Saanich resident Marylin Wolovick uses handyDART daily, whether it's for social outings with friends, for classes at the local pool or for important medical appointments.
Although the woman in her 70s still lives an active lifestyle, she described this accessible door-to-door transit service for people with disabilities as an essential service.
“I get tired even just walking to the public transit bus stop, so I rely on handyDART for everything,” she said. “It’s really important for my quality of life and I rely on them to access those services.”
Clockwork and methodical, Wolovick calls the organization two weeks in advance to book trips between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., carefully recording each one on meticulously organized timesheets.
However, after two years of using their services, Wolovick was upset to hear that she couldn't schedule one of her daily outings on April 25.
“It was the first time that I experienced this, and they just said, ‘We don't have any time available,’” she said. “It was just shocking to hear that.”
She added the news came as a surprise, as BC Transit had not provided any prior notice about what appeared to be a scaling back of operations.
Rides that were once punctual and efficient have either become nonexistent or arrived an hour early or late. This change, Wolovick said, disrupted her long-established routine.
After sharing her experience with others service users, she was told that these apparent reductions in service were a result of funding cuts.
Saanich News reached out to BC Transit for comment. While the organization declined an interview, it said it is “aware” that some Greater Victoria customers are experiencing challenges booking trips. However, it maintains there has been no scaling back in operation.
“There has not been a reduction in handyDART service hours,” reads their statement. “We are delivering the fully prescribed service hours established in the 2025-26 budget.”
The organization also said it added leftover service hours from last year to offer extra trips earlier in 2025, but those hours have now run out.
“Our operating company was utilizing unused service hours that had accrued from earlier last fiscal year to provide additional trips for the first part of 2025, and those hours are no longer available,” read BC Transit’s statement.
BC Transit suggests that a “misunderstanding” may have contributed to this confusion among handyDART users.
“Unfortunately, a misunderstanding of information was communicated to some members of the public, leading to the belief that service hours were being reduced,” added the statement. “The organization apologizes for this, and we will work to improve communication with our operating partners going forward.”
Receiving a similar message from BC Transit, Wolovick mentioned being dismayed by the news – especially following the opening of the new $83.5-million handyDART facility in View Royal in March.
Despite the recent challenges, Wolovick remains determined to advocate for herself and also for those who can’t.
“I can stand up and say, ‘This isn't fair and help me,’ and figure this out,” she said. “But many of the users can't for various reasons. They have a right to be safe, protected and cared for like everyone else.
“Routine is so important for people with disabilities, so when things start to fall apart, it has big consequences for us."
