Comparing Wheelchair-Accessible Transit in Toronto and Manchester: Approaches, Challenges, and Progress

For people with mobility issues to lead independent, active lives, they must have access to wheelchair-friendly transportation. Both commercial businesses and local governments work to improve accessibility to transport in big cities like Toronto and Manchester. Nonetheless, there are differences in how accessible transit services are implemented in the two cities.

Toronto is dedicated to ensuring that everyone has fair access to public transit. There are about 600 wheelchair-accessible taxis in the city that are offered by authorised taxicab firms. To ensure that people with wheelchairs may utilise cabs across the city, these cars are specially fitted with ramps or elevators.

Toronto has Wheel-Trans, is a door-to-door transit service for individuals with impairments, in addition to accessible taxicabs. This service, which runs in partnership with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), offers more than 150,000 trips annually and offers a convenient, direct substitute for traditional public transportation. 

Additionally, Toronto promotes accessible ride-sharing services like UberWAV (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles), which uses cars with lifts or ramps to offer accessible rides using the Uber app. The demand and supply of accessible cars in the area determine whether UberWAV is available.

The average wait time for an accessible Uber in Toronto can reach 11 minutes, despite these efforts. This is in sharp contrast to the generally quicker response times for non-accessible rides.

Accessible transport in Manchester, UK, depends on both public and private initiatives. Greater Manchester had 1,945 taxis in 2023, 1,717 of which were wheelchair accessible. 
Just five per cent of local governments have made wheelchair accessibility mandatory for private hire cars, while the majority mandate that all or a portion of their taxi fleet be wheelchair accessible. Regarding if Greater Manchester has a policy in place, no information is provided.

Metrolink, Manchester’s public transport network, has made great progress in making all its vehicles wheelchair accessible. Now, more than 90 per cent of Metrolink trams are wheelchair accessible, providing better access to important areas of the city. 

In order to make the taxi fleet more inclusive, Manchester has also established a Taxi Accessibility Fund to assist private hire companies in purchasing wheelchair-accessible cars. 

 
The taxi reservation system is one of the main distinctions between the two cities. Manchester’s call centres and online booking platforms allow both locals and tourists to reserve accessible cabs. Like Toronto, Manchester also provides wheelchair-accessible ride-hailing services through businesses like Uber and Bolt, albeit these services have encountered issues with lengthier wait times and restricted availability.

Several significant distinctions between Toronto and Manchester become apparent when comparing them:

Public Transport Integration: 

While Manchester mostly depends on accessible public transport (Metrolink, buses) to accommodate wheelchair users, Toronto’s Wheel-Trans service offers specialised, door-to-door service. Because of this distinction, Toronto provides more individualised transportation, whereas Manchester’s system emphasises accessible, interconnected infrastructure.

Wheelchair Accessible Taxis: 

With over 600 wheelchair-accessible taxis, Toronto offers greater citywide coverage. Manchester has 1,717 accessible taxis, which are fewer but still meet basic needs. Manchester’s lower figure is a result of various service patterns and needs for transport infrastructure, such as better integrated tram and bus services for people with disabilities.

Wait Times:

Although precise numbers for Uber’s wheelchair-accessible services are more difficult to uncover, wait times for accessible Ubers in Manchester are equally problematic, with Toronto’s wait times averaging about 11 minutes. Long wheelchair wait times are occasionally lessened by Manchester’s centralised transit system, which includes trams, buses, and trains; however, waiting times for private cabs can still be lengthy.

Private Sector vs. Public Investment: 

A government-mandated rule requiring accessibility supports Toronto’s private sector initiatives (UberWAV and other ride-sharing services). However, a significant distinction is the financing and subsidies available for private hire companies in Manchester to invest in wheelchair-accessible taxis. Manchester also uses public-private partnerships.

Both Manchester and Toronto are attempting to make their transit systems more accessible. For people with mobility issues, Toronto’s emphasis on wheelchair-accessible taxis and specialised services like Wheel-Trans provides a strong answer. A contrasting strategy is offered by Manchester’s emphasis on incorporating accessibility into public transportation through programs like the Taxi Accessibility Fund and Metrolink trams.

Wait times for accessible cars, like UberWAV, continue to be a major problem in both cities. Nonetheless, both communities are making progress towards ensuring that people who depend on wheelchair-accessible transit can live fulfilling lives with sustained investment and attention to these challenges.