SASKATOON – A legally blind Saskatoon man says he’s received an apology from the city’s transit department after a nasty exchange with a driver of a public bus.
Mike Simmonds says he went to get on a downtown bus this week with Graham, his 20-month-old seeing-eye dog, when the driver told him the dog wasn’t allowed.
Simmonds says he’s ridden city buses many times without a problem, and informed the driver that working dogs are allowed on public transit.
But he says the driver resisted until another passenger stepped in and informed the man that guide dogs are allowed.
Simmonds says the exchange left a bad taste in his mouth so he went to the media with his complaint.
He says a short time later, he was contacted by the city’s transit service department and was offered an apology and an invitation to come talk to new drivers in training in an effort to avoid future situations.
Simmonds has been blind for 17 years but was matched with Graham just eight weeks ago.
Thursday was the first time anyone has given him a problem.
“They can’t deny me service, I won’t get off the bus if they try and deny me service, because I know my rights, I’ll dig my heels in,” Simmonds said.
“By educating people now we’re hopefully able to reach people to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
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