   Accessible Whistler Transportation |
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Welcome to our Accessible Transportation Section!
Our
Accessible Transportation for Whistler and Vancouver Guide has just
been updated to include new rental and transportation options. We hope
our Guide will help you plan your next trip to Whistler and BC
Pictured to the Right, is a Wheelchair Accessible Coach / Bus from Greyhound Transportation who can provide Vancouver to Whistler transportation for those with Mobility Restrictions. The Bus Trip takes about 2.5 hours currently from Downtown, Vancouver and for YVR (Vancouver International Airport) options please see Pacific Coach Lines in our Accessible Bus and Coach section who offer a similar service from the airport.
Some other Accessible Travel Options include Wheelchair Accessible Vans, Cars Rental Agencies who offer Hand Controlled vehicles, Accessible Taxi and Shuttle Services and Accessible Train Travel to Whistler just to name a few.
If you need help to plan your trip or to make reservations please contact our Toll Free Number in North America at 1-888-933-9383 (WFTD). All of our profits go back into supporting people of all Abilities throughout BC.
We hope
you enjoy your stay and we have helped you out a little. Hugh Tollett,
Director, The Whistler for the Disabled Society.
Accessible Car Rentals with Hand Controls
Enterprise Rent a Car Vancouver Canada, (Located in the Footer section of the link attached you will find "Customers with Disabilities". This is one of the better websites to promote accessibility and provide Accessible Transportation for Vehicle Rentals with Hand Controls, NO Accessible Vans are available and your wheelchair if any must be a folding type as with all the other Rental Car Agencies listed on this page.
Mobility Devices
Enterprise is committed to providing a range of mobility devices for our customers with disabilities. Hand controls, spinner knobs and pedal extenders are available at no additional charge.
We typically require two business days notice (48 Hour Notice) for mobility device equipped vehicles. However, at certain major airport locations, mobility device equipped vehicles may be available with as little as 24 hour notice. Please note that our ability to provide mobility device equipped vehicles may vary based on the availability of mechanics who are qualified to install the devices..
To Make
a Reservation
For more information or to make a reservation, please call our National
Reservation Center at (866) 225-4284. Hearing impaired users of TTY
devices, please dial (866) 534-9270.
If You
Wish to Rent a Lift-Equipped Van
Enterprise Rent a Car DOES NOT RENT OR OFFER LIFT EQUIPPED VANS for
rental. Please see our own section on Accessible
Wheelchair Vans
Customer
Service
For customer service inquiries relating to customers with disabilities,
please call (866) 225-4284, email us at Mobility@erac.com, or TTY us
at (866) 534-9270.
Prices
Range from $ 65 - 159 a day with Taxes depending on a Full Size or Mini
Van Rental (Vans are not Wheelchair Accessible only Hand Controls).
Please be aware these Vehicles book up fast.
The only type of Car Rental BUDGET has available with Hand Control for steering is the Chevrolet Impala, No other Car types or models are currently available.
The number for Budget Accessible Car Rentals with Hand Controls is 1-800-314-3932.
Please be aware that you will need at least 48 hours notice to book a car as they have to customize your vehicle and deliver it to the location specified.
Possible Location Pickups.
1 - Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
2 - 416 West George Street (Vancouver Downtown Location)
Average Price right Summer 2009 is at $65.00 - 125 Cdn a Day for the Chevy Impala with unlimited mileage. There may be some Provincial Restrictions or Kilometers / Miles if you go outside the BC area please inquire when you call. Please be aware these Vehicles book up fast so reserve early.
No Accessible Vans only Car's and SUV's with Hand Control Devices.
Hand control-equipped vehicles are available for rental at all Alamo USA and Canada locations for handicapped customers. These vehicles must be requested in advance through Alamo's Reservation Services Desk at 1-800-651-1223 or 561-912-2710.
Rates range from Cars at $ 90 CDN a day to SUV's at $ 110.00 to $ 150 CDN a Day unlimited mileage.
NO Accessible Van Rentals only Cars with Hand Controls. Call them up at 1-800-651-1223 or at 1-800-352-7900 You need at least 48 hours notice and car's are limited in numbers with these features so they book up fast.
At Avis,
we strive to make everyone's rental experience as easy, safe and stress-free
as possible. That's why, as a feature of our Avis Cares® Program,
we provide a full range of products and services for drivers and passengers
with disabilities.
Transfer Board: Enables easier wheelchair transfer in and out of the
vehicle.
Panoramic Mirror: Provides a much larger field of view for any driver.
Swivel Seat: Allows the driver or passenger to turn his or her body
in the car seat with limited effort. The swivel seat easily can be removed
from underneath the person for transport.
Hand Controls: Enables drivers to accelerate or brake using a hand-controlled
device. Drivers without disabilities are able to drive the vehicle without
interference from the hand controls.
