary, passengers with disabilities should politely request the seat. Cooperation between all passengers is appreciated by Sault Transit staff.
Emergency Plan
In an emergency, Sault Transit’s priorities are to:
1. Protect Life 2. Preserve Property 3. Maintain Service
Duties of Sault Transit Operators
Operators will inform the inspector of the emergency:
- Advise if an evacuation is in progress
- Advise of the nature of the emergency
- Their route number
- Their location
For public information purposes – duties of Sault Transit operators:
- Operators will remain calm, stay patient and be prepared to make key decisions as quickly as possible.
- Operators will activate 4-way flashers of the vehicle.
- Operators will implement the safest emergency action – shelter-in-place, relocation, or evacuation.
- Operators will bring the bus to a complete stop in a safe and open area.
- Operators will tell the passengers to remain calm and also stay seated until bus comes to a complete stop.
- Operators will secure the bus by applying the Spring Brake and place the transmission in neutral.
- Operators will open all doors.
- Operators will kneel the bus if this feature is available.
- Operators will remove their seat belt.
- Operators will not use wheelchair ramp (too time consuming during an emergency).
- Operators will turn off the bus ignition.
- If evacuation is necessary, operators will ask passengers to disembark, leaving large packages, strollers, or buggies. Operators will consider various factors including evacuation route, any smoke or traffic, timing, special considerations required for elderly and/or customers with disabilities, and preferable exits to evacuate customers from the vehicle.
- On Para-bus service: operators will tell the wheelchair passenger(s) that they will be there to help them in a moment.
- Operators will assist customers with elderly and/or mental health conditions as well as the young and elderly, who may have difficulty following directions and/or evacuation procedures.
- On Para-bus service: Operators will remove wheelchair passengers, and will ask passengers for assistance if needed.
- If required, operators will use a fire extinguisher only if the situation allows and is safe to do so.
- Operators will not put themselves or anyone else in danger. Fighting fires will be left up to the professionals – Sault Fire Services.
- Operators will follow the advice and direction of local emergency responders and their Transit Supervisors.
- Sault Transit will provide assistance for passengers, including those with disabilities to complete their journey as soon as possible.
Responsibilities of Passengers
For public information purposes – responsibilities of passengers:
- Passengers will remain calm, stay patient and be prepared to evacuate the vehicle if directed by the operator or emergency personnel.
- Passengers will follow the direction of the transit operator, transit supervisors and emergency responders.
- If passengers are evacuated from the bus to a safe location, passengers are expected to remain at that safe location until directed otherwise by transit supervisors or emergency response personnel.
Navigation and Wayfinding
BlindSquare, an accessible navigation and wayfinding system, is provided by Sault Transit in collaboration with CNIB Frontier Accessibility.
The software uses GPS technology to estimate the proximity of bus stops, when passengers will arrive at each stop, and can audibly identify bus stops. Bus tracking is a feature of the City’s Intelligent Transportation System designed to make riding the bus easier and more accessible for everyone.
Accessible navigation is a critical piece to improving the transit user experience. In recent years, Sault Transit has implemented a number of initiatives including on-demand, the Northern Transfer point and purchasing over a dozen new accessible buses.
The customized integration by CNIB Frontier Accessibility for Sault Transit users allows a new level of access. The technology not only transforms travel for riders that identify with having a disability, but also responds to other conditions affecting pedestrian movement, such as planned interruptions to service and bus stop relocations. All users of transit can benefit from improved service delivery.
The BlindSquare Event app combines the latest technology to help people with sight loss travel on the City’s bus routes. The BlindSquare Event app is free to download, and users have unexpired access anywhere in Canada. The app also supports additional accessories to enhance the user experience.
About CNIB Frontier Accessibility
CNIB Frontier Accessibility is a CNIB social enterprise, supporting businesses and organizations to ensure all Canadians with disabilities can benefit from barrier-free communities and workplaces. CNIB Frontier Accessibility is a national organization that specializes in a variety of cutting-edge accessibility solutions for organizations in a breadth of sectors. CNIB Frontier Accessibility’s approach to providing customized solutions ensures that all organizations will have the tools to champion a culture of inclusion. To learn more about CNIB Frontier Accessibility’s solutions, visit: frontier-cnib.ca.
About BlindSquare
BlindSquare is the world’s most widely used accessible GPS-app developed for individuals who are deafblind, blind and partially sighted. Paired with third-party navigation apps, BlindSquare’s self-voicing app delivers detailed points of interest and intersections for safe, reliable travel both outside and inside.