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B.C. minister directs fix after senior denied HandyDART service for 28 years
🇨🇦 Canada /Culture & Society

B.C. minister directs fix after senior denied HandyDART service for 28 years

From Global News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A Surrey senior with spinal muscular atrophy has been denied HandyDART service after 28 years due to his mobility device's size.
  • TransLink and operator Transdev state the device exceeds manufacturer specifications for vehicle lifts and weight limits.
  • B.C.'s Transportation Minister has directed staff to resolve the issue after Global News reported on the senior's isolation.

Tom Cretain, a Surrey resident living with spinal muscular atrophy, faces isolation after HandyDART stopped providing him service. For 28 years, the specialized transit service accommodated his needs, but a recent assessment deemed his mobility device too large for their vehicles.

It’s shut my life down. I haven’t been out for two months, except in the neighbourhood.

— Tom CretainCretain describes his isolation after losing HandyDART service.

"It’s shut my life down," Cretain told Global News. "I haven’t been out for two months, except in the neighbourhood." He relies on the service to leave his home, but now finds himself housebound.

TransLink spokesperson Anita Bathe stated that manufacturer specifications for HandyDART vehicle lifts have limits on mobility device size and combined weight. "The manufacturer’s specs for HandyDART vehicle lifts state that a mobility device can’t exceed 48 inches by 37 inches, and the combined weight of the customer and device also can’t exceed 800 pounds, so these are not arbitrary limits," Bathe said.

The manufacturer’s specs for HandyDART vehicle lifts state that a mobility device can’t exceed 48 inches by 37 inches, and the combined weight of the customer and device also can’t exceed 800 pounds, so these are not arbitrary limits.

— Anita BatheTransLink spokesperson Anita Bathe explains the limitations on mobility devices.

However, Mark Beeching, a retired HandyDART trainer and driver who assessed Cretain’s case in 2010, noted that the device previously fit. "When we did a previous assessment, we found it did fit," he told Global News. Cretain added, "They’ve managed to transport me for 30 years safely. It’s never been an accident, never an accident."

When we did a previous assessment, we found it did fit.

— Mark BeechingA retired HandyDART trainer and driver questions the current assessment of Cretain's mobility device.

Following media reports, B.C.'s Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth expressed frustration and directed staff to find a solution. "I am like most people, like most people, frustrated when I see the story going, you know, what’s going on here?" Farnworth said. Cretain hopes for a resolution, stating, "If I don’t fix this, I don’t have much of a life left."

They’ve managed to transport me for 30 years safely. It’s never been an accident, never an accident.

— Tom CretainCretain highlights his long history of safe transport with HandyDART.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Global News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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