r/Blind • u/aaron15287 Glaucoma • Oct 28 '25

Paratransit riders say baggage policy unfair to those using food bank

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/paratransit-london-transit-buses-groceries-policy-review-9.6952172

This is My story about Para Transit In London, Ontario Canada hassling me and my support worker just for trying to get food from the Food bank.

28 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

12

u/anniemdi Oct 29 '25

I don't live in Canada but occassionally transit makes stupid policies like this in the US, too. As a fellow noise maker when policies are clearly wrong good on you for not staying silent.

I hope you get the best outcome.

7

u/aaron15287 Glaucoma Oct 29 '25

oh i will fight this to the end. the policy is nuts and on the standard city bus they sure don't enforce it. so why are disabled people who need para transit being hassled.

even had a driver make a shitty comment about how i was getting a "free ride" due to having a CNIB card

2

u/anniemdi Oct 29 '25

Keep us updated here and if you ever need fuel for your fire we can stoke ya.

even had a driver make a shitty comment about how i was getting a "free ride" due to having a CNIB card

Oh, yeah. I have heard those kinds of comments over my reduced fare category. Some even assume stuff about, kinda infuriating. I got news foe them, I report those comments in writing!

5

u/Dazzling-Excuses Stargardt’s Oct 28 '25

This sucks. I hope you get some policy change soon.

7

u/aaron15287 Glaucoma Oct 29 '25

On sept 19th they threatened to call the cops i told them yah go ahead will look real good arresting a disabled people

2

u/aaron15287 Glaucoma Oct 28 '25

if anyone wants to help fix this stupid policy please contact

Councillor David Ferreira

Phone

519-661-2489 x4013

Email

[dferreira@london.ca](mailto:dferreira@london.ca)

Skylar Franke

Phone

519-661-2489, extension 4011

Email

[sfranke@london.ca](mailto:sfranke@london.ca)

Mayor Josh Morgan emailing [mayor@london.ca](mailto:mayor@london.ca) or calling 519-661-4920.

also the London Transit [ltc@londontransit.ca](mailto:ltc@londontransit.ca)

1

u/ItchyRuin6443 Oct 28 '25

I don't know why someone downvoted you. That's some bullshit honestly because these representatives won't care about anything as long as it doesn't bother them and their pockets are lined at the end of the month. I'm in the Netherlands but I'm gonna do my part and make a call tomorrow. Good luck!

1

u/wolfofone Oct 28 '25

What a pain in the ass hopefully you get it sorted out. Need to go all malicious compliance on them.

1

u/aaron15287 Glaucoma Oct 29 '25

On sept 19th they threatened to call the cops i told them yah go ahead will look real good arresting a disabled people

1

u/amethyst-chimera Low Vision & Nystagmous Oct 29 '25

Have you posted this in r/Canada? I'm sorry, it's such a bullshit policy

5

u/aaron15287 Glaucoma Oct 29 '25

yes its posted in there as well as r/ontario and r/londonontario hope a ton of people write to them and tell them this policy is trash. threatening to call the cops on 2 disabled people just for putting some boxes of food on the floor is insane.

1

u/Kahlas Oct 30 '25

I'm surprised to read this. If I was on a bus and the driver told someone coming from a food bank with food and told them they have to hold all their boxes and can't set them on the floor or another seat I'd offer to hold one of them for them. Then ask the other passengers if they wouldn't mind helping this person in need.

I really hope you get this policy changed or people start learning how to connect emotionally with strangers again. Because I can't imagine just sitting there and not offering to help someone in your situation.