NORTHLAND BUS STOP ACCESSIBILITY QUESTIONED

is largely barren, with no shelter or seating available. In the winter, snow can pile high, forcing riders to wait on the roadside — something they say can make those reliant on the bus feel unsafe.

Chloe Eagle, a tattooist from Huntsville, rides the early morning Northland to Gravenhurst two to three times each month.

"There's a small sign that indicates it's the bus stop, but there's no benches, coverings or any standing area in the winter months," Eagle said. "You are fully waiting on the road, which could be considered unsafe. Thankfully,

it's a fairly low-traffic road."

Eagle, who has been using the service for the last several years, said the location of the stop has changed multiple times in the past year. She would like to see a permanent waiting area erected if the Ravenscliffe location is going to remain.

"There should be a structure built and then maintained in the winter months," Eagle said.

Beyond issues of warmth and roadside safety, Eagle said there are also accessibility concerns with the current location.

"If you're walking to this location, you have to cross an overpass with no sidewalk, which can be dangerous and even more so for people with mobility impairments," Eagle said. "Ultimately, it's safer — but an extra cost — to get a cab to the bus stop."

The Forester reached out to Ontario Northland to inquire about how pickup locations are determined and what safety and accessibility precautions are taken into consideration in those decisions, but they did not respond to our request for comment by press time.

Ontario Northland's customer accessibility guide, however, outlines several policies on accessibility and equity for riders with disabilities. It does not make mention of any accessibility policies regarding pickup and dropoff locations.

"If the bus is late," Eagle said. "It's almost worth it getting a cab and paying a little extra so that you aren't forced to wait in the cold or rain."

Ontario Northland did not respond to our request for comment on why Ravenscliffe was chosen as the current stop location.

Concerns surrounding safety at the bus stop are not new. Former Huntsville resident Sarah Rogers rode the bus every two weeks from the time she was seven until she was 30.

"When I was a preteen, I would take (the Northland) from Barrie to Huntsville and Huntsville to Barrie to visit my mother every second week," Rogers said. "At the Barrie bus terminal, there's an option to wait out under covered pavilions. There was no shelter in Huntsville at any of the locations."

During that time, the bus stop was located at the now-destroyed Empire Hotel. Rogers said as a child, she often felt intimidated waiting for the bus.

"There was no bus shelter in Huntsville," she said. "I was a young girl often riding the bus alone and having to wait for my parents. I often felt unsafe."

Ontario Northland currently has a safety policy in place for minors aged eight to 12 travelling unaccompanied.

THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Without a comprehensive public transit system in Muskoka, the Ontario Northland is among the few options for those who do not own a vehicle. It is important to highlight the challenges faced by those who rely upon public transit in our community, particularly those with disabilities.