Officials with the Calgary HandiBus organization have announced that they will be shutting down service sometime next year, but say they are working to provide alternative service.
For the past ten years, Calgary HandiBus has provided transportation for Calgary’s disabled community through Access Calgary, a division of Calgary Transit.
Access Calgary manages all of the aspects of accessible transportation for disabled persons in the city.
An independent study recently completed by the HandiBus organization has shown that the accessible transportation market has been evolving and more options are available for those with special needs on regular transit buses and CTrains.
The main result of the study is that the HandiBus business model is not sustainable as costs begin to climb.
There is no specific date when the HandiBus will cease operations, but Access Calgary is being given enough time to accommodate for customers’ needs.
Calgary HandiBus, meanwhile, will continue as a not-for-profit organization and focus on fundraising efforts to buy vehicles for other organizations in need of specialized transportation.
