The CEO of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission is calling for an end to a two-week-old Metro Transit strike in Halifax.

David Shannon said Wednesday there aren't enough wheelchair accessible taxis in the city to support people with disabilities.

He said the city and the union representing about 750 bus drivers, ferry workers and maintenance staff should be aware of the needs of people with disabilities.

His comments come a day after city council rejected the union's proposal to go to binding arbitration, meaning the strike continued through a 13th day.

The city later announced it will begin offering limited bus service on Monday to people with disabilities who are registered Access-A-Bus users for transportation to and from medical and specialist appointments.

Shaune MacKinley, a spokeswoman for the Halifax Regional Municipality, estimates the limited service will provide about 35 per cent of the roughly 500 trips a day normally provided to people with disabilities.

Mayor Peter Kelly said in a news release that the decision was made to have management staff start driving the vehicles because the strike was causing distress and suffering to vulnerable residents.

The Access-A-Bus service is a shared ride, door-to-door transit service for people who are unable to use the conventional transit system due to physical or intellectual disabilities.

Shannon says the decision is a good first step but he'd like the city to find a way to provide transit for people with disabilities to go to work and social appointments as well.

Ken Wilson, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 508, said he was baffled by the city's decision to refuse binding arbitration, adding it would have been the quickest way to get buses and ferries back in service for all users.

Kelly said arbitration would have been too risky for taxpayers.

The strike began Feb. 2 after the city and the union reached an impasse over the scheduling of shifts for bus drivers.