TransLink says it can no longer accommodate a HandyDART passenger, despite him having used the service for almost 30 years.
Tom Cretain has spinal muscular atrophy and isn’t able to sit up. For decades he has relied on HandyDART to drive him to his destinations on an accessible bus or taxi.
However, two months ago, the 71-year-old said he was told TransLink couldn’t send him a ride.
Then there was a meeting in which his wheelchair was measured.
Cretain says this confirmed everything fits into the taxi. But then he received a letter saying, “Neither HandyDART buses nor contracted wheelchair accessible taxis are able to safely and reliably accommodate your present equipment.”
Cretain said that begged the question: “Were you transporting me unsafely for 28 years?”
On Monday, after receiving a request from Global News for an interview, TransLink sent a statement saying that Cretain’s “current mobility device exceeds what the vehicles available through HandyDART can safely accommodate. These needs will be considered and assessed as part of the specifications for future HandyDART vehicles.”
They said that a recent review requested by “our contracted taxi provider identified safety issues related to the size of his mobility device and his transfer requirements. It was determined that his needs can no longer be safely accommodated by either HandyDART vehicles or the wheelchair-accessible taxis available through the service. This was not the result of a policy change.”
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TransLink said it recommends non-emergency hospital transfer services as the safest available option for Cretain.
However, hospital transfers don’t do non-medical transportation, SN Transport told Global News on Monday, saying that transportation for medical appointments may be available if the appropriate booking criteria are met, but they do not generally provide transportation for non-medical purposes, such as grocery shopping or other personal errands.
When told this news, TransLink stated that it has also reached out to the province to request a meeting to further discuss Cretain’s situation.
And Cretain said he is not a patient; he’s just trying to live his life.
He says he has been living a rich life, travelling, attending events and meeting celebrities. But since the unexpected HandyDART changes, he’s been housebound, cancelling summer plans and missing medical appointments.
“It shut my life down,” Cretain said. “I haven’t been out for two months.”
“Your mandate is to provide transportation for people like me in this day and age. When people are going to the moon, I think they can find a way to get me across town.”
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If a new poll is to be believed, there is a deep distrust of the B.C. government’s policies dealing with addiction and homelessness.
Emily Watson, senior vice-president, Western Canada at Transdev, which operates HandyDART on behalf of TransLink, said in a statement that they are “actively working with TransLink to identify suitable transportation alternatives and will continue collaborating on long-term solutions for passengers.”
Elenore Sturko, the independent MLA for Surrey Cloverdale, told Global News on Sunday that she considers this to be a form of discrimination against Cretain due to his disability.
She has been advocating for Cretain and contacting the Ministry of Transportation.
“The fact that they haven’t been able to find any solution to accommodate him, despite the fact they’ve actually been driving him for 28 years, is ridiculous,” Sturko said.
“The government should be ashamed.”
B.C.’s Minister of Transportation Mike Farnworth said his ministry is aware of the situation and will be in contact with TransLink and HandyDART to see what issues need to be addressed in this case.
Cretain said he hopes for a speedy resolution.
“I don’t want to spend the rest of my life in this room,” he said.
I would guess that there is a union involved somewhere. Union workers can’t break a fingernail at work without it becoming a big deal. Everyone’s job should be safe but the pendulum has swung so far to the side of ridiculousness that workers can decline to help others because it may cause discomfort to them. On the other hand, this man does seem to expect a lot out of a service that strives to accommodate a huge variety of disabilities. I’m sure change is difficult for him but life has to evolve for the everybody.
Why do I get the feeling Translink is trying to avoid costs by doing this… its inhumane. I really hope this man gets to live his life because until you actually live a life where you are housebound you dont know how damaging it is to someone’s mental health. Even that feeling of loneliness is such a horrible feeling. I really hope translink changes their decision because wow….
Dear Global news, do you know why Translink can no longer accommodate Mr. Cretains’ taxi’s service paid for by Translink? Has any recent changes occured to bring on this disruption in his HandyDart “taxi service”? This service he has received at a VERY minimal cost? Due diligence is a news reporters job. Is it not?
