TTC introduces first talking buses to Bayview, Bathurst routes
Posted August 17, 2015 12:06 pm.
Last Updated August 17, 2015 12:14 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Figuring out which bus you should get on is difficult enough for a sighted person, so it’s likely nearly impossible for someone who is visually impaired.
That’s why the TTC has begun introducing talking buses that will announce to riders where they’re going.
Riders on Bayview Avenue and Bathurst Street buses will be the first to experience the TTC’s External Route Announcement trial on the #8200, #8300, #8350 and #9050 buses on the 11 Bayview and 7 Bathurst routes.
According to the TTC, the external announcements will be heard through speakers near the front doors of the bus, announcing its destination when the doors open. For example, a bus might say “7 Bathurst to Steeles” or “11 Bayview to Davisville via Sunnybrook.”
Talking TTC vehicles is nothing new in Toronto. All subways on the Yonge-University line announce stops, and the TTC’s new accessible streetcars also provide external announcements. But this pilot project involves Toronto’s buses for the first time.
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act requires that all transit agencies in the province are equipped with electronic systems that offer pre-boarding announcements to riders by 2017.
Customers are encouraged to submit their feedback via ttc.ca or by calling the TTC Customer Service Line at 416-393-3030.
