Vancouver-based transit technology company Spare has landed a major partnership with TransLink to modernize HandyDART, Metro Vancouver’s door-to-door accessible transit service that delivers more than 1.2 million trips each year.
Under the new agreement, Spare will replace HandyDART’s decades-old legacy systems with a modern, digital platform designed to improve both the rider experience and operational oversight at metropolitan scale. TransLink said the move will bring the essential service “into the digital age,” giving riders more control and independence over how they book and manage trips.
Once fully implemented, HandyDART customers will be able to book trips online 24/7, track their vehicle in real time, receive digital service updates, and manage their transportation without relying exclusively on phone-based reservations. For caregivers and families, the changes are expected to provide greater transparency and confidence around trip timing and reliability.
“By partnering with Spare, we will bring HandyDART into the digital age by giving customers access to online bookings, real-time vehicle locations, and smartphone updates,” said TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn, adding that HandyDART is “a lifeline for thousands of people across Metro Vancouver” and a key pillar of the authority’s Customer-First Plan.
Behind the scenes, Spare’s platform will give TransLink real-time operational visibility across the HandyDART network, enabling dynamic routing, proactive service management, and improved performance monitoring. The system consolidates rider registration, booking, dispatch, routing, and reporting into a single integrated platform, replacing fragmented legacy tools.
Spare CEO and co-founder Kristoffer Vik Hansen said the partnership reflects the human impact of accessible transit. “Every HandyDART trip represents someone’s independence,” he said, noting that digital tools can help riders feel more confident getting to work, medical appointments, and daily activities, while giving TransLink the insight needed to manage complex paratransit operations reliably.
TransLink’s approach—blending traditional door-to-door service with modern digital tools and on-demand elements—is being positioned as a potential blueprint for other large metropolitan transit agencies across Canada and the United States seeking to expand accessibility without sacrificing service quality or cost discipline.
In 2024 Spare raised a $42 million Series B funding round led by Inovia Capital, a longtime partner and lead investor from Spare’s $18 million Series A round.
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