A Montreal senior is calling for the return of all benches removed inside the Alexis Nihon plaza, saying the change has made daily outings more difficult for people who rely on adapted transport. Rose-Marie Sobol-Halperin regularly visits the shopping centre with her husband, who uses a walker. The couple uses the adapted taxi service operated by the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) to get there. Until last week, the two would wait for their ride while sitting on benches facing the Atwater Avenue entrance, where designated pick-up zones are located. Without seating, she said, her husband can no longer comfortably make the trip. “My husband is 90 years old. He cannot stand for that long without an option to sit,” Sobol-Halperin said. The paratransit service runs with a 30-minute pick-up window and, once the driver arrives, users have five minutes to get into the car before drivers have to move on to their next requested ride. “Now, I have to wait by the doors while my husband finds somewhere further away to sit,” she explained. It’s only been a week and already, Sobol-Halperin said the wait can feel even longer in winter conditions. “It’s unpleasant and unnecessarily so.” she said. She added that the change has altered their routine. While she now runs errands alone, her husband stays behind at home. ‘Security reasons,’ management says In a statement to CTV News, the plaza’s senior property manager, Michel Boisvert, said management decided to remove two benches at the Atwater entrance “for security reasons.” He added that adapted transport users are invited to wait instead at the Sainte-Catherine Street exit. “This alternative is appreciated by customers as it offers a more enjoyable experience,” Boisvert wrote. He said that following a small number of comments, one bench was reinstalled at the Atwater entrance and management would continue to monitor the situation and seek feedback “to maintain a level of service that meets their needs.” Boisvert did not elaborate on what specific security concerns prompted the removal. Sobol-Halperin said she was told by security staff that the benches had been removed to discourage unhoused people from using them. She rejected that reasoning. “Homeless people are part of our community and should not be discriminated against. If they are not being disruptive, why shouldn’t they be allowed to sit?” she said. She believes the decision ended up penalizing people with mobility challenges, like her husband. “He of all people should be able to sit on a bench while he waits for his taxi,” she said, noting that her husband is a Holocaust survivor. Accessibility concerns raised At RUTA Montreal, an advocacy group focused on accessible public transportation, executive director Dominic Palladini said elements to ensure accessibility, like seating, should automatically be brought into the design of both private and public buildings. “Universal accessibility should always be integrated into construction and planning,” Palladini said, adding that benches benefit far more than just people with disabilities. “It’s for families carrying backpacks or pushing strollers. It’s for pregnant women. It’s for anyone and everyone.” At the STM, spokesperson Amélie Régis told CTV News customers are encouraged to report situations they believe do not comply with accessibility standards. “Clients are, in a way, our eyes on the ground. We cannot be everywhere and see everything, given the size of the territory we cover,” she said. Régis noted that suitable boarding and drop-off locations play an important role in facilitating travel. For Sobol-Halperin, the issue remains simple: accessible transport should include places to sit. She said she hopes the remaining benches will be restored so that no one is left standing.
