Cochrane's only para-transit service, provided by the Rocky View Handibus Society, is feeling the financial pressures from mounting operations costs. "Our fuel bill rising is due to two things – one, the staggering price jump at the pump and two, we are busier," explained Paul Siller, executive director of the society, following the release of the society quarter two report. "We have 31 per cent more registrants than this time last year. We've gone from 801 to 1,046 ... and the number of trips is up 25 per cent," said Siller, noting the booking challenges this creates with the limited resources of the society. Siller said due to the roughly 50 cent per litre price increase in fuel over the last year, the society estimates a considerable impact by the end of the year. "We're halfway through the year and $12,000 to $15,000 over budget for fuel so far. We are also over budget another $10,000 for (unexpected) vehicle repairs." Siller said the society is grateful to be the recipient of a 2015 Sprinter van, worth around $40,000, courtesy of the estate of late Cochranite Gerry Sedler who died earlier this season. The van, however, will require roughly another $40,000 in upgrades to accommodate its new use as a para-transit bus for more than a single passenger. This renovation will make the vehicle capable of handling two wheelchairs and five passenger seats. With a fleet of some 20 handibuses on the road, Siller said donations are needed to keep their fleet maintained and drivers paid. Ideally, the society would expand its hours into the early evenings in order to better accommodate dialysis patients. Siller has been featured in the media regularly over the years, highlighted by the shoestring budget the society runs on and the fact that it receives zero government funding. The handibus service is totally reliant on contributions from municipal partners (of which Cochrane has the greatest ridership numbers), private and corporate donations. Siller said he is looking forward to Cochrane's possible venture into transit services and how it could impact or possibly relieve some of the growing pressures on the Handibus Society. To learn more or to donate to the 2018 bus campaign that the society is midway through, visit rockyviewbus.ca. Tax receipts for donations are immediately issued through Canadahelps.org.