Spinner Knob: Allows the driver to turn the steering wheel with a full
turning radius using only one hand.
Speech-and-Hearing
Impaired Services
Call TTY/TDD 1-800-331-2323.
HERTZ.ca offers Automobiles that use Hand Controls for the Physically Challenged. You have to make a request at least 48 hours prior to arrival in Vancouver, BC and the average rental price for the Summer of 2009 is $ 140 plus insurance and taxis per day. Please note, rentals are only for Sedan's. This is our Most Expensive Car Rental Agency we have found who provide this service. They were booked up when we called them so book early and get a QUOTE from them direct as well as all the other car rental Agencies.
Accessible Van, RV and Boat Rentals in BC.
Freedom
Van Rentals is the only Company in BC to offer Accessible
Van Rentals for the Mobility Restricted using Wheelchairs.
They are located in Delta BC just near the Vancouver International Airport YVR.
You may have to provide your own Insurance through a 3rd party for the Rental. Speak to Freedom Van Rentals look at their site and prices and compare options.
Wheelchair Friendly Vacations provides Accessible RV and Accessible Boat Rentals at reasonable rates on Vancouver Island.
Inventory is very limited at both these locations and also with Car Rentals in the above section.
Accessible
Bus and Coach Travel
Greyhound (Vancouver - Whistler, BC) Has a great website on Accessibility for their Accessible Bus Transportation to Whistler from Vancouver. Greyhound can also take Electric Scooters on their buses please see detailed information on the link above or call them at one of the numbers provided below. Greyhound is the only company to provide this access for Scooters.
Each bus has space for 2 mobility restricted individuals at any one time. 48 hour Reservations are required and you have to request a wheelchair accessible bus. For more information please call 1-800-661-8747.
200-1150
Station Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6A 4C7
Tel: 1-604-482-8747 Fax: 1-604-683-0144
Hearing Impaired TTY: 1-800-397-7870
Toll Free: 1-800-661-8747
web:
www.greyhound.ca
Has a bit of information on their website in regards to Accessibility and they are in the process of updating that soon so we have added a description from them below on services offered to Travelers with Disabilities heading to Whistler.
Pacific Coach Lines offers Transportation from YVR to Whistler. PCL Coach Buses can take up to Two Mobility Restricted Individuals with Wheelchairs at a time.
However, with Two Weeks advance Notice they can take up to Four Mobility Restricted Individuals at once which is great.
If you are bringing Mobility Aids such as Walkers you need to provide them with 24 Hour Notice so they will secure space on the Coach Bus for your Aids. Please note that they are not able to handle Electric Scooters.
You can call them directly at 1.800.661.1725 or visit their website for more information.
Please note that some properties are not accessible in Whistler and you will have to be dropped off at the main terminal where you can catch an Accessible Taxi Cab to your Accommodations. For Accessible Accommodations in Whistler and for Vancouver please contact us at Toll Free in North America at 1-888-933-WFTD (9383).
Whistler,,,
Resort
Cabs Whistler
Has "3" Wheel Chair Accessible Vans.
Be sure to request a Wheel Chair Accessible Van if you require one
at 604-938-1515 or visit the Link above.
The Resort Municipality of Whistler also offers a Taxi Saver Program to help you get around Whistler please contact them for more information.
Whistler Public Transit gets new Bus Fleet making it 85 % Accessible and will be 100 % by February 2010. Read the Full Story on Whistler Public Transit Getting Accessible.
Vancouver...
Yellow Cabs Vancouver offers Wheelchair Accessible Vans by request.
Public Transportation including Sea Busses, Sky Trains and Bus Service is Fully Accessible in Vancouver now and Sky Train service will be in place to YVR Vancouver International Airport shortly. Read Transit Gets Accessible from MetroNews.ca
Accessible Train Travel with Whistler Mountaineer
The Whistler Mountaineer Train can also handle people the Mobility Restricted who use Wheelchairs to get around. The Train travels along the Ocean and then through the Mountains up to Whistler and back again with the ability to take "One" mobility restricted guest per train car including the Dome Car.
The Trains have lifting systems to move you on and off the Train and special wheelchairs designed for movement in the Train cars that you will have to transfer into during the trip.
The Whistler Mountaineer Train leaves from North Vancouver at 8:30 in the morning arrives in Whistler at 11:30 am and leaves Whistler Creekside at 3:00 PM daily arriving back in Vancouver at 6:30 PM. To make reservations please contact us Toll Free Number in North America at 1-888-933-9383 (WFTD).
We would suggest at least stay two or three nights stay in Whistler to give you a chance to see a lot of Whistler and to be able to go up Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains and the New Peak to Peak Gondola. Along with perhaps taking in one of Whistler's many Accessible Recreation Activities or Accessible Tour Adventures.
