Barrie woman says GO Train spots reserved for people with disabilities are misused daily

Heather Morgan says she's missed trains and almost had her wheelchair ramp swiped by vehicles multiple times at the Allandale Waterfront GO Station in Barrie, Ont., because people without permits are constantly parking in the accessible spots.

"What people do is they come and drop off their fully able-bodied passengers using the accessible spots." Morgan said, adding there's been many times when all six spots are occupied and she's left with nowhere to go.

"I've sat on my horn for five minutes straight and not had any response."

It's an issue she says has been ongoing for the last couple of years, and one she's tried to bring to the attention of Metrolinx.

Metrolinx says there are multiple measures in place to ensure the spaces are not misused and encourages customers to contact support. But Morgan says she has contacted the transit agency multiple times and hasn't seen anything change. 

Morgan uses a wheelchair and her van deploys a ramp on the passenger side. She says she needs enough space to deploy the ramp and exit the vehicle safely. But another issue that arises is people who don't have permits aren't expecting to see the ramp and have come within inches of hitting it — and her.

"I'm just waiting for the horrible day when somebody takes my ramp off," she said.

"I would say 80 per cent of the people seem to know that they're not supposed to be there, and that doesn't bother them."

Morgan would like to see better enforcement to discourage this, including clear signage indicating the accessible spots are not a drop off zone, more fines being handed out and more options for places to tap on and off at the drop off and pick up zone.

Sherry Caldwell, director of the Ontario Disability Coalition, says she wants to see more enforcement, but she also wants drivers to understand how their actions impact others.

"I think they probably don't understand that someone that is using a wheelchair van doesn't have the luxury of just choosing another spot, literally they have to cancel their trip and go home," said Caldwell. She says her organization hears about this issue at public places across the province.

Metrolinx response

In a statement, Metrolinx said customers looking to drop off or pick up passengers must use the designated areas available to them.

"Clear signage indicates how to access the appropriate pick-up and drop-off areas to ensure pedestrians can safely get in and out of their vehicles during busy times at the station," the statement says.

The transit agency said customers will be fined $300 if they park, stand or stop in an accessible parking spot, including the access aisle, without a valid accessible parking permit. CBC News asked Metrolinx how many fines have been given out in the last year in the GTA, but the transit agency didn't respond.

Metrolinx said it encourages customers to report incidents.

Morgan says she feels that approach hasn't been working for her, but she hopes speaking out about the issue provokes change.

In her experience, Morgan says, GO Transit is otherwise one of the most accessible public transit options in Ontario, but not being able to park changes the entire experience and the course of her day.

"When all of the steps are there, except this last one, parking, it's really frustrating because you've put so much effort and money into infrastructure, why not solve the final problem so that it's a seamless experience for customers?"