Photo: Can you spot me? I am in the photo on my Atto Scooter. I didn’t dare take it on the ice.
Travelling to Toronto with my Atto Mobility Scooter
These are my big takeaways if you are use mobility aids during a visit to Toronto.
1. TTC Streetcars are the best way to get around
You just park your mobility aid at the cut out and the TTC driver will come out to bring out the access ramp. The streetcar is way easier to manoeuvre than the bus, because it’s just that much wider. The TTC drivers also make sure that the traffic has stopped when you are exiting. It’s a super easy to use system. I only wish that streetcars went everywhere people need to go.
https://findingthesparkle.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_5854-1.movTaking Toronto TTC streetcar with a mobility scooter This is how easy the streetcar is to take with my Atto Mobility Scooter.
2. Avoid the TTC Subway if you possibly can
The Elevators to the subway are often broken and very difficult to use because of poor signage I only used the subway 4 times and twice had to reroute because the elevator was broken. According to its Accessibility Plan 54 of its 70 stations are accessible – but they make no promises about their elevators working.
TIP TO THE TTC: If your elevator is broken, could the attendant please post a sign at the point of entry (street level). It’s way easier for them to post a sign there than make people with mobility issues go all the way to the door of the broken elevator which has already entailed one elevator ride. If you decide to use the subway anyway here is the map of which stations have elevators which isn’t easy to access online. You have been forewarned – expect the elevator to be out of service and be pleasantly surprised when it isn’t.
Photo: This is the accessible subway map or Toronto. If a link exists on the TTC subway map – it’s very difficult to find. I think of it more as a wishful thinking map because so many of the elevators seem to be out of service.
3. Downtown Toronto Is Old... Old Building Usually Equal Stairs to the Entry and Stairs to the Bathroom
Unfortunately downtown Toronto is old and does still have many step up barriers. Most old buildings step up, but most new buildings have an accessible entry. The best old places to visit IMHO (in my humble opinion) Saint Lawerence Market and Kensington Market – for an old part of town, it had many accessible shops.
4. People with mobility aids make great dates to the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) and Ripley's Aquarium
These Toronto museums let you bring in a plus 1 for free. It’s a nice concession – so we can forgive the heavy doors.
ROM :https://www.rom.on.ca/en/visit-us/accessibility
AGO: https://ago.ca/visitor-information/plan-your-accessible-visit
RIPLEY’S AQUARIUM: I know that they offer an attendant ticket because I got one during my visit – but I can’t find the information online. I have written to them to send me the info and will update things here,
5. The Eaton Centre is great if you're on a mobility scooter.
Toronto is a city under construction, so if you can spend an afternoon not playing “avoid the pothole” it feels like a dream. WARNING: the elevators are confusing and DUNDAS SUBWAY station is a labyrinth. The entrance from the South East street corner will take you Northbound and the entrance from the South West corner will take you Southbound.
6. Bring Your Mobility Scooter to Toronto!
Toronto isn’t going to win any accessible city awards any time soon – but it is still a lot of fun. I was definitely able to enjoy more of the city with my Atto Mobility scooter than when I came visiting with my walker. Look at how far I drove on two bars of battery power! Then I went around their aquarium for two hours and took the streetcar back home!
