Friday, January 30, 2009

Questions for readers

Readers,

TransitOttawa.ca
has some questions to ask in the immediate aftermath of the now-concluded OC Transpo workers strike.

If the transit strike forced you to find alternate arrangements to commute to work or school and just get around in general, will you just as soon return to public transit?

If not, what will it take for you to again ride the bus? Can the city offer any short-term and/or long-term incentives to lure you back?

19 comments:

david said...

I'll be right back on the buses, especially if they're less crowded than before.

Warren said...

I will return, but believe that the savings that the city enjoyed during the strike should be reflected in the cost of the tickets.

W

Thall said...

I take the only the O-train to/from work everyday and even if I had a car, the O-Train is faster, so I'll be right back on day one!

I'm more wondering what to do about my useless December pass. They told us that it would be more worthwhile to hold on to them, so I did (not like I had much choice), and now they have announced that it will be good for February as well. Still, I am getting ripped off. The city needs to do more to fix that problem if they want to try and lure back riders.

Anonymous said...

I will continue taking the bus. It is very convenient for me and I prefer to read or do something constructive during my commute. Driving is exceptionally boring and actually ends up taking me longer.
TD, do you have an express pass?

Unknown said...

I'll probably go back somewhat immediately, but my usage will probably go down.

I've got two colleagues that live near me, and so far the cost of commuting has proven to be far cheaper than buying tickets or passes.

Thall said...

No, I just have a regular adult monthly pass since I only take the O-train and almost never a bus.

Anonymous said...

I'll be using the buses again because I'm a student and I need to use them, but I think the city owes us reduced fares or free rides for a long time... I had a semester pass, the last month of which is mostly wasted money...

Anonymous said...

TD: I was just wondering. I have an express pass and sent OC an e-mail yesterday. Since they're not running express buses at first, I asked how they would take into account pass prices/bus availability when they pay people back for their fares (if my bus isn't running, I can't really take the bus). You might want to send them an e-mail and explain how and why you feel ripped off. They were very nice, responded VERY quickly, and I think they will likely try very hard to ensure everyone is compensated fairly. If nothing else, writing to them will give them an idea of public sentiment and hopefully that will factor into whatever decision they make on reimbursing people.

Anonymous said...

Yes, I will be using the bus.

My plan is to take it for the next couple months and then once the snow begins to clear and the pathways are clear-ish then I will bike. I hope to bike as much as conveniently possible in the spring, summer and fall seasons.

I have an ecopass and I have not heard much about the reimbursement other than credits added on to your pass.

Anonymous said...

I would suggest you e-mail ocserve@octranspo.com (I think that's the e-mail) and even your councillor if you're concerned about being fairly compensated. I have an EcoPass too and was worried that they'd start taking money from me again starting next week! They'll likely put out a notice in the next few weeks anyway, but it's always good to get your two cents in first! :)

Anonymous said...

I'll be back, till the snow clears off the pathways anyway (and then I'm right back on my bicycle!) I've been getting lifts to work, occasionally, with a co-worker, but since she's having to borrow her mother's car... the car's being shared among about six people. Not practical for the long term. We were working from home more than half the time because the car was not available. So I'll get right back on the buses... grudgingly.

Anonymous said...

I'm one of those people who will return to the bus. I made the decision long ago that over all public transit made the most sense for me. I bought a house in pedestrian/transit friendly area a short commute to work. Strike aside, 15 min to work and no car payments/gas/insurance costs is great.

If we can ever get LRT up and running the people of Ottawa can discover what other cities already know, public transit makes life easier not harder.

RealGrouchy said...

I might take advantage of the free door-to-door service from home to work afforded by the #14 during February, but when that ends it's back on the bike as always.

- RG>

Anonymous said...

This stike has been the last straw for me. The cost of ridership has been going up and service has been going down. I feel these drivers have it way to easy and honestly I do not want to be a part of it anymore. So thank you for striking. I will not be coming back to the bus system. Io went a head and spent my money on a brand new car.

Dwight Williams said...

Can't afford to boycott the buses, and don't want to, anyway. But I need them in my home neighbourhood, or I can't get to work.

Anonymous said...

Not right away. The service that would actually get me to work will not resume until it's bike weather, at which point I will be riding until winter comes again. At that point, I will be back to the buses.

There will likely be the odd trip here and there in bad weather or to get downtown.

Anonymous said...

I chose to buy a car at the beginning on January when it looked as though the strike was not ending anytime soon, and therefore, I am happy to be rid of being a victim of OC Transpo's whims.

So, you can count me as someone who plans to never take a bus in Ottawa again anytime soon.

Anonymous said...

I will try not to ever take an oc transpo bus again.
I hope they are dissolved and replaced.

Dwight Williams said...

As I said: my own transit needs require the dashing of all such hopes.