YATS Rights and Responsibilities

Passenger Rights and Responsibilities

Passengers have the right to:

• a safe, comfortable ride.
• be treated with courtesy and respect.
• be picked up on time, subject to the limits of safety and road conditions.

Passengers have the responsibility to:

• treat schedulers, drivers and other passengers courteously and respectfully.
• ensure that their mobility aid is in proper working order, capable of being transported safely.
• ensure that the combined weight of the mobility device and the passenger does not exceed the standard lift capacity of 275 kilograms (600 pounds).
• act in a way that does not jeopardize the safety or dignity of other passengers or YATS staff.
• pay the appropriate fare or present their transit punch pass when boarding the YATS vehicles. Riders may be denied service if they do not have their pass or appropriate fare.
• provide timely explanations of late cancellations and no-shows to YATS staff.
• plan and prepare for their travel so as not to inconvenience other riders, so that the number of trips provided by YATS can be maximized. This means:
• having the addresses of their destinations, their appointment times and other necessary information available when making ride reservations.
• providing reasonable access to the external accessible door of their locations. This includes arranging for such things as snow removal on steps, walks and such.
• canceling unwanted trips in accordance with the trip cancellation policy.
• being prepared to leave 15 minutes before their scheduled pick-up time. If assistance is required to prepare for a trip, an individual other than the driver must provide assistance.
• refrain from smoking, eating, or drinking while on YATS vehicles.
• refrain from the use of radios, cassette or disc players, or any other electronic musical device played aloud when onboard YATS vehicles.
• secure any door or lock, as necessary, prior to departing on their trip. If a YATS employee is asked by the passenger to lock or unlock doors or entranceways, the City of Yellowknife, Yellowknife Transit and Yellowknife City staff, contractors, or contractors’ employees will not be held responsible for any consequences.
• supply a child’s car seat, if required by a child accompanying the passenger. Passengers or their attendants are responsible for securing it in the vehicle and for its removal.
• not to transport hazardous materials (i.e.: corrosives, flammable liquids, explosives, etc.). Riders who must travel with a portable oxygen unit or service animal should inform the dispatcher at the time the reservation is made.

Driver Rights and Responsibilities

YATS Drivers have the right to:

• be treated by passengers and other staff with courtesy and respect.
• decline to assist a passenger by lifting the passenger, the mobility aid, or heavy parcels.
• park at a pick-up or drop-off point other than the designated location, if the driver feels that access to that point would be dangerous.
• deny service to any passenger who:
• refuses to pay the appropriate fare or show a valid pass;
• the driver feels may be a danger or unduly disruptive to passengers or the driver

Drivers have the responsibility to:

• provide a safe and comfortable ride.
• treat passengers and other staff courteously and respectfully.
• adhere to the established schedule, within the limits of safety and road conditions.
• wait at the designated stop until 5 minutes past the actual arrival time (see section 2.4.3 for examples).
• Keep control of their vehicle at all times. This means:
• parking the vehicle in safe locations; and
• keeping the vehicle in sight at all times.

For the safety of both passengers and drivers, the following are in place:

• Drivers are not obligated to go beyond the external accessible door and are prohibited from entering a customer’s residence for any reason.
• Drivers are responsible for all passengers while boarding or leaving the vehicle. Only drivers may operate any of the vehicle equipment, including lifts, or wheelchair tie-downs.
• Drivers will, upon request, escort riders to and from the nearest visible accessible door (see definitions). Drivers must remain within sight of their vehicle at all times. If no accessible door is available, or its location requires the driver to lose sight of the vehicle, then the driver is not obligated to escort the rider to the door, and the rider must arrange for assistance, if required.