Ottawa Transit Riders / Le groupe des usagers de transport en commun d'Ottawa

Consultations for the upcoming budget are underway across the city.

The Ottawa Transit Riders group is advocating for a fare freeze. We believe that long-suffering transit riders should not be made to pay more for poor service.

#Fight4FairFares

Advocates of better, more accessible, more affordable transit are encouraged to attend the upcoming budget consultations to make our voices heard.

October 15 2019

2020 pre-budget consultation for wards 7, 8 and 15

7 pm to 8:30 pm

Ron Kolbus Centre, 102 Greenview Avenue

Councillor-led session for residents in Bay, College and Kitchissippi to provide feedback on the draft 2020 budget. Hosted by Councillor Theresa Kavanagh, Councillor Jeff Leiper and the Office of Councillor Rick Chiarelli.

October 16 2019

2020 pre-budget consultation for wards 12

6:30 pm to 8 pm

Saint Anne Elementary School, 235 Beausoleil Drive

Councillor-led session for residents in Rideau-Vanier, to provide feedback on the draft 2020 budget. Hosted by Councillor Mathieu Fleury.

October 22 2019

2020 pre-budget consultation for wards 10, 16, 17, 18 and 22

6 pm to 8 pm

Jim Durrell Recreation Centre, Ellwood Hall, 1265 Walkley Road

Councillor-led session for residents in Gloucester-Southgate, River, Capital, Alta Vista and Gloucester-South Nepean to provide feedback on the draft 2020 budget. Hosted by Councillor Riley Brockington, Councillor Shawn Menard, Councillor Jean Cloutier, Councillor Carol Anne Meehan, and the Office of Councillor Diane Deans.

October 22 2019

2020 pre-budget consultation for Ward 5

7 pm to 8:30 pm

Kinburn Community Centre, 3045 Kinburn Side Road

Councillor-led session for residents in West Carleton-March to provide feedback on the draft 2020 budget. Hosted by Councillor Eli El-Chantiry.

More details here: https://engage.ottawa.ca/draft-budget-2020/key_dates#17919

OC Transpo completed its “really big change” this week – re-organizing bus routes around the city to feed the LRT.

It’s too early yet to say what works (and what doesn’t).

Twitter appears to show chaos and over-crowding, but OC Transpo head John Manconi dismissed customer complaints and insisted that all was well.

Let us know how the change is affecting you …

Board member Kari Glynes Elliott spoke to Hallie Cotnam on Ottawa morning: 

And Pat Scrimgeour’s response: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-100-ottawa-morning/clip/15740168-oc-transpo-explains-their-reallybigservicechange

Mixed reviews from Ottawa Citizen: Ottawa ushers in new commuter era with compliments, complaints

Frustration according to CTV: Riders frustrated by bus delays in the suburbs

You may be interested to learn that we are planning an all-member campaign meeting in November where we will be recruiting volunteers and strategizing for upcoming campaigns. Want to get involved? We’d love to hear from you!

To become a member of the Ottawa Transit Riders, click on the button above that says “Become a Member / Rejoignez-nous”

What’s going on with transit in Ottawa now that the LRT is running? Sunday, October 6^th, most bus routes around the city will be re-organized, re-named, and re-routed.

OC Transpo's 'biggest service change ever' just 4 days away

OC Transpo insists that these changes are essential to allow them to use the buses more effectively. By directing people to take the train across the city, OC Transpo can remove the buses that used to run east-west and assign them to handle the rest of the system.

If it works, this means that there will be fewer cancellations on bus routes and more flexibility to address capacity issues. Larger buses may be directed to routes that currently experience over-crowded buses and buses leaving people behind.

In theory, it’s great.

Let’s see how it works in practice and let’s hope that OC Transpo is willing to listen to feedback after the big change.

You may be interested to learn that we are planning an all-member campaign meeting in November where we will be recruiting volunteers and strategizing for upcoming campaigns. Want to get involved? We’d love to hear from you!

To become a member of the Ottawa Transit Riders, click on the button above that says “Become a Member / Rejoignez-nous”

 **

Que se passe-t-il avec le transport en commun à Ottawa maintenant que le TLR fonctionne ? Le dimanche 6 octobre, la plupart des lignes d'autobus autour de la ville seront réorganisées, rebaptisées et réacheminées.

OC Transpo's 'biggest service change ever' just 4 days away

OC Transpo insiste sur le fait que ces changements sont essentiels pour lui permettre d'utiliser les autobus plus efficacement. En incitant les gens à prendre le train à travers la ville, OC Transpo peut retirer les autobus qui circulaient autrefois d'est en ouest pour desservir le reste du réseau.

Si cela fonctionne, cela signifie qu'il y aura moins d'annulations sur les lignes d'autobus et plus de souplesse pour régler les problèmes de capacité. Les autobus plus grands peuvent être dirigés vers des itinéraires qui sont actuellement surpeuplés et les autobus qui laissent des gens derrière eux.

