MONTREAL - A group of Montrealers met Monday to press forward with a legal claim against transit authorities for providing inadequate access.

About a dozen people who travel in wheelchairs have laid $20,000 damage claims against the system for failure to provide adequate travel service; a right they argue is covered in the charter of rights.

Laurence Parent who has both studied and lived the issue extensively, notes that Montreal has made only seven of 68 metro stations accessible for wheelchairs, compared to 30 of 69 subway stations so equipped in Toronto.

"Montreal is far behind in terms of access to public transit," said Parent.

They argue that that access to travel is enshrined in law.

"The charter protects mobility rights," explained Melanie Bernard, a McGill law student working with the group.

Fo Niemi, a human rights activist who has participated in many such claims of prejudice, says that those who travel in wheelchairs should be able to access the transit system.

"We have obligations to make reasonable accommodations necessary to ensure full access," he said.

The transit authorities declined comment due to the legal action but in the past have cited the high cost of renovations - $15 million per station – as the reason more metro stations have not been equipped with elevators.

It has previously vowed to have the entire metro system fitted with elevators by 2028.

Currently the seven stations with elevators include the three stations in Laval as well as the Cote Vertu, Lionel Groulx, Berri-UQAM and Henri Bourassa metros stations, which have also been retrofitted with elevators.

The transit authorities also supply about 2.7 million rides annually on its adapted transit system for passengers with mobility issues.

Wheelchair users can also get on low rise buses but some have complained that only those with the entrance at the front are actually easily accessible to wheelchairs.

One former adapted transit user expressed joy at no longer having to rely on the transit system.

"I was lucky to have enough money to buy me a car," said Nicolas Messier. "I used to take adapted transit and it was hell."