Stephen Hawkins would be extremely pissed off at this and likely would intervene on this gentleman’s behalf
WHO F/ G CARES ! MOVE THE F/ K ON
Handy Dart is supposed to be there for elderly and Handicapped People to make health appointments and the odd outings,,,maybe.
This guys is apparently using it like a personal chauffeur and I am going to say doing so at huge costs. Going off to lunch, meeting celebrities at signings or whatever. From the post below he is going to home shows???.
I appreciate that he needs to get out but there should be limits to the use of public funds.
It’s not like he is using to go to work to pay taxes. He is using Handy Dart to entertain himself.
I guess it’s time for pops to check out or fend for himself. He is not entitled to perpetual free service.
Come transdev. You served him before now this, nothing?. Changed contractors, busses and policies. Get it together. Fix.it
This is not of anything of the subject but I am from British Columbia, Canada. I deal with a lot of PTSD due to my boyfriend killing himself in front of me. I have a lot of depression. I’ve been in my place for the last 8 years and my landlord has been threatening me and trying to evict me the last 2 months. I won the first appeal and now there’s another one and I have court August 22nd. I think it’s not easy to find places where I live and I have had no problems with my landlord the whole 8 years. She lives upstairs. I live downstairs in the basement. They have had me live in blytheville. They don’t like my place. Anyways, I am going to write my address down and I’m hoping that I can have supporters. Maybe send me letters name. C gattrell address 139 stocks creasent penticton bc V2A8P6 thank you
Wow some of the comments on here are simply ignorant and hurtful.
So… By reading this, it made me wonder if the elderly man has any family members available to take him? I mean there should be alternatives if transit and taxi suddenly becomes not available.
I think they realized the risk they’re taking more serious than they first thought. Given all the incidents in the roads and the crazy drivers that are inconsiderate of others. I can imagine if anything goes wrong his chair could easily tip over… since translink is always making new buses and skytrains for us, hopefully they can start making bigger and better handydarts to accommodate all kinds of wheelchair..
More like Tranlink isn’t making profits off the poor ole bastard. Sad but true
The level of care (time, weight vs gas consumption, etc.) required for this guy probably screws with the ‘efficiency model’ that HandyDART uses to maximize their profits. The province will most likely come to an agreement with HandyDART that increases HandyDART’s profits and costs the taxpayer more. Come to think of it, HandyDART is probably using this guy as a pawn to ‘renegotiate’ their contract with the provincial government. Gotta love the private sector – they are run leaner than government but the cost is the level of service provided to the customer while the higher ups profit. So it’s save money, reduce the level of care and services to increase profits to rich corporations or have the government run it which will mean better level of service (when not controlled by a penny-pinching ‘we need to ignore the full needs of the people’ bureaucrat and/or politician) but it costs the taxpayer more. People or Profit is today’s model of service care…. and guess which one wins.
I honestly feel sorry for this guy. But I think he is abusing the system. I’m the guardian of my handicapped Brother (spinabifida) and understand the astronomical costs associated with such conditions. Private care assisted living is $14,000 per month and my brother is significantly easier to deal with (more Mental less Motor Skills issues). Best guess the taxpayers is on the hook for at least $25,000 a month or more. And I run across this guy all over town (BC Home Show a couple months ago). I explain to my brother that he has to make compromises and that he has to conserve money particularly public monies he receives. The services this gentleman is requesting seem unreasonable. Transportation Transit systems should not be equipped to handle these extremely rare patients who require extraordinary care. Really this transportation should be handled by Medical Transport and there should be tight restrictions to prevent abuse.
