Winnipeg Transit is rolling out new buses with features to improve accessibility. All new buses will now come with colour-coded priority and courtesy seating areas. The first bus with this feature is now in service, just in time for National AccessAbility Week.
“It will make it easier to spot which seats are for passengers with disabilities,” said Teresa Platt, Winnipeg Transit’s Manager of Client Services. “It’s a great opportunity for us to remind other passengers to stand up for their fellow riders. That means giving up seats at the front of the bus to those most in need.”
From this point on, all new transit buses will include:
- Yellow seats in the priority seating area, designated for passengers with disabilities
- Green seats in the courtesy seating area, available for others who benefit from a seat closer to the front of the bus
- Blue seats in the remainder of the bus
The new bus seats go hand in hand with an updated Transit’s Priority and Courtesy Seating Policy which went into effect in 2022.
Other accessibility improvements
Improvements for passengers with visual impairments and blindness are also on board. On the new buses, buttons used to request the next stop will now include braille. And from now on, all vertical grab-poles will be yellow, for better visibility.
“We’re very mindful of the ‘Nothing for us, without us' philosophy,” said Platt. “We work with members of the disability community to make improvements. We’re grateful to the individuals and organizations who guided us toward these changes.”
Platt also gave kudos to the Transit Plus Policy Advisory Committee, and to people who shared feedback in 2020. That's when a public engagement for Priority and Courtesy Seating took place. Platt said all improvements align with the upcoming Accessible Transportation Standard Regulation (ATSR) of the Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA).
“We’ll keep improving the accessibility of public transit,” said Platt. “We’re just getting started.”
The newest buses also include flooring with better traction to help prevent slips and falls. Standing passengers will have access to more handhold straps.
More buses expected to arrive later this summer will include more flexible seating options. Passengers will find new self-rising seats in the priority area. Additional flip-up seats will also be available in the courtesy seating area.
The newest buses will have all the accessibility features found in the current Winnipeg Transit fleet. All of Transit’s 600+ buses are low-floor, and can kneel. You can read more about Accessibility features on buses on Winnipeg Transit’s website.