Bismarck, N.D. – Many of the athletes, coaches and fans attending December’s Can-Am Paraswimming Open at the Bismarck State College Aquatic and Wellness Center will be getting a lift from Capital Area Transit and Bis-Man Transit vehicles throughout the week.
More than 200 athletes, many who utilize wheelchairs or other mobility devices, will compete in 17 events – ranging in distance from 50 to 400 meters – to move on to the 2016 Paralympics in Brazil. Men and women from China, Brazil, Russia, Australia, Cuba, France, Japan, Korea, Canada and the U.S. duel Dec. 10-12 for the right to advance to the fifteenth Paralympics.
“We are taking this opportunity as ambassadors of our community very seriously,” said Bis-Man Transit Executive Director Roy Rickert. “We want to deliver everyone to their destination – during the practice sessions in the days leading up to the meet, as well as during the three days of competition – safely and on time; all while showing off our beautiful cities.”
To help provide transportation for the teams, Bis-Man Transit will dedicate a portion of its paratransit vehicles and drivers to vehicles for the athletes and coaches from Dec. 7-12. The system will also utilize a one of the larger CAT buses for paratransit-only rides. On the fixed-route system, there will also be slight deviations to the D-1 and D-2 routes, offering passengers a shorter walk to the venue for the free event. The C-2 route will also be modified, with the route deviating from part of State to put the bus in closer proximity to hotels where teams are staying.
Due to the increased volume of traffic on the paratransit system, Rickert suggests clients may want to reschedule rides outside peak usage times (7:30 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 5:30 p.m.), or allow for extra time for their rides to be completed. Customers can call the paratransit scheduling office at (701) 223-9001 to speak with a dispatcher from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.
“We are going to do everything we can to make sure our trips are on time,” Rickert said. “We thank our customers ahead of time for their patience during the week.”