The 500-metre rule will soon be gone

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/05/2020 (2276 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A final note on budget 2020, which city council passed in March…

Effective Jan. 1, 2021, the budget eliminates the 500-metre rule for Transit Plus services (formerly Handi Transit). That is the rule that denies Transit Plus service to disabled residents at any location that is more than 500 metres from a city bus stop. I have long battled against this policy (and wrote previously about it in Jul, 2019) since it means that no one in the portion of St. Vital that lies south of the Perimeter Highway can get Transit Plus service.

Due to 2018, ward boundary changes, Coun. Markus Chambers (St. Norbert – Seine River) now represents that area and became a valued ally in the fight against the 500-metre rule (councillors Gillingham and Nason also pressed the case to change this rule). I also discovered when door-knocking in new sections of my ward in 2018 that parts of Sage Creek lie more than 500 metres from a bus stop, and were therefore not receiving Transit Plus services.

After almost eight years, the 2020 budget finally provides the funding to scrap the rule.

I wish to thank the mayor for his support, as well as the Independent Living Resource Centre for its scrappy advocacy over the years. The first call I ever got on this issue came from a resident south of the perimeter in 2012. I regret that it took this long to put things right, but I am very proud that this council is taking an historic step to assist Winnipeggers living with disabilities.

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A resident emailed me recently to ask if I could thank residents who are picking up trash while they are out for walk or run during this pandemic.  

I thought this was a great idea, and I would like to express my appreciation for the good neighbours who are helping to clean up St Vital.

It is worth noting, as another resident reminded me, that we have to be very careful to avoid discarded needles or other “sharps”.