Transportation far more than “the ride”
Coventry’s Enad provides a framework for service at OEMC
Accessible transportation is not just a ride, but “a chain of responsibility,” Ali Enad of Coventry Connections told an attentive room of municipal stakeholders on September 9th.
Enad, Coventry’s General Manager of Para Operations and Driver Programs, spoke at the Ontario East Municipal Conference in Ottawa, explaining new transportation realities and concepts to attendees at the annual event.
“The question has changed,” Enad explained. “It used to be, ‘How many Taxi trips do we need to arrange?’ Now, it is ‘what are the problems and challenges we need to solve, and can our ground transportation service provider help with this?'”
Photo: Taxi News
“Booking; eligibility; dispatch; training; insurance; billing; reporting, and escalation in the event something goes wrong are all steps in the process. The ‘ride’ is just one part of it.”
Commercial insurance is key, Enad told attendees: “In some communities, service providers may still only be covered with $2 million. This is something you must discuss before contracting any work, not after an incident happens.”
The Ontario East Municipal Conference (OEMC) has been the premier event for economic development professionals, municipal leaders, and industry stakeholders. Focused on fostering growth, innovation, and investment, OEMC brings together key players to exchange ideas, discuss best practices, and build stronger communities.
In addition to providing complementary shuttle services for off-site activities, Coventry’s 2026 sponsorship again includes a discount for attendees using Blue Line Taxi through its app.
Attendees to Enad’s presentation were most interested in Accessible transportation and transportation to workplaces not located on traditional transit routes; representatives from communities including Prince Edward County, Kawartha Lakes and Gananoque had questions for which Enad provided current information.
“Accessible transportation is a chain of responsiblity,” Ali Enad told municipal service planners at the Ontario East Municipal Conference on September 9th. Image: Coventry Connections
