A regulatory amendment has taken the Lions Club’s Handivan off the road – and it’s unclear when the service for mobility-challenged residents might resume.
Lions treasurer Monica Lone said the club recently learned of changes implemented by MPI that require Handivan drivers to have a class 4 licence.
“It leaves [the service] a little bit up in the air until we can get a complement of people who have decided they would like to volunteer,” she said.
Until late last week, the Handivan had been operating weekdays, providing rides to seniors, wheelchair-bound individuals and other residents with limited mobility. Weekend rides to the airport were also offered when demand and volunteer availability warranted.
Only one regular volunteer driver has a class 4 licence, while the rest have class 5 licences. Another driver might be willing to get a class 4 licence, but that person is usually away all winter.
Lone has received calls from two other people who have a class 4 licence and may be willing to volunteer.
Even if all four of those people step forward, Lone would need three additional drivers in order to operate a full schedule.
To offer the service two or three days a week, she said she would need at least three drivers.
“You have to go with what your volunteers are prepared to do,” Lone said.
Lone said the change to licencing requirements relates to the number of seats on the Handivan. Regulators now count one wheelchair spot as four seats, leaving the Handivan several seats over the limit for class 5 drivers.
Usage of the Handivan varies from day to day, but there are some regular clients. Among them are seniors who travel to the Northern Lights Manor for a day program three times a week, and wheelchair-bound clients who utilize the Vocational Training Centre.
Without the Handivan, Lone ventured to say most clients will be unable to reach their destination.
The Lions Club is willing to cover the cost of a volunteer obtaining a class 4 licence, and would provide the Handivan for the road test.
Lone said the class 4 test is not very involved. She said the test is offered one day a month in Flin Flon, but added that another day could be added if there were several drivers interested. Class 4 tests are also offered in The Pas.
She hopes to welcome more drivers to keep the Handivan going, noting that even before the class 4 licence became mandatory, the service needed additional help given the schedules and advancing age of some volunteers.
Anyone who has or is interested in obtaining a class 4 licence, and who would like to volunteer to drive the Handivan, may contact Lone at 204-687-4925 or John Kuzub at 204-687-4298.
