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New lift and Handy Bus for city

Councillor Florence Roberts said she is "too vain to use a cane," but is thrilled the city hall installed an accessible lift to all levels of the building.
p11handybus

Councillor Florence Roberts said she is “too vain to use a cane,” but is thrilled the city hall installed an accessible lift to all levels of the building.

The installation is one of two ways the city was made more accessible this week. The lift cost $138,000.

Last summer, the old lift broke down and with her osteoarthritis-ridden knees, Roberts had to climb the stairs one slow step at a time.

The city couldn’t get the parts to replace the lift so the building was inaccessible to people with disabilities, said Roberts.

Now she waits for knee-replacement surgery, but, in the meantime, she can make it to council chambers with little pain.

“I was an athlete when I was young and now I’m paying for it,” said Roberts. “I’m just generally old and falling apart.”

As was the former Handy Bus. It was approaching the end of its usable life so the city spent $180,000 on a new one.

Jillian Campion has multiple sclerosis. She doesn’t use the bus service but did attend the unveiling of the new vehicle on Monday.

“It’s just wonderful for people with disabilities,” she said.

Earlier this month, the city added four low-floor buses, making 100 per cent of the transit fleet accessible.

“It represents another significant milestone on our path to improve accessibility in our city,” said Mayor Bev Buckway.

Contact Larissa Robyn Johnston at

larissaj@yukon-news.com