can Handydart proving too popular Bus service inh By ALEX HAMILTON DEMAND FOR the Hand- ydart public bus system for people with mobility prob- lems is so great, often users can’t get rides downtown to shop or get to the bank. Righty-seven year old Doris Ferguson can’t walk to the bus stop to lake the regular bus, She relies on the Handydart to pick her up from her home to take her shopping or to visit.friends. But Ferguson says she can’t always pet a ride on the Handydart because it’s booked solid. She was unable to attend the adult day care centre at the Terrace Pentecostal As- sembly for the longest time on Fridays, for example, be- cause of the number of people with regular doctors appointments who had made standing bookings. “Pm fine as long as my family can give me a ride,” Ferguson said, but she doesn’t like depending on others. Many seniors, however, don’t-have family to drive them places, and become house-bound . when the Handydart is too busy to pick them up. Available in Terrace since 1995, the Handydart is a bus service for peaple with men- tal and physical disabilities who can’t take the regular bus system. Like a glorified taxi ser- vice, it offers door to door service for $1.50 per ride. The catch is, because the bus only has 30 seats (less if passengers are in wheel- chairs), it first books people who need to get to the doc- tor of those going to the col- Icge. Only then are bookings taken for people with social activilics, Sonja Krug handles all Handydari bookings and says users should call at least two days in advance if they want to book a seat. She explained the Haad- ydart has a number of regu- eavy use Lines, which operates the Handydart bus, He is cur- rently in the prasess of registering all Handydart ‘eee users so that only ihose people who are eligible are using the popular and busy service. There's only one Handydart bus and it can't keep up with demand. lar bookings for people going to physiotherapy ap- pointments or the doctor. “{ tum away quite a few people, she said. ‘‘On aver- age about two or three a day. Bi She said Terrace needs an- other bus, but the city can’t afford to operate one. Mike Docherty, manager of Coastal Bus Lines, which operates the bus, explained ‘the Handydart is very ex- pensive to operate. demand,” he said. “We have the [Handydari] big- gest growth rate in the coun- try.”? Since 1996, monthly rider- ship has grown ftom 325 passengers to 527 pas- sengers, he said, because the number of seniors living in the city bas grown. Docherty is currently re- registering all Handydart users to ensure everyone is eligibic to use It. He said when some people can’t gel a ride the Hand- ydart, they hop on the regu- lar bus, ““We want to find out how marly of the 525 users are actually requiring the Hand- ydart system’? he said, “We might not need an- other bus once everyone is registered."! To ensure more people are able to get where they need to go, the city gives Docherty $500 a month to use taxis when required. Users needing to get to the doctor or lo school who can’t book a time on the Handydart, cau get a taxi ride for $1.50, "Tt helps to meel what we're missing,’ Docherty said. The Handydart is opera- tional Monday to Friday fom 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 9:40 a.m. to 4:27 p.m. It is not in service Sun- days. , The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 28, 1999 - A3 News In Brief It’s in the mail CANADA POST says a test it had conducted shows that 96.3 per cent of the regional mail was delivered within two days and for mail sent from one location to another, virtually every piece was delivered the next day. Federal crown corporation spokesman Bob Taylor said the test involved hiring au independent company to send 1,000 unidentifiable test pieces through Its sys- tem. Canada Post has set up 16 areas throughout B.C. in which to test its two-day delivery standard. Up here, Prince Rupert is the central sorting hub for the north- west. The area includes the Prince Rupert east to the Hazeitons, north to the Nass Valley and to Stewart and south to Kitimat and to Kemano. Sechelt treaty deal inked SECHELT NATIVES signed a treaty agreement-in- principle with the federal and provincial government last week. The deal is the first such agreement to be initialled in the B.C, Treaty Commission process and will lead to further negotiations toward a final treaty. Sechelt lands under the treaty will double to about 2,000 hectares, , The band gets $42 million in cash. Sechelt natives will continue the municipal-style of self-government they’ve had for nearly 13 years. Woman stands trial for missing bingo money A TERRACE woman is scheduled to appear in Supreme Court here June £2, 2000 for allegedly steal- ing bingo procceds from the local Air Cadet squadron, : Bonnie Lynn Lutsiak faces three charges of theft over $5,000 and six charges of theft under $5,000 for thefts that ocurred between Nov. 3, 1994 and May 4, 1995. She was ordered to stand trial after a preliminary hearing that ended here April 12. Death fees made legal THE PROVINCIAL government has introduced legis- lation to make stick fees it is charging to register estate settlements. The move follows a supreme court decision which Each passenger trip on the Handydart costs $22, com- pared to a regular bus trip, which costs approximately And since Terrace’s popu- lation is less than 25,000, the potential load factor isn’t large enough to pur- chase a second bus. Docherty said in the two years demand for the Hand- ydart bus has increased 30 per cent. "Tes pulled out of service. is an important issue,” said Michelle Penz. cn. very much in Chainsaw Boots with Spikes Red Strap Jeans_ reg. $39.98 Reg. $4.98 Polar Paw Socks 3/$4 00 Ladies Reg. $4.69 3/844" Bama Booties reg. 14.98 reg. $2.49 Criss Cross Tree Planters Glove Replacement Caulks Bag of 50 reg, $9.98 3 Piece Rainsuit Reg. $11.98 Reg, $23.98 §-XL Pants reg. $57.98 2-XL Pants rag. $62.99 Helly Hanson Rainwear yellow or green neous AS” sat $3 ‘46° $ 5 1” Kodiak Flannel Shirts M - 2XL $4.99 reg. $23.98 M-2XxL Tall § 99 reg. $26.98 2 2 $9 4° 2X-4X Tall reg. $28.98 ur Unive Coird, Mastereird, - mericon Express ér Interat Direct Payment: - Truckers playing it safe — spectors here several weeks apo had safety violations serious enough to warrant being “It’s a good sign that people are taking care of their vehicles and shows that safety On average, 20 per cent of the vehicles " said governments should introduce such taxes by legis- lation and not by bringing them in by simply writing a tegulation. There is no fee on estates worth less than $25,000 but between $25,000 and $50,000 the fee is $6 per 1,000 of estale value. After $50,000, the fee structure rises to to $14 per $1,000. Liberal MLA Geoff Plant criticized the move, saying the NDP look at probate fees as another tax. “The tax grab fare exceeds the cost of processing estate setilements, and goes right into general revenue,” said Plant. and units checked in B.C. are in serious enough shape to be taken off the road. Of the 744 vehicles checked in two loca- lions between April 6-8, 297 units being hauled by 162 vehicles were inspected. Of the 148 units thal had violations, only 15 needed to be pulled from the road. . There are two other roadblock checks He said probate fecs now amount to $20 million a - planned. between now and the cnd of the | Year in B.C. ‘year in the Terrace area.:* +2; ee ICBC official fees @ If you've been waiting to buy an Arctic Cat® ATV, your patience is about to be awarded. 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