Report on Para Transpo Challenge
In 2024, we challenged the mayor and all city councillors to ride Para Transpo with a Para Ambassador. The challenge was a success - we had a good response from many councillors.
Sad that the mayor was not willing to participate.
Here is the report on "what we heard".
En 2024, nous avons mis au défi le maire et tous les conseillers municipaux d'utiliser Para Transpo avec un ambassadeur Para. Le défi a été un succès - nous avons eu une bonne réponse de la part de nombreux conseillers.
Il est triste que le maire n'ait pas voulu participer.
Voici le rapport sur "ce que nous avons entendu".
Main Street market on Saturday
You might like to know that members of the Ottawa Transit Riders will be staffing a table at the Main Street Market (Grande Allée Park, near St Paul’s University) on Saturday, June 29th.
Come by and say “Hi!”
Main Street Market - Ottawa Farmers' Market (ottawafarmersmarket.ca)
Stop #7636 is serviced by the 5 and 55 buses. Stop #5824 is serviced by the 16 and 56 buses.
Vous aimeriez peut-être savoir que des membres du groupe des usagers de transport en commun d'Ottawa tiendront une table au Marché fermier de la rue Main (parc de la Grande Allée, proche de l’université St-Paul) le samedi 29 juin.
Venez nous rendre visite et dire « Bonjour ! »
Main Street Market - Ottawa Farmers' Market (ottawafarmersmarket.ca)
L'arrêt n° 7636 est desservi par les bus 5 et 55. L'arrêt n° 5824 est desservi par les bus 16 et 56.
Pimisi station closed for Canada Day AGAIN
The mayor is complaining again that Pimisi station will be closed for Canada Day: Canada Day: O-Train Pimisi Station to be closed to transit riders on July 1 | CTV News
Pimisi station was built in a location where we have big events - Canada Day, Bluesfest, and hopefully one day hockey at an NHL-sized arena.
Sadly, it is poorly designed to handle large crowds.
In this case, authorities are closing the station for security reasons, but how in the world was this station built and approved without considering these issues?
Public consultations would have flagged these problems before the station was built.
We should be consulted on the new stations currently under construction in order to apply lessons learned from phase one. It’s quicker and easier to fix things before stations are finalized.
Sadly … this city hasn’t learned any lessons.
Stittsville Transit Forum June 12th
Do you take public transit in Stittsville? Do you have OPINIONS about public transit in Sttitsville?
The Ottawa Transit Riders are hosting a transit forum at the Stittsville Legion (1481 Stittsville Main Street) on Wednesday, June 12th at 7PM.
Come and talk about local issues - which buses are overcrowded, which ones are often late? What would make transit work better in Stittsville?
This is an opportunity to make your voices heard.
Register here so we know how many cookies to bring: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/stittsville-transit-forum-forum-sur-les-transports-en-commun-a-stittsville-tickets-899144323877?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl
End of Para Transpo Challenge
Today marks the end of the inaugural Para Transpo Challenge. A huge thank you to the Para Ambassadors who worked so hard making arrangements for city councillors to experience this essential service.
This challenge is more difficult than our unusual challenge as it requires coordination between Ambassadors and councillors. Kudos to all who participated.
Glen Gower (chair of the Transit Commission)
Marty Carr
Joel Harden (MPP for Ottawa Centre)
Renée Amilcar (General Manager of OC
Transpo)
Wilson Lo
Ariel Troster
Catherine Kitts
Steve Desroches
Stéphanie Plante
Matt Luloff
Theresa Kavanagh
Shawn Menard
Amanda Putz (CBC)
Jessica Bradley
Natalie Helmer (OC Transpo Customer Service)
Jason Ashton (Program Manager of OC Transpo)
We’ll ask everyone who took part to complete a survey and then we will post a report on “What we heard”.
Stay watching this space for more information - we’re not done yet!
Sandy Hill Ecofair on June 1st
Members of Ottawa Transit Riders will be staffing a table at the Sandy Hill Eco Fair on Saturday, June 1st from 10Am to 3PM (Strathcona Park)
Come by and say “Hi!”
Sandy Hill EcoFair will feature exhibit tables presented by non-profit organizations and public agencies showcasing a variety of environmental topics and promoting opportunities for public involvement in environmental initiatives. The EcoFair is a not-for-profit, non-commercial event.
