Handi Bus Service In High Need In Rocky View

The Rocky View Regional Handi Bus Society began providing transportation services to the communities of Rocky View since August 1980. Since then, just as the populations of those communities has grown, so has the need for services like the Handi Bus.
The Rocky View Regional Handi Bus Society does not only provide services to those whom are disabled, but also to those that find themselves temporarily in need of transportation. Basically any person who is unable to use regular transit facilities with safety and/or dignity is eligible for transportation on the handibus.
Fares for the handibus depend on the distance travelled, and whatever subsidies are available from your local municipality. All trips are to be paid for upon boarding the handibus. An additional fee is charged for each extra stop that is made on your behalf. Direct billing may be available.
In the 2015 mid-year report that was just released, it showed a 20% increase in usage of this program. The report states that in Rocky View County, in addition to registration growth throughout the municipality, we are seeing an increase in medical trips from Western- most Rocky View. (Longer distances to Calgary).
“In Chestermere: we are seeing an increase in registrants returning to the community from major life altering medical condition or moving from Calgary into a new home suited to their physical needs. In both situations, the family has experience with access Calgary’s level of service and may find our current level of service poor by comparison”, says Paul Siller, General Manager.
With this increase, it was an urgent need to expand their vehicle fleet. Funds from their 2014 casino ($50,000) plus grants from Community Initiatives Program (CIP) grant ($25,000), Nickle family foundation ($2,500) and the Cochrane foundation ($2,500) will purchase a new bus arriving in mid-August. Further fundraising will commence with another funding drive in September.
Chestermere has the third highest number of registered users for the Rocky View Handi Bus program with those users mostly needing the service to get to and from medical appointments. Rocky View County has the highest amount of users with its registrants also using the service mostly for medical reasons. The estimated cost of this service for Chestermere from January 1, 2015 – June 30, 2015 is $43, 798 with municipal contribution from the City of Chestermere being $49, 028 (prorated) and another $4,729 coming from fares, fees and donations. The overall year to date up to June 30, 2015 cost of services for all areas is $449.125.00
Programs like this rely heavily on fundraising. One of their fundraising projects is “Spare Some Change for the Bus?” The Rocky View Regional Handi Bus Society is in need of some big dollars for buses. They also need to raise some smaller amounts to keep their current buses on the road. They have a goal of $10,000 to be raised from the general public.
$500 will help them take a multi- handicapped child to a week of summer camp where he won’t be excluded because of his wheelchair. $100 will help them take someone to dialysis for a week. $50 will help them take a senior to cataract surgery. $25 helps them take a fellow with complete vision loss to the grocery store and bank once a week. $10 helps them take someone to the local foodbank to pick up their hamper.
If you can help, you can donate via one of the following:
Donate via CanadaHelps.org
Donate via ATBCARES
(receipts for online donations are emailed immediately)
You can also send a cheque via Canada Post:
Rocky View Regional Handibus
Box 10203 Airdrie AB T4A 0H5
For more information on the Rocky View Regional Handi Bus Society, please visit www.rockyviewbus.ca