There is One Dome Car on the Whistler Mountaineer and it is at the same level as the other Train Cars, so it is Accessible to the Mobility Restricted we have been told. However, the price is a bit more expensive given the added view you will have of the Mountains on your Train Adventure.
There is a great Hotel just near the Train station called NITA LAKE LODGE in Whistler that has Full Roll in Showers available if you would like to stay the night located beside a small Lake or you can stay in the Village area at one of the many Accessible Hotels.
The Whistler Mountaineer have told us that they will "reimburse" you for the Taxi if required however only for the Whistler side of the trip you will have to make your own way to the North Shore Train depot on your own we suggest Yellow Cabs in Vancouver who offer Accessible Taxi's for the Vancouver area.
Contact
our Reservations Department: E-mail: reservations@rockymountaineer.com
Our Vacation Consultants will answer all your questions and do all the
planning for you.
Toll Free USA & Canada / International: 1-877-460-3200
Toll Free United Kingdom: 00-800-0606-7372
Toll Free Australia: 00-11-800-0606-7372
Toll Free New Zealand: 00-800-0606-7372
Whistler and Vancouver Accessible Public Transit
Vancouver, BC has become pretty much 100 % Fully Accessible to the Mobility Restricted through Public Transit. You will come across the odd Sky Train Station that will not have an Elevator Accessible however all their Buses are great a bit crowded to access during Rush Hours especially but progress has been made in that city.
Whistler just acquired its own Fully Accessible Bus Fleet that is 100 % Accessible during none peak hours and will reach that Vancouver Goal by the Fall of 2009.
Whistler Transit Accessibility
Great
News, "21" New Accessible Public Transit Buses have been delivered
to Whistler recently. Making Whistler's Accessibility for the Mobility
Restricted a little less hassle free and for many others as well. Read
the Full
Story.
Pictured to the Right are Fans from Britain visiting Whistler and riding the New Accessible Public Transit Buses this past Winter during the IPC World Cup Races.
Visit the following website for more information on Whistler Public Transit at Whistler Public Transit (WAVE).
The
village shuttle Transit Buses are a Free service that will take
you around the main village and up into the Upper Benchlands and to
Lost Lake (in the Summer time).
Accessible TAXI Companies
will provide you with Wheel Chair Accessible Vehicles. Just be sure
to ask for a Wheel Chair Accessible Cab.
Vancouver Transit Accessibility
Metropolitan Vancouver became Fully Accessible this year and the New Sky Train Stations will open up the doors to Vancouver International Airport YVR Accessibility as early as the Fall of 2009 in time for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
If you need to find out Transit information while in Vancouver contact TRANSLINK.ca
Other Transportation Options and Information.
Information can be found in the above link for Accessibility.
One of the Winners of the 2008 Standing Ovations Awards from BC Rehab for developing a New Portable Chair that lifts you in and out of your Plane seat.
To ensure a smooth trip from A to B, Air Canada began to search worldwide for options to transfer their customers with mobility impairments safely and comfortably between their wheel-chairs and aircraft seats. In 2007, they started testing the Eagle II, a unit designed and built in Australia and, today, the Eagle II units are in use at Air Canada’s largest airports in Toronto and Vancouver.
Information provided in the above Link or call them up at 1-888-WESTJET (937-8538).
Other Air Transport Services for Whistler and Vancouver.
8621
Fissile Lane
Whistler, British Columbia V0N 1B8
Tel: 1-604-938-1700 Fax: 1-604-938-1706
Toll Free: 1-800-330-HELI
email: info@blackcombhelicopters.com
web: www.blackcombhelicopters.com
5911
Airport Road South
Richmond, British Columbia V7B 1B5
Tel: 1-604-273-4688 Fax: 1-604-273-5301
Toll Free: 1-800-665-4354
email: PassengerServices@helijet.com
web: www.helijet.com
BC Ferries
The Provincial Ferry Service for BC.
(www.bcferries.com)
For Special
Needs Travel on BC
Ferries Accessibility can be found on the link attached
or contact Customer Service Centre at 1-888-BC FERRY (1-888-223-3779)
48 hours prior to your intended departure date to arrange for assistance
and additional information on the range of services provided to our
customers with varying abilities.
"Full
Service Gas Stations" in BC
Full Service Gas Stations in BC. There are currently no Full Service Gas Stations in Whistler. However one Shell Gas Station is located in Creekside Whistler.
The Full Service Gas Station closest to Whistler is located in Sqaumish BC., and this is your half way point about 45 minutes to 1 hour away depending on traffic and weather.
It is a "Chevon Gas Station" located at Hwy. 99 and Garibaldi Way. There are however many stations in Vancouver / BC please see the complete list at the above link put together by BC Paraplegic Association.
Call us Toll Free at 1-888-933-WFTD (9383) for all your Accessible Booking Needs.