Canadians who are blind, partially sighted, or Deafblind need safe and accessible transit options.
People who are blind or have low vision continue to loudly voice that transportation barriers are among the greatest they face, whether they live in rural or urban environments. Accessible public transit is critical for those who are blind or have low vision to fully and independently participate in their communities, since they are not eligible for a driver’s licence. However, inaccessible transportation systems and built environment barriers continue to put the community of people with sight loss in dangerous and stressful situations when travelling.
Better transit = better quality of life.
Public transit systems can create equal opportunities for everyone to travel within their community, but only when they are accessible and reliable. Without it, people who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision are forced to rely on personal networks for assistance or risk using unsafe services to meet their needs, which may result in reduced independence, limited recreational and employment opportunities, and increased social isolation.
Canadians who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision need easy and affordable access to barrier-free transportation, whether they're travelling across town or across the country. This is the right of all persons with disabilities under the federal Accessible Canada Act, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and provincial accessibility legislation across the country.
That’s why CNIB has made a commitment to Safe and Accessible Journeys under our 2023-2028 strategic plan, “The Way Forward”. We will work to secure smooth and accessible transportation systems from the first to the last kilometre, and remove the mental load that comes with planning and preparing for every potential barrier an individual may encounter during a trip.
Our goal is to ensure everyone who is blind, Deafblind, or has low vision can leave their homes confidently, safely, and spontaneously, knowing they can get where they need to go and will be able to find assistance if they encounter an issue.
Free transit for people who are blind
There are many reasons why individuals who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision benefit from receiving free or discounted public transit. Often, individuals are unable to legally drive or safely use alternate methods of travel (e.g., bicycles or e-scooters) and so access to public transportation may be their only way to travel independently, especially in areas where people who are blind are not eligible for paratransit services. Furthermore, people who are blind or low vision have higher rates of unemployment and underemployment compared to the general population, as well as a higher cost of living due to the cost of accessibility tools and accommodations.
CNIB recommends that municipalities offering free transit to people who are blind or low vision maintain this concession if the need continues to exist. However, if a municipality or region is considering removing or restricting free transit, they must have meaningful consultation with the sight loss community to determine the potential impact and alternative solutions. It should also be noted that blindness is a low incidence disability, and so local government cost savings from cancelling a free transit concession would be minimal. Free transit should not be used as a long-term substitution for having an inaccessible system; rather, local governments and transit providers should continually strive to improve the accessibility of public transit.
Please visit our webpage for more information on the CNIB card. To find out if your local transit system offers free or discounted transit to CNIB card holders, please visit their website or contact them directly.
Get on Board transit campaign
As part of CNIB's commitment to Safe and Accessible Journeys under our new strategic plan, we held the "Get on Board" in October, 2023, to put a spotlight on the need for accessible public transit in Canada.
Targeting buses, light rail, and ferries across 13 transit authorities, the campaign involved a secret rider survey designed to help us learn more about the level of accessibility of these transit systems, and culminated in regional Transit Town Halls bringing officials and community members together to discuss the survey results and what’s needed to make their local transit systems more accessible.
Through the campaign, we met with over 30 politicians and transit representatives across the country and completed over 170 secret rider surveys.
Here’s a taste of what we found out:
- There were varying degrees of satisfaction throughout the regions we targeted.
- Customer service had the highest satisfaction rating, with 82% of riders being somewhat satisfied or higher.
- Transit websites had moderate satisfaction ratings, with 68% of users being somewhat satisfied or higher.
- Transit apps received the lowest satisfaction rating, with 56% being somewhat satisfied or higher.
What's next?
We’re now following up with the transit authorities we targeted and asking for meetings so we can discuss the results with them in detail and push them to make improvements.
You can stay involved by:
- Signing up to join us in our future advocacy efforts by emailing advocacy@cnib.ca.
- Reaching out to your local city councillor and sharing with them your experience on public transit.
- Watching for future transit campaigns and getting on board!
Feedback from transit riders
“I wish they [would] make the fonts bigger and [use] bold colors that are easier to read from a distance so I don’t have to go so up close finding my route and walk all around the station to find my stop. It’s very frustrating and difficult to see the bus stop letters/numbers in the station. I have missed my busses before or not [found] them in time and have to plan my trips to leave much earlier to give me time to find my next bus." -Edmonton rider
“It would be better if they had audible announcements inside the terminal when buses are at the pick up platform and leaving soon. The signage that indicates which buses go to which platform is difficult to read. I always need sighted assistance to find the pick up spot on a platform when it's a new bus that I haven't taken in the past. It would be helpful if there was a map of the terminal online indicating which bus picks up on which platform.” -Sudbury rider
“When the sea bus is crowded is the only time I have found it challenging to find a seat and did not get assistance to find a seat. Overall, my experience on the sea bus and ferry was pleasant, aside from having difficulty finding a seat. I would like to add here that when I was last on BC Ferries, although staff were polite and helpful, they did not know the proper way to provide sighted guide to someone with vision loss. I think this needs to be addressed.” -Vancouver rider
“I did not feel very safe on this journey. Accessibility features were not in place, or did not work successfully. Bus shelters were occupied with people who were appeared to be homeless, struggling with mental illness, or struggling with addiction.” -Winnipeg rider
“The staff who helped me were really nice. The vast majority of [Société de transport de Montréal] employees are sensitive people. However, when I don't ask for help, I wish they would understand me and let me fend for myself.” -Montreal rider
“Driver's take change right out of my hand (with permission). I indicate when I am seated so the driver can go. The drivers are nice, and I enjoy going on the bus.” -Corner Brook rider
“London Transit has made leaps and bounds of improvements of its transit infrastructure over the last 15 years; however, adding signs that give audible info about bus arrivals/departures should not be limited to those with shelters. Emotional support animals should not be given the same treatment as service animals. Operators should be more talkative and descriptive with bus-related info (priority seat availability, if seat is flipped up or not). Call-out announcements onboard should be louder. Detours and temporary stop locations should be disclosed with as much detail as possible.” -London rider
“I do feel safe riding the bus I feel uncomfortable at the bus depot because of not enough security." -Saskatoon rider.