Parallel Transit

• Download the Stratford Parallel Transit Application Healthcare Form and have your Healthcare Professional complete it on your behalf. The completed form can either be uploaded with the online Passenger Application or attached to the printed Passenger Application.

This form must accompany all Passenger Applications (see Step 2), whether submitted online or delivered to our offices in a printed format. 

To be completed online or in a printed format by the person applying to use the service, or their designate. 

Choose one method: 

• Online – Complete the application online at https://forms.stratford.ca/Parallel-Transit/Parallel-Transit-Application#

• Print – Obtain a copy from the Parallel Transit Office or a Parallel Transit Driver. Once completed, submit your printed application (along with your Healthcare Form) to a Driver, fax at 519-271-6029, mail or drop off at 60 Corcoran Street, Stratford, Ontario N6A 1V7. 

• All Passenger Applications must include a completed Healthcare Form (Step 1). 

• Applications must include both a completed Healthcare Form and Passenger Application.
• For assistance completing either form, please call 519-271-4000, Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm.
• Parallel Transit reserves the right to re-evaluate passenger applications and request a reassessment.
• Parallel Transit is not responsible for any cost associated with the completion of forms and applications.
• In the event an application is denied, a third-party assessment may be obtained with all costs being incurred by the applicant. 

If an official bus stop is not accessible for a passenger with a disability, the Operator shall ensure that passengers with disabilities are able to board or get off the bus at the closest available safe location, as determined by the Operator.

In determining where a safe location may be situated the Operator shall give consideration to the preferences of the passenger with a disability. Operators shall report to Maintenance Staff a Transit Stop that is inaccessible.

Trip on Detour Effective March 1,2013 Operators starting a trip with a known detour are required to announce to customers at the start of the trip and after leaving all time-points along the trip, the detour route and requesting customers needing assistance to or an alternate stop location to speak to the Operator.

Sample Announcement

"We apologize in advance for the inconvenience, however this trip will be on detour between [street 1] and [street 2]. Should you need assistance in getting to your destination please speak to me. Thank you." 

Operators are required to provide trip and destination information to boarding passengers upon the passenger’s request

To ensure consistency of the information presented to passengers and to align with other public information systems, Operators are instructed to use the information displayed on the bus destination sign control screen when asked for route information.

Operators are to announce the route and destination, including any ‘via’ directions in a clear statement, loud enough to be heard by the passenger requesting the information.

With the implementation of AODA, Ontario regulations require that passengers, other than persons with disabilities, must vacate the priority seating when requested to do so by a passenger with a disability or by the vehicle operator.

Operators should be polite and tactful when requesting that a passenger to give a priority seat to a passenger with a disability.

In the event an emergency evacuation of the bus, the Operator is to ensure all passengers exit the vehicle and that they are kept away from traffic at all times.

The Operator is required to identify passengers with passengers with injuries or disabilities and provide appropriate assistance to help them exit from the vehicle and ensure they remain in a safe location.

In the event the ramp power assist does not function the Operator is to manually deploy the ramp.

It is recommended that Operators view the video on Emergency Procedures on the Transportation Training page of the City web site: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_O-ADunGd4

Service animals that accompany passengers with disabilities, such as guide dogs, are welcome on the bus and at all public areas of Stratford Transit passenger facilities as well as City buildings and public places.

On the bus:

• The animal must be under the passenger’s care and control at all times
• Service animals must not pose a risk to other passengers or to Stratford Transit Operators
• If the Operator has concerns in this regard, and If it is not clear that the animal is a service animal, he or she may ask the passenger to produce documentation for the service animal, such as a card identifying the animal or a note from a doctor or nurse stating that the animal is needed for reasons of a disability. If the passenger cannot produce a note, contact your Supervisor for direction on how to proceed
• The Operator is not permitted to ask the passenger whether he or she has a disability, or about the nature of his or her disability. 

Marginal Defect:

• Fill in "Defect Form"
• Stay in service

Minor Defect:

• Fill in "Defect Form"
• Stay in service
• Inform maintenance staff, and change off as soon as possible

Major Defect:

• Fill in "Defect Form"
• Inform maintenance staff, change off, drive bus back if possible 

Current legislation and Stratford Transit procedures require Operators with non-functioning automated stop announcement technology to contact Dispatch to arrange a change-off as soon as practicable.

Effective August 1,2012, while the bus with non-functioning automated stop announcement technology remains in service the Operator is required to announce to customers at the start of the trip and after leaving all time-points along the trip, the bus stop announcement system is not functioning and should customers need assistance to contact the Operator.

Sample Announcement

"We apologize for the inconvenience however the bus stop announcement system is not working at his time. Should you need assistance finding your stop, please see me. Thank you."