Look at the size of his mobility device. It is a motorized gurney. Now an ambulance, which is a basically a cube van with fancy lights and a siren, is used to transport ONE such device that is NOT motorized. So imagine the weight of this gentleman’s device and the length of time to load and unload it. The company would have to have a dedicated van just to accommodate him safely. The answer to his question is that YES they probably were driving him around unsafely and have come to the conclusion that the insurance risks are not worth it. This gentleman is also at an age where extra special care would be needed as his body is the state and age that it is. Is it fair? No, but life is not fair sometimes. Maybe a service club can take up his cause and raise funds to help pay for the specialized transport he needs. Good luck sir and God bless.
The turbanjeets that pick him up don’t like his smell.
There is always two sides to the story. My dad uses handyDart all the time and the drivers are kind and caring and always on time. Maybe this person is demanding too much? You never know some passenger using this service sometimes demands a lot over what the service provides or out the supposed service.
Not one person answered or said anything about his question. Where they then carrying him UNSAFELY all those years!? If so, someone needs to be held accountable and the requisite safety requirements done!! G*ddamn this country is getting sickening how it handles handicapped folks! ALL FOR PROFIT!!
Lives destroyed because of administrative bureaucracies, policies, and policies. Caused by people. Seriously folks 27yrs and now nothing. I think its $$$. This service is worth it, don’t mind my tax dollars doing this good work.
Another example of prejudice and of hate of people with disabilities
This decision by TransLink is cruel and ruthless! Maybe one of those Translink execs should live Mr. Cretain’s life for one day. They have essentially cut off his lifeline, left him with no transportation, without even providing him with alternatives or other options. That is reprehensible and I hope that Mr. Cretain sues Translink for breach of trust and psychological injury and suffering!
Pretty pathetic that after 28 years of transporting this man, now all of a sudden they can’t. No policy change, no vehicle change, no wheel chair change. Sounds like someone didn’t want to transport him and found a loophole and now Translink is running with it. BOO TRANSLINK! BOO BC GOVERNMENT! Take care of your citizens, support them! Can only imagine how this poor guy feels!
One idiot said seniors get too much care. I guess he was oblivious during covid. Trillion dollar insurance companies shoukd cover transportation costs.same way you would any mode of transportation
honestly too much money goes to seniors. way too much serving the past. while bammers along with foids basically decimated any prospects of meaningful future for young generations and race replaced. but nevertheless this slop is what canadastan is. blubbering nonsense at every level avoiding accountability and being incompetent
whole shitocracy and bammerfoidisimparchy has long become this ““our contracted taxi provider identified safety issues related to the size of his mobility device and his transfer requirements. It was determined that his needs can no longer be safely accommodated by either HandyDART vehicles or the wheelchair-accessible taxis available through the service. This was not the result of a policy change.””
slop of idiots. it’s better thet this society and country wouldn’t exist. it’s outlived itself and is aggravation to everyone
This is an outrage especially considering he has been using handy dart for so many years now they do this?? He is 71 years old has no other transportation! I hope it’s understood this is what TransLink dose to people with disability who are entitled to have their disability accommodated. Now he is stuck at home.TransLink shame on you!!!
What changed after 28 years of successful caring Handy dart service?
Seems it was “policy”rather than facts!!
Tom Cretain was getting out and about with no apparent incidents and now he’s basically a “shut-in” which would be detrimental to anyone’s health??
What changed besides “policy” after decades of service for this man?
One comment was that they only do transfers for medical reasons…. If they don’t think transportation for him as a medical need, then they don’t know what business they’re in.
Getting out and the boat and socializing and breathing fresh air is the most healthy thing that can be done for this fine gentlemen!!
That makes no sense at all. If they’ve been transporting him for 28 years, what’s changed? The handidart buses are the same size and there’s no mention of changed mobility device, it’s sounds to me like typical criminal BC government bureaucracy.
We give away “free drugs”, (which for those of you who are not educated please know nothing is free, it is ALL your taxdollars).
I prefer my taxdollars to go to this gentleman to live out his life, in the best way that he is able. And providing him transportation on MY DOLLAR, is fine with me.
You can give away drugs in this province; transport this man instead!
I wonder how much this extra special service was costing.