‘Where’s the door?’: Accessibility advocate says Saskatoon BRT stations need more work
As Saskatoon moves forward with building out its bus rapid transit system, an accessibility advocate and bus rider is raising concerns about some of the new platforms.
Robin East, a blind accessibility advocate, has raised concerns about the accessibility of Saskatoon's new bus rapid transit (BRT) stations. During an interview with Global News, East demonstrated how he navigated the city's Broadway Avenue BRT stops, only to walk into the branches of a tree situated on the platform. Without audio cues like echoes, East struggles to detect obstacles such as shelters or barriers.
East has previously helped bring voice announcements to Saskatoon's buses, but he believes the city's efforts on its latest BRT designs are not going far enough. He asserts that meaningful engagement between people with disabilities and those designing the system should be an ongoing process, with good design aligning with accessibility codes. East cites the Accessible Canada Act and standards from Accessible Standards Canada as tools to ensure the system is fully accessible.
The city has approved a plan for BRT lanes on First Avenue, with stations in the center of the road. However, East is frustrated by the lack of accessibility features in the platforms of existing stations built on Broadway Avenue. The planned BRT stations on First Avenue and College Drive will feature platforms in the center of the road, but East contends that many accessibility pieces are missing at this stage.
Saskatoon's director of transportation, Jay Magus, stated that the city has consulted extensively on accessibility since the BRT project began about a decade ago. The city constructed a pilot bus station at its Civic Operations Centre for feedback from accessibility advocates, following Transportation Association of Canada accessibility standards. Magus mentioned that yellow tactile strips were added based on best practices and feedback from accessibility experts.
As work continues on the College Drive stations, scheduled for completion in 2027, Magus assured that accessibility committee members will review the infrastructure and provide feedback. Additionally, third-party safety audits will be conducted throughout the design process for the First Avenue lanes, considering accessibility alongside traffic operations.
Accessibility consultants highlight the complexity of designing BRT systems and the challenges posed by the diversity of disabilities and lived experiences. Pia Dimayuga, an accessibility specialist, emphasized that while codes can ensure consistency in design, understanding how people interact with the design is unique to each city and requires hands-on feedback.
She suggested that more cities should involve accessibility advocates in testing systems before they become operational to identify potential issues. The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) confirmed that they have consulted with Saskatoon on the BRT stations but is awaiting further updates.
Written by urgent.news from Global News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