Des membres du groupe des usagers de transport en commun d'Ottawa tiendront une table à la écofoire de la Côte-de-Sable samedi, le 1e juin de 10 H à 15 H (Strathcona Park).
Venez nous rendre visite et dire « Bonjour ! »
L'EcoFair de la Côte de Sable comprendra des tables d'exposition présentées par des organisations à but non lucratif et des agences publiques qui mettront en valeur une variété de sujets environnementaux et encourageront la participation du public aux initiatives environnementales. L'EcoFair est un événement à but non lucratif et non commercial.
Sally Thomas takes Renee Amilcar on Para
Written by Sally Thomas, Para Ambassador
As part of Ottawa Transit Riders’ Para Transpo Challenge, I reached out to General Manager of Transit Service Renée Amilcar and her team. After some negotiations we decided to meet at City Hall on May 7. Initially, Mme Amilcar asked if her whole team could accompany us on the trip. I politely explained that there are several ambassadors involved in the initiative and her team was invited to reach out to others individually.
Blessed with good weather, I wheeled to City Hall to meet with Jason Ashton, Program Manager of OC Transpo ahead of our ride. Jason is new to the position and did not attend our meeting in the fall. We had a good conversation about what our needs are and what his role would be in working with us.
It took us almost a full hour from our pickup time to when we were dropped off, to go from City Hall to St. Laurent Shopping Centre. Renée joined us only two minutes before our scheduled pickup time and shortly thereafter shared with us that she had to be back at City Hall for a 4:00 meeting; news to both Jason and me, as she had initially cleared her afternoon. After 10 minutes of waiting, Renée wanted to know where the bus was. Took the opportunity to point out that according to their own metrics, Para is not even late until they are thirty minutes past your pickup time. We got one of the newer drivers and had a pickup on the way to our destination. We spent eight minutes looking for the other customer. Renée pointed out the obvious that waiting for people for that long isn’t fair to customers and slows the service down. Once on the bus, the other passenger eventually figured out who Renée was and brought up many other issues for her as someone with a visual impairment. I do not know what they were because they spoke in French.
Our bus on the way back was more than 30 minutes late, which gave us time to discuss the ParaParity needs more broadly. Not surprisingly, Renée was non-committal on anything, but agreed that Para users should have the flexibility of booking rides based on when they want to arrive at their destination and not just when they want to leave. She also related that in Montreal, their system gives people a 10-minute warning that their rides are on the way. That should decrease the times people are not ready and waiting.
I got a lot more commitment from Jason than I did Renée herself. I look forward to keeping in touch with him.
More city councillors taking Para Transpo Challenge
Who ELSE has taken the 2024 Para Transpo Challenge?
More and more city councillors are taking the challenge. We are pleased to see Ariel Troster, Catherine Kitts, Steve Desroches participating.
Still one more week for the mayor and city councillors to participate in our challenge.
Problems at St Laurent station
As many people have heard, St Laurent station was closed for a few days due to concern about the roofing tiles. The station has since re-opened.
Here are some recent articles about the situation:
Water infiltration in St. Laurent tunnel prompted closure for investigation, repairs
Evidence of corrosion and concrete delamination in St. Laurent O-Train tunnel: Amilcar
OC Transpo still can't say what's causing the leaks plaguing LRT stations
Updates on Para Transpo Challenge
This year, the Ottawa Transit Riders is trying something new for our transit challenge – we’re calling on all city councillors and senior OC Transpo executives to take a ride on Para Transpo with an Ambassador.
Media are welcome too!
This week, Para Ambassador (and disability rights advocate) Terrie Meehan took CBC journalist Amanda Putz on Para Transpo. Their interview can be heard here:
https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-100/clip/16067463
Kudos to Glen Gower and Marty Carr who have taken multiple trips!
We are also very pleased that OC Transpo manager Renée Amilcar participated.
So far, these people have participated:
Glen Gower
Marty Carr
Joel Harden
Renée Amilcar
Wilson Lo
Don’t see your city councillor here? Drop them an email to remind them that they should take advantage of this opportunity to learn more abut Para Transpo.
Mayor and City Councillors | City of Ottawa
