Riding the Bus

Let’s go for a ride

Lift- or ramp-equipped buses and low-floor buses currently serve all 170 bus routes, which includes numerous Blue Night routes and Community Bus routes.

How to recognize an accessible stop and bus

You can recognize an accessible bus stop by the blue international wheelchair symbol located on the pole. Accessible buses can be identified by the same symbol on the front door-side corner of the vehicle, and by the blue lights on either side of the route destination sign above the windshield. Not all bus stops on an accessible route are accessible.

Who can use the lift/ramp?

TTC accessible buses are designed to carry customers who are unable to board, or have difficulty boarding, conventional buses. Anyone who feels they can benefit from the use of the kneeling feature, ramp or lift may request they be activated. These features can help people who:

• Use wheelchairs or scooters.
• Use other mobility aids, such as walkers, crutches or canes.
• Do not use a visible mobility aid, but who would benefit from using a lift or ramp, such as seniors or people with strollers. 

You can request access to a lift or ramp by directly asking the Operator to activate the feature, or as the bus is slowing down, show your blue Accessible Flashcard. Accessible Flashcards are available by calling Wheel-Trans at 416-393-4111.
 
Riders who request the use of a lift or ramp should board and exit their accessible bus at an accessible stop - those are the red and white poles marked with the blue international wheelchair symbol. In the event that the bus stop that you want to exit at is not designated as accessible, your Operator will inform you of the next accessible stop on the route.
 
At a crowded bus stop, Operators are instructed to attempt to load customers in wheelchairs or scooters first. But when disembarking, those customers are requested to exit the bus last. On lift-equipped buses, it is preferred that customers in a wheelchair or scooter board the bus backwards.

Automated Stop Announcements on buses and streetcars

All buses and streetcars are equipped with Automated Next Stop Announcements to verbally and visually display the upcoming vehicle stop. If you do not hear, or see, the automated announcements, please tell your Operator what your planned destination is and ask him or her to let you know when you have reached your stop.

Wheelchair and scooter positions

All accessible vehicles have two onboard positions for wheelchairs and scooters. If access is through the front doors, these positions will be located at the front of the bus. If access is through the rear doors, these positions will be located near the rear doors.
 
When boarding accessible vehicles, customers with mobility aids must be in the wheelchair/scooter position before the Operator stows the lift or ramp. Similarly, when disembarking, customers with mobility aids must remain in the wheelchair/scooter position until the lift or ramp is raised to position.
 
When the bus arrives at the stop, the Operator will ask you if you want to be secured. If your answer is yes, then the Operator will prepare the securement area.

When you board the bus, pay your fare as you pass the farebox. If you board through the rear doors ask the Operator for assistance in paying your fare. If you choose to be secured, the Operator must use the full securement system. The only exception is if you transfer to a seat, then your mobility device must be secured.

You must position yourself in the securement area facing forward, turn off all power and apply the brakes on your mobility device. Proper securement is required for your safety, and for the safety of others on the bus.
 
Please note: Customers in mobility devices should not have excessively protruding baggage or packages, and the mobility device must be properly balanced at all times. Heavy objects should not be slung across the rear handles or carried in any other manner that could cause an imbalance or loss of control.

Priority seating for elderly and disabled

Priority seating on all TTC buses and streetcars is located at the front of the vehicle. This row of seats is marked with a special Easier Access decal.

If these seats are full, seniors and persons with disabilities boarding a bus or streetcar can ask their Operator to request that priority seating be made available. Generally, riders will volunteer to give up their seat to someone who needs it more.

Request Stop Program

The Request Stop program is available to all customers travelling alone by bus between 9:00pm and 5:00am. Request Stop allows any customer feeling vulnerable to get off the bus between regular TTC stops.

• The request should be made at least one TTC stop ahead of the desired location.
• The Operator must be able to stop safely in order to meet your request.
• Exit the bus via the front doors, the rear doors will remain closed.

Reminder: Request Stop is not available on streetcars. Streetcars travel in the middle of the roadway too far from the sidewalk to let customers exit the vehicle safely at an unmarked stop.

Stops Between Stops

TTC Operators may exercise discretion when it comes to stopping their bus between regular TTC stops for any customers expressing a genuine need to exit the vehicle, regardless of gender or time of day. The only restrictions are:

• Whatever the location, the TTC vehicle must be able to stop in a safe manner.
• Whatever the reason to stop between stops, the person making the request must truly be in need (i.e., personal safety or disabled).

Request Stop Program

The Request Stop program is available to anyone travelling alone by bus between 9:00pm and 5:00am. Here's how it works:

• Request Stop allows a customer to get off the bus between regular TTC stops.
• The request should be made at least one TTC stop ahead of the desired location.
• The Operator must be able to stop safely in order to meet your request.
• Exit the bus via the front doors, the rear doors will remain closed.

Stops between stops

TTC Operators may exercise discretion when it comes to stopping their bus between regular TTC stops for any customer expressing a genuine need to exit the vehicle, regardless of gender or time of day. The only restrictions are:

• Whatever the location, the TTC vehicle must be able to stop in a safe manner.
• Whatever the reason to stop between stops, the person making the request must truly be in need (for example, personal safety or disabled).

Surface vehicle camera system

All buses and streetcars are equipped with cameras to record activity that takes place within the vehicle. The cameras help to enhance customer and employee safety, and aid police in conducting investigations.

Blue Night Network

The TTC operates a late-night bus service called the Blue Night Network. Buses run from about 1:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. on 24 routes, including 21 accessible routes.

Community Bus Network

The Community Bus is an accessible, kneeling, fixed-route bus service aimed primarily for individuals who have some difficulty accessing the conventional transit system. Wheel-Trans registrants and seniors comprise the majority of customers served. However, all individuals are eligible for the service at regular TTC fares.