En théorie, c'est génial.

Voyons comment cela fonctionne dans la pratique et espérons qu'OC Transpo est prête à écouter les commentaires après le grand changement.

Vous serez peut-être intéressé d'apprendre que nous planifions une réunion de campagne de tous les membres en novembre où nous recruterons des bénévoles et élaborerons des stratégies pour les prochaines campagnes. Vous avez des idées ? Des suggestions ? Nous vous écoutons. 

Pour devenir membre des usagers du transport en commun d'Ottawa, cliquez sur le bouton "Become a member / Rejoignez-nous" ci-dessus.

Traduit avec www.DeepL.com/Translator

Now that the LRT is up and running, many routes across the city will be re-organized on October 6^th.

Councillors Mathieu Fleury, Catherine McKenney, and Rawlson King are hosting an information session on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 from 5-7PM at Rideau Centre (the pedestrian overpass between the Bay and Rideau Centre).

OC Transpo staff will be there to answer questions.

**

Maintenant que le TLR est opérationnel, de nombreux circuits à travers la ville seront réorganisés le 6 octobre.

Les conseillers Mathieu Fleury, Catherine McKenney et Rawlson King tiendront une séance d'information le mardi 1er octobre 2019 de 17 h à 19 h au Centre Rideau (la passerelle pour piétons entre la Baie et le Centre Rideau).

Le personnel d'OC Transpo sera là pour répondre aux questions.

Plans have changed and members of the Ottawa Transit Riders will not be at Lansdowne on Sunday, September 22^nd. The event will be re-scheduled - details coming soon.

To become a member of the Ottawa Transit Riders, click on the button above that says “Become a Member / Rejoignez-nous”

**

Marché de producteurs agricoles à Lansdowne

Les membres du groupe des usagers de transport en commun d'Ottawa ne seront plus à Lansdowne le dimanche 22 septembre.

Two board members, Sam Boswell and John Redins, were fortunate enough to be invited to represent the Ottawa Transit Riders at the big Light Rail Transit opening day festivities on September 14, 2019! It was a thrill to be included in such a momentous event and a nice acknowledgement that the city recognizes what we’re trying to do and is interested in working with us and our members.

The launch festivities were set up in the open space at Tunney’s Station, right on the other side of the turnstiles, and there were about 400 people in attendance, ranging from RTG executives and construction contractors, past and current mayors and councillors, and regular citizens. The event was well put-together and featured the Eagle River Singers opening the event; Albert Dumont, elder and spiritual advisor for the Algonquin, Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, performing a very moving blessing; and then speeches from Councillor Allan Hubley, Mayor Jim Watson, and Caroline Mulroney, Ontario’s Minister of Transportation.

After all the speeches, a commemorative plaque was unveiled and then the system was ceremonially turned on with a countdown from the crowd...with the literal pushing of a giant button on stage, a voice came over the speakers announcing that the Confederation Line was now turned on and ready to serve customers! It should’ve been cheesy but it was fun; it’s nice to see Ottawa moving into the 21st century and joining all of the other cities that already have light rail or subways. After a short sound and light show, the crowd was moved (in colour-coded groups) to the actual train ride portion of the morning.

The train experience was smooth, fast, and honestly quite fun; after hearing so much about this system over the past few years, it was quite amazing to actually be on one! The ride took guests from Tunney’s Pasture to Blair and back, stopping at each station to let guests see the platform areas (though nobody was allowed to get off). The stations looked clean and bright and each had something individual about it (e.g silhouettes of flying geese at Lees Station) to make it stand out a bit from the windows.

Now that the LRT is launched, we need to renew our calls for OC Transpo to put time, money, and energy into improving the conventional bus transit system; people without access to the trains still need reliable, efficient bus service! And if people near the trains cannot GET to the trains, these shiny new trains will run empty...and that would be a sad state of affairs after waiting so long!

Exciting times in Ottawa transit!

Several people from Healthy Transportation Coalition and one board member of the Ottawa Transit Riders attended the announcement on September 13^th regarding online booking for customers of Para Transpo.

This is what was announced:

• There will be an interim solution of a web request form available by the end of 2019
• There will be a full suite of online services offered by end of 2020 with options to track location and progress
• OC Transpo will use a "first come, first serve" method for bookings 
• Further details will be discussed at an upcoming meeting (not sure if they meant September 18^th or later meeting).

We still have questions about capacity and feedback once the service is launched, but supporters of #ParaParity are feeling optimistic.

Online booking coming to Para Transpo

Supporters are going to attend the next Transit commission meeting on September 18^th at 9:30 to encourage councillors to work towards equitable and accessible transit.

For further details, see this page at Healthy Transportation Coalition where you can RSVP: https://www.healthytransportation.ca/transit_commission_sit_in

Come and join us.

