Accessible Transportation | City of Orillia

Accessible transportation in Orillia is provided through the City's Orillia Wheelchair Limousine Service (OWLS). Residents can apply for this application-based, curb-to-curb service if they are unable to use conventional public transit and need the assistance of a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.

If you are not eligible for OWLS, all Orillia public transit buses are fully accessible with ramps, audio announcements, and accessible courtesy seating.

Apply for accessible transportation

Book your trip

Registered riders can call 705-327-0411 to book their trip. Request your trip at least 24 hours ahead. Trips may be booked up to one month in advance. All trips are scheduled on a first‑come, first‑served basis.

Call 705-327-0411

OWLS operating hours

Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

(last booking 3:30 p.m.)

Monday to Friday 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

(last booking 10:00 p.m.)

Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

(last booking 7:00 p.m.)

There is no service on New Years Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Victora Day, Canada Day, Civic Holiday, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day or Boxing Day.

Riding with OWLS

Registered OWLS riders can pay with exact cash fare or by loading their cOnnect pass. Through the affordable transit initiative, reduced fares are currently in place until March 31, 2027.

Single Ride (adult and senior) $2.00

Available with exact change or cOnnect pass

7-day unlimited pass $10.00

Available with a cOnnect pass

30-day unlimited pass $30.00

Available with a cOnnect pass

Teen cOnnect pass Free

Teens (age 13 to 19) can ride free with a cOnnect pass

When booking your trip

When you book your trip, you may need to plan the following ahead of time:

If you need personal care or assistance, please arrange for an attendant or companion.
Children under 13 travelling without an attendant must be met by an adult at their destination.
OWLS vehicles cannot pull into private driveways.
Please make sure there is a clear path to your door, especially during winter. If the path is not accessible, service may be refused.
If need to cancel your ride, please do so as early as possible to avoid no shows/cancellation charges.

If you need personal care or assistance

Registering with a support person

If you are in need of a support person, please have the support person fill out "Section E: Support Person Application" of the ridership application.

Support Persons apply to both conventional and specialized transportation services. Neither service can charge fares to support persons. People who need assistance from a support person when travelling must demonstrate this need. People travelling with support person(s) need assistance with mobility, communication, accessibility, personal or medical care during trips. Some examples of a support person are personal support worker, a volunteer, a family member, or a friend. A registered OWLS client cannot act as an attendant.

Have a companion ride with you

Companions apply to specialized transportation providers. The option to travel with a companion ensures that people are not required to travel alone.

A companion can come with them as long as another person with a disability does not need the seat that the companion would occupy. Companions must pay the fares they would pay if they were travelling on conventional transit.

Preparing for your pick-up

Make sure you are ready for your scheduled trip:

Be on time for your scheduled trip to avoid no shows/cancellation charges.
Have your OWLS membership card as well as exact fare or cOnnect pass card ready for the Operator when boarding.
Be considerate and courteous to the operator and other passengers.
Keep parcels and personal belongs to an amount that is safe and manageable by the passenger and/or their support person/companion.
Profanity or abusive language/behaviour will not be tolerated on any Orillia Transit vehicle, while communicating with the City of Orillia or TOK Transit. Failure to comply may result in suspension of service.
A passenger riding Orillia Transit may not be allowed on a vehicle if their body odour or physical hygiene will disturb the reasonable comfort or public health of other passengers or operators. Odours may include but are not limited to scents related to unlaundered clothing, lack of bathing, uncontrolled bowels, animal related odours, and excessive perfumes. A passenger will be given notice and an opportunity to correct the odour or hygiene problem prior to suspension. A suspension would result in discontinued riding privileges for certain set periods of time.
Passengers with mobility devices must maintain such devices in a state of cleanliness. Failure to comply may result in written notice and temporary suspension of service. No show fee may apply.

No shows or late cancellation charges

No Show Policy

The No Show policy applies to passengers who fail to appear at the pick-up location within 5 minutes of the arrival of the vehicle. When a no show occurs, OWLS will cancel any remaining trips for that day unless contacted by the passenger. If a return trip is needed, OWLS will do their best to re-schedule the trip, however due to high demand, they may not be able to accommodate. A maximum of four No Shows and/or late cancellations in a 30-day period will result in a 5-day suspension of service. Further violations of this policy may result in a suspension of up to 90 days.

Cancellation Policy

A same day cancellation less than 1 hour prior to your schedule pick-up time is considered a late cancellation and is subject to the No Show Policy.

Appeal process

An appeal of temporary service suspension can be sent in writing to the City of Orillia Transit Division using any of the following methods:

By mail or in person:
City of Orillia – Transit
Development Services and Engineering Department
50 Andrew St. S.
Orillia, ON L3V 7T5

By emailing transit staff

By fax 705-329-2670

Driver responsibilities

OWLS operators are responsible for the following items:

Safely and efficiently operating the OWLS vehicle.
Making their presence known at the pick-up location when they arrive for a booked trip.
Safely operate the ramp but are not required to push, pull or maneuver any assistive devices.
Verbally guide a passenger with the position of the mobility aid on the vehicle lift/ramp.
Securing assistive devices and all belts but will not assist in the loading or unloading of passengers.
Waiting no more than five (5) minutes after arriving for a scheduled trip.
Maintaining their schedule when time, traffic, and weather conditions permit.

OWLS operators are not responsible for the following:

Assisting passengers on or off transit vehicles, or maneuvering, pushing, or pulling wheelchairs and/or scooters.
Parking on private driveways.
Going up or down flights of stairs, or carrying personal effects or heavy items.
Lifting wheelchairs or scooters up or down stairs.
Reporting to reception desks, specific stations, or other medical locations to locate passengers.
Opening, closing, locking, or unlocking doors; entering private residences; or waiting for someone to arrive to open a door.
Assisting passengers with fare payment, including searching through bags or other personal items.