Riders are again urging TransLink to consider bringing the HandyDart service in-house, after many were stranded this week.

A system glitch prompted a halt in service for most of Thursday afternoon because drivers could not be dispatched.

鈥淭here鈥檚 no accountability with the contractor,鈥� Elizabeth McKeller told TransLink鈥檚 annual general meeting Friday, insisting dispatching problems have happened three times in recent months.

HandyDart is contracted through U.S.-based MVT Canadian Bus, but that contract was up for bid in the spring. TransLink has not yet decided whether to renew it.

McKeller, a HandyDart Riders鈥� Alliance member, said she had to take two regular buses to her North Burnaby home.

She said the extra walking from stop to stop, instead of being dropped at her door, ignited her sciatica.

TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond said they don鈥檛 know what caused the glitch yet, and said was aware of one other disruption.

鈥淚t shouldn鈥檛 happen at all,鈥� Desmond said, 鈥渟o if there is an instability somewhere in the system then we need to correct that.鈥�

ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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