**

Plusieurs personnes de la Coalition pour un transport en santé et un membre du conseil d'administration du groupe des usagers de transport en commun d'Ottawa ont assisté à l'annonce du 13 septembre concernant la réservation en ligne pour les clients de Para Transpo.

C'est ce qui a été annoncé :

• Une solution provisoire d'un formulaire de demande par Internet sera disponible d'ici la fin de 2019.
• Une gamme complète de services en ligne sera offerte d'ici la fin de 2020, avec des options pour suivre l'emplacement et les progrès.
• OC Transpo utilisera la méthode du "premier arrivé, premier servi" pour les réservations.
• D'autres détails seront discutés lors d'une prochaine réunion (je ne sais pas s'il s'agit du 18 septembre ou d'une réunion ultérieure).

Nous avons encore des questions sur la capacité et les commentaires une fois le service lancé, mais les partisans de #ParaParity sont optimistes.

Online booking coming to Para Transpo

Les partisans assisteront à la prochaine réunion de la commission du transport en commun le 18 septembre à 9 h 30 afin d'encourager les conseillers municipaux à travailler pour un transport en commun équitable et accessible.

Pour plus de détails, voir cette page de la Coalition pour des transports sains où vous pouvez répondre à la question : https://www.healthytransportation.ca/transit_commission_sit_in

Venez vous joindre à nous.

Traduit avec www.DeepL.com/Translator

Councillors Allan Hubley and Jean Cloutier (chair and vice-chair of the Transit Commission) revealed today that they would be making an announcement tomorrow (September 13th) about the future of online services for users of ParaTranspo.

Supporters of the #ParaParity campaign are crossing their fingers that the announcement will address long-standing demands for same-day online booking. It is hoped that the announcement will establish a specific date for implementation, not merely a promise to implement this service ‘some time in the future’.

It is terribly ironic of course that in providing such short notice (less than 24 hours), the councillors have made it almost impossible for many users of Para Transpo to attend the announcement.

If this is indeed a good news story, it is a pity that advocates of online booking have not been invited or encouraged or accommodated.

September 13th, 11am

Mayor's reception area, second floor, Heritage building, City Hall

**

Les conseillers Allan Hubley et Jean Cloutier (président et vice-président de la Commission du transport en commun) ont révélé aujourd'hui qu'ils feraient une annonce demain (13 septembre) sur l'avenir des services en ligne pour les usagers de ParaTranspo.

Les partisans de la campagne #ParaParité se croisent les doigts pour annoncer que l'annonce répondra à une demande de longue date de réservation en ligne le jour même. On espère que l'annonce établira une date précise pour la mise en œuvre, et non pas simplement une promesse de mettre en œuvre ce service "à un moment donné dans l'avenir".

Il est bien sûr terriblement ironique qu'en donnant un préavis aussi court (moins de 24 heures), les conseillers municipaux aient rendu presque impossible pour de nombreux usagers de Para Transpo d'assister à l'annonce.

S'il s'agit effectivement d'une bonne nouvelle, il est dommage que les partisans de la réservation en ligne n'aient pas été invités, encouragés ou accommodés.

Traduit avec www.DeepL.com/Translator

Two board members went to Barrhaven on Sunday to spread the news about Ottawa Transit Riders. We weren’t sure how much interest there would be considering that most customers at this market probably drive, but we were pleasantly surprised.

We met a lady who had just returned from Europe and she raved about the quality of public transit in cities like Barcelona for example – “why can’t we have that in Ottawa?” she asked.

We met a lady who rides ParaTranspo who was spitting MAD at the poor quality of transit service in Ottawa. She’s worried that the city is pushing Para users to use regular transit without providing adequate support.

More than a few people wanted to know when the LRT would be extended to Barrhaven.

A number of people talked to us about how recent changes to the bus routes had left them scrambling.

It was an interesting day although exhausting.

We’re not sure if we’ll be at the Main Street market on Saturday considering how many other events are going on that day, but we’ll be at Lansdowne on Sunday, September 22^nd for sure.

The Transit Commission meets on Wednesday, September 18^th at 9:30 and we’ll be there wearing red to support #ParaParity

Councillors Riley Brockington, Jean Cloutier, Diane Deans, Carol Anne Meehan and Shawn Menard are hosting an information session on how the LRT will affect riders in Ottawa South.

When: Monday, September 9^th from 7-8:30PM

Where: Jim Durrell Recreation Centre 

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Les conseillers Riley Brockington, Jean Cloutier, Diane Deans, Carol Anne Meehan et Shawn Menard animent une séance d'information sur les répercussions du TLR sur les usagers au sud d’Ottawa.

Quand : Lundi le 9 septembre 2019 19 h à 20 h 30

Où : Centre communautaire Jim Durrell