Blind riders of city transit in Saint John are hoping to “right a wrong” by filing complaints with the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission about a decision to rescind their free access to city buses.
Rita Meehan tells CHSJ News she’s been using the service for 45 years and she never thought she’d see the day it would be taken away. Especially for the newly blinded, Meehan says, free bus service can be a lifeline to independence and not having to rely on family and friends to get around.
Pat Riley is representing the complainants–he tells CHSJ News they’re hoping for a speedy response from council, although the haven’t yet officially apprised the city of the complaint being filed.
The visually impaired group states they need a bus pass more than other disabled groups because only 20% are able to work, compared with 44% of those with other disabilites, and 73% of non-disabled Canadians.