Results from Para Transpo survey
Results of survey on Para Transpo demands
As you may know, in September 2023, the Ottawa Transit Riders presented a list of “demands” to city councillors asking them to improve service on Para Transpo.
We’re halfway through this city council term – how well is the city (and OC Transpo) progressing towards making Para Transpo better?
We ran a short survey of people who use Para Transpo and found the following:
- Offer same day booking / on-demand booking
2.Provide 24-hour service
3.Be flexible with cancellations
4.Coordinate destination / pick-up locations
5.Make Presto readers accessible
6. Conduct planning session with first responders to discuss evacuations
7.Communicate alternatives when elevators are out of service
Book club about transit
The Ottawa Transit Riders is reaching out to transit riders outside the urban core. We’ve hosted several transit forums (more to come!) and we’ve staffed tables at various events in Barrhaven, Kanata, and Orleans.
This summer, we’re proposing to host book club discussions with local community groups. Dates and locations to be confirmed.
We’re reaching out to members to ask which books you think we should discuss. Click on the survey link to vote and feel free to suggest other books that you know of.
Report card on Para Transpo demands
The Ottawa Transit Riders supports ParaParity – a subcommittee of transit riders fighting for accessibility in Ottawa.
In September 2023, we invited city councillors to a Para Awareness event where we presented seven simple, cheap improvements to Para Transpo. These aren’t the most important demands, they are basic common-sense baby steps towards respecting the people who use accessible transit.
Last year, we held a Para Transpo challenge, asking city councillors to ride Para Transpo with an ambassador.
So how is all the advocacy working?
We asked people who use Para Transpo to complete a short survey. Results will be posted shortly.
Alt text for image: The logo of Para Parity are silhouettes of two red buses and the words Para Parity. The seven demands are:
Offer same day booking / on-demand booking
Provide 24-hour booking and service
Be flexible with cancellations
Coordinate how riders / dispatchers choose destination and pick-up locations
Ensure that Presto readers on new buses are accessible to riders
Conduct a planning session with first responders and Para Transpo riders to discuss evacuation options
Communicate alternatives when elevators are out-of-service
Support councillor's demand for better data
People who ride public transit in Ottawa are frustrated by unreliable buses. We are tired of standing at bus stops wondering if our bus will show up. We’re tired of budgeting extra time (just in case) while we navigate around the city.
OC Transpo tends to present inaccurate data on bus performance. They do not measure how often buses arrive on time or how many are slightly late or very late. If you are baffled by the surprisingly good metrics that OC Transpo claims, you are not alone.
There is a Transit Commission meeting on Thursday, April 10th.
Councillor Riley Brockington has presented a Notice of Motion demanding that OC Transpo create a plan to achieve bus reliability targets agreed to by OC management, as part of a common benchmark used by the public transit industry.
He is asking that people who want better public transit in the city support his motion. You can write an email of support and share it with the Committee Coordinator ([email protected]). You might want to identify yourself as a person who uses public transit and tell her that you support councillor Brockington’s demand for better data and a plan to improve reliability.
You can also appear before the Committee if you wish to speak as a delegate. Register in advance with Ms Busnardo dos Santos by email, [email protected].
If you want some advice on giving a delegation, here is a link to a training session hosted by Horizon Ottawa: https://www.horizonottawa.ca/public_delegations
Better data is essential - let’s push for it!
New ways to bus info session on April 5th
If you ride transit, you have probably seen posters about “New Ways to Bus”. What is it? What does it mean?
On April 27th, bus routes across the city will change. We recommend that you check the OC Transpo website for details on the buses that you rely on. It is hoped that this new schedule will make the buses more reliable since that is a key complaint of transit users.
