Ottawa Transit Riders

Here are a few more articles that provide data on the benefits of public transit. Feel free to share them with politicians who need facts.

Canadian Health Association for Sustainability and Equity (CHASE). November 11, 2021. “Public Transit – Good for Health, Social Equity and the Planet!” Public Transit – Good for Health, Social Equity and the Planet! – Canadian Health Association for Sustainability & Equity (CHASE)

Public transit improves air quality in a few ways. Residents who live in communities with high-quality, well integrated public transit own half as many vehicles, drive half as many kilometres, walk and cycle four times more frequently, and use public transit ten times more often than residents of more car-dependent communities.

Public transit makes our roads safer for all users. Nearly 2,000 people died in Canada from motor-vehicle collisions; nearly 60% were vehicle drivers, 18% were passengers, 17% were pedestrians and 2.3% were cyclists. Transit travel has a passenger fatality rate 20 times less than that of automobile travel. In addition, traffic fatalities for pedestrians, cyclists and automobile occupants, as well as transit users, decline significantly as transit ridership increases in a community. This is because people who live or work in communities that are designed to support transit tend to drive fewer kilometres, drive at lower speeds, and have travel options that allow them to avoid high-risk driving, such as driving after drinking.

The transportation sector is the second leading source of climate emissions, responsible for 26% of all of Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Heaven, Pamela. January 6, 2025. Financial Post. “Posthaste: Never mind New York, Canada's congestion 'crisis' is costing billions: Study estimates gridlocks cost Ontario's economy almost $13 billion in 2024.” Canada's congestion 'crisis' is costing billions | Financial Post

• From 2001 to 2024, the number of cars on the road has increased by 37 percent in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and by 17 percent in the rest of province, says a study commissioned by the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) and the Ontario Road Builders’ Association.
• Truck traffic is up by 32 percent throughout Ontario.
• The study estimates that the impact of traffic congestion on Ontario’s economy at $12.8 billion in 2024, with the GTHA taking $10 billion of that hit.
• Transportation is now the second-largest household expense in Ontario, 23 per cent higher than food, says the study.
• The study estimates the impact of congestion on commuters’ quality of life due to stress, health and time lost at $43.6 billion in 2024.

And remember, when cities underinvest in public transit, the costs of transportation get downloaded to households. And cars are expensive!

Lavin, Jordan. February 3, 2025. “What is the total cost of ownership for a car?” What is the total cost of ownership for a car? | Ratehub.ca

• Cars are expensive. They are the 3^rd highest expense for most household after shelter and food. This positions transportation as the third-largest household expense at 15% of spending, behind shelter at 31.4%, and the cost of food at 15.4%, according to Statistics Canada.
• Average monthly cost to purchase a new car is $905
• Used cars are cheaper, but still from $542 to $745 / month because interest rates on used cars are higher
• Statistics Canada says the average Canadian household spends $79 per month to maintain and repair vehicles, but that figure can vary drastically depending on your car. 
• The latest statistics from 2023 put the price of insurance somewhere between $1,300 and $1,800. Depending on your situation, your price could be higher or lower than the national average.
• The total cost of car ownership in Canada is based on our 2024 data and shows an actual cash expense of $1,370 per month including all car payments, gas, maintenance, and auto insurance costs.