Eager to return home to the Shuswap for the holidays, she and Jessica Rathwell assistance dog arrived at Ebus station in Surrey over the weekend, only to face an unexpected setback.
The bus driver refused Rathwell access, citing lack of room for his service dog on the full bus.
Rathwell’s mother had booked the ticket, ignoring the company’s policy requiring 48 hours’ notice for service dogs to reserve space, a policy Rathwell believes is flawed.
“This doesn’t take into account people in emergency situations who need to travel at short notice,” Rathwell said.
“The law says I am allowed to travel anywhere with my guide dog, politics should not override the law.”
About a month ago, Rathwell took his service dog onto the Ebus without problem and without notice.
“Before, in October, she would sit right in front of me, at my feet. I told the driver (Saturday) I didn’t need the extra space, I even offered to get on the bus and see how much room there was,” Rathwell said.
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However, the company says its records indicate she only traveled before and that trip was not full, so they were able to accommodate her and her dog.
The December 21 trip was full and the company said it could not operate on this service.
After some back and forth with the driver on this latest trip, Rathwell says she stood in front of the bus so he wouldn’t leave without her, leading to her being banned from Ebus.
“Rathwell has been banned due to her behavior and the actions that took place,” the company said in a statement.
“His physical obstruction of the vehicle and the need for the RCMP to remove him delayed this schedule by over an hour.”
Rathwell stands by his decision.
“I knew I had a right to be on the bus and that what they were doing to me was wrong,” she said.
“I was defending myself, but I also didn’t want to get stuck in the Guildford shopping center car park in the rain.”
Rathwell’s father drove six hours from the Okanagan to pick her up that Saturday, and she’s not sure she’ll be able to use her return ticket to Surrey.
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