Several city councillors, including Transit Commission chair, Glen Gower are offering information sessions. Here is what he says in his newsletter:
To help residents learn more about Stittsville’s route changes and get help in navigating these new routes, councillor Gower is co-hosting a drop in event with OC Transpo at CARDELREC on Saturday, April 5 between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
Le 5 avril : Séance d’information d’OC Transpo sur l’initiative « L’autobus réinventé »
L’initiative « L’autobus réinventé » d’OC Transpo sera lancée le dimanche 27 avril, et des modifications seront apportées au service et aux circuits dans l’ensemble de la Ville. Pour permettre aux résidents d’en apprendre davantage sur les modifications apportées aux circuits à Stittsville et les aider à s’orienter dans ces nouveaux circuits, le conseiller Gower organise un événement conjoint avec OC Transpo au Complexe récréatif CARDELREC le samedi 5 avril, de 10 h à 12 h.
Urbanism book club on Tuesday
On Tuesday, (April 1st), the Urbanism book club will discuss Anna Zivarts' book "When Driving is not an Option" which centers the experiences of people who cannot drive or choose not to drive. The author spoke recently at EnviroCentre's annual symposium.
The discussion will be held at Sunnyside Library from 6:15-7:45pm and there is no cost to attend.
Communities for Everyone: When Driving is Not an Option
EnviroCentre is hosting a talk by Anna Zivarts, author of “When Driving is not an Option” on Thursday, March 27th at 7PM.
For details and tickets, click here: Communities for Everyone: When Driving is Not an Option Tickets, Thu, Mar 27, 2025 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite
EnviroCentre symposium "Connecting the Dots"
EnviroCentre is a non-government organization in Ottawa that "scopes, designs, delivers and scales practical solutions to dramatically reduce climate emissions in our communities."
Their annual symposium will take place on Thursday, March 27th and Friday, March 28th.
Communities for Everyone: When Driving isn’t an Option
March 27 | 7:00pm – 8:45pm
University of Ottawa
Faculty of Health Sciences FHS, Lees Rm 142
Join Anna Zivarts, author of When Driving is Not an Option, for an eye-opening talk on inclusive and universal design in transportation. Tickets are $15.
Connecting the Dots on Transit
March 28 | 9:30am – 3:00pm
National Arts Centre, Canada Room
1 Elgin Street Ottawa, ON K1P 5W1
A representative of the Ottawa Transit Riders will speak on one of the panels.
For details or to register to attend, click here: https://envirocentre.ca/annual-symposium/
Survey shows Canadians want action on climate change
In a Léger poll commissioned by Équiterre, 71% of Canadians say they want their next federal government, regardless of its political stripe, to do more to address climate change, to adapt to its consequences and to protect nature.
Survey: A strong majority of Canadians wants more environmental action from the next government
81% of respondents see investing in public transit systems as the preferred solution to the ever-worsening problem of congestion.
Surveys like this give me hope. Canadians want action on climate change – advocating for better public transit is action towards building a better world.
Next … we need to ask people in Ottawa to VOTE as if they cared about the environment.
Election debate on Monday, Feb 10th
The provincial election is upon us!
The campaign is short since election day is February 27th.
Do you have questions? Are you curious what each party plans for transit?
The Ottawa Transit Riders invites you to a debate on public transit. We have invited representatives from all the major parties to attend.
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/provincial-election-debate-on-public-transit-tickets-1233161422009?aff=oddtdtcreator
Date: Monday, February 10, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Location: Jack Purcell Community Centre (320 Jack Purcell Ln), Room 203. Accessible by the 5 and 14 bus routes on Elgin Street, or a 15-minute walk from the uOttawa LRT station.
Engage with the candidates and learn about their party platforms on transit in Ottawa and Ontario. This in-person event will be a chance to put the spotlight on transit issues and the role the provincial government can play in shaping transit in our city!
We will hear from the following candidates:
Catherine McKenney: candidate for the Ontario New Democratic Party in Ottawa Centre
Christian Proulx: candidate for the Green Party of Ontario in Ottawa-Vanier
Thomas Simpson: candidate for the Ontario Liberal Party in Ottawa Centre
Candidate for the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario TBD.
Note: This debate will be held primarily in English. The meeting room is physically accessible with elevators and accessible washrooms.
