Nanaimo Regional handyDART

handyDART is a transportation service for persons who have a disability that is sufficiently severe that the person is unable to use conventional transit service without assistance. handyDART service is provided to and from accessible building entrances.

handyDART Registration

You must be registered with the handyDART office before you can use the service. (There is no registration fee.) To register, call 250-390-3000 in Nanaimo, and 250-248-4557 in Parksville/Qualicum Beach, on Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

The handyDART staff will ask your name, mailing address and telephone number, then send you an application form. Please complete the application and return it to the office.

Or download the PDF of the Registration Application here. You may require free Adobe Acrobat Reader software to view PDF files.

Booking a handyDART Trip

To book a trip with handyDART, call 250-390-3000 in Nanaimo, and 250-248-4557 in Parksville/Qualicum Beach on Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

There are two types of service:

• Regular subscription trips once a week or more often.
• One-time trips for purposes such as shopping, social visits or recreational activities.

Cancelling a Trip

If your plans change, and you no longer need your handyDART reservation, please call us at 250-390-3000 in Nanaimo, and 250-248-4557 in Parksville/Qualicum Beach as soon as possible so that we can schedule a trip for someone else.

Office Hours

Hours of Operation

Please call handyDART at 250-390-3000 to get information about handyDART availability.

handyDART Fares: effective January 1, 2008

handyDART Ticket Outlets
as of 11 January 2006

If you are buying five or more sheets of handyDART tickets, we recommend that you call the ticket outlet first to make sure they have that many on hand.

You may purchase tickets by phone using Visa or MasterCard at 250-390-3000. If you are ordering your tickets by phone, let the Dispatcher know if you would like the driver to deliver them to you on your next handyDART trip.

Mobility Aid Information

A mobility aid must meet the following requirements in order for it to be transported on the handyDART bus.

• It can be no longer than 47 inches, and no wider than 29 inches.
• The combined weight of the mobility aid, customer and driver must not exceed 450 pounds.
• All scooters and wheelchairs must have functioning lapbelts that are to be used at all times while in the handyDART vehicle.
• Flags must be removed from scooters prior to the handyDART vehicle arriving for pick up.
• Wheelchairs must have escort handles that are in good working condition.
• Electric mobility aids must have brakes that are in good working order.
• Wheelchairs that have a reclining seat must have the seat back in the upright position and have the recliner turned off while on the bus.
• Batteries must be tied down and in a leakproof case.

For the safety of all customers and drivers, shopping bags brought onto the bus must be small, light weight and carried by our customers. There is a TWO BAG MAXIMUM, and no 20kg flour bags or cases/boxes of pop are permitted as we cannot safely secure them.

• Grocery bags will no longer be permitted to hang off your mobility aids (for example off the back of wheelchairs, or off the sides of walkers) as they present extreme safety hazards to our drivers;
• Parcels in baskets must be also be small and light weight - overflowing baskets will not be permitted as they cannot be secured in a safe manner.

These measures are being reinforced/reintroduced for the safety of all customers and drivers and will be strictly enforced.

handyDART Operating Company

In Nanaimo, this service is operated by the RDN Transit System.

More Information

For more handyDART information, contact handyDART at 250-390-3000 in Nanaimo and 250-248-4557 in Parksville/Qualicum Beach.