From owner-afo@flora.org  Wed Apr  3 08:36:12 2002
To: flora-afo@uunet.uu.net
From: otra-info@flora.org
Newsgroups: flora.afo
Subject: [AFO] Ottawa Transit Bulletin - April 2002
Date: 3 Apr 2002 07:47:51 -0500
Organization: Ottawa Transit Riders Association
Message-ID: 
Reply-To: afo@flora.org

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                          O t t a w a
                          T r a n s i t
                          B u l l e t i n
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                          A p r i l   2 0 0 2
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==>  Notes before the News

Welcome to the April issue of OTB.

This is OTB's first anniversary. Thanks to those whose contributions,
encouragement and feedback help make OTB through this far.

Also, there is a new mailing list for just the OTB issues. To receive
OTB via e-mail, the otra-otb list on flora.org is available for
subscription:

1. Start writing an e-mail to majordomo@flora.org
2. Subject does not matter
3. Enter this one line of message text: "subscribe otra-otb"
   (without the quotes)
4. Send the e-mail away
5. Await acknowledgement, and read any instructions and information
   (especially how to cancel the subscription if necessary)

There's still the otra-discuss mailing list for general Ottawa transit
discussions. See the blurb towards the end of this issue for details on
subscribing to that. Since it is set up through the same facility,
the subscription instructions will be similar, except for the otra-discuss
list name.

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==>  In this issue (in order) ...

  ** Fare increase in July
  ** Rural service plans announced
  ** Schedule changes 21st April
  ** Ottawa transfers beat Toronto's
  ** Transetiquette: Backpacking blues
  ** Letter: O-Train Suggestion
  ** Letter: Doubledecker buses
  ** Letter: Searching for the centre of Kanata
  ** Letter: Follow-up on Transetiquette
  ** Sightings & Mysteries
  ** Contact us

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==>  Fare increase in July

The City of Ottawa has approved fare increases effective in July, generally
as proposed (see article from March OTB).

For example, the regular adult cash fare will be up 25 cents to $2.50,
and adult regular monthly passes are up $1 to $60.50.

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==>  Rural service plans announced

Detailed proposals for rural bus service expansion were announced last
month. If approved, this would mean various extensions to communities
outside the regular urban transit service area, or increases to existing
rural services. These are planned to take effect with the September
timetable changes.

One notable proposal is the extension of some route 97 trips to Stittsville.
These would be hourly trips from Monday to Saturday which would include some
off-peak service (mid-day and early evening trips). There would be no
extra zone fare to take route 97 to Stittsville.

The rural service report is available at:

http://city.ottawa.on.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/ttc/2002/03-20/ACS2002-TUP-TRN-0003.htm

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==>  Schedule changes 21st April

21st April 2002 is the next timetable change. This date also marks the
official start of the bus bike rack season (Rack & Roll).

See http://www.octranspo.com for details.

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==>  Ottawa transfers beat Toronto's

Toronto's TTC could learn a thing or two from Ottawa's OC Transpo.

Toronto transit transfers have some rather bureaucratic conditions on how
they may be used:

  * "... for a one-way continuous trip with no backtracking. Most direct
    route must be taken." [never mind that the "most direct" route in
    some cases can be much slower or take longer]
  * These are not valid for any stop-overs [presumably meaning no donuts
    during a long wait for the next bus]
  * TTC transfers must be used at the "first available transfer point
    (cannot walk to next stop.)" [doesn't matter if the next stop has
    better shelter that the nearest transfer point]

OC Transpo decided some time ago on a policy where transfers are merely
valid for 90 minutes from the time the fare is paid. Stopovers,
backtracking and walking to different stops can be done on the Ottawa
transfers - just be sure to use the transfer before its time limit expires.

One adjustment to consider for Ottawa transfers would be to allow more
transfer time during snowstorms or when other conditions cause unusually
slow bus service.

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==>  Transetiquette: Backpacking blues

This month's column is thanks to a letter to OTB by Roberta Hagar:

"Just recently I discovered your website and that you actually exist. It is
so good to see that there are other people taking notice of the transit
system in our fair city. Every day I take anywhere from six to eight buses,
as I work in the far south of Ottawa. The one complaint I have is with
people wearing backpacks. After much study, it occurs to me that when a
person puts one on, they immediately forget that they have something on
their back which is protruding another ten to twelve inches behind them. Two
weeks ago I was sitting on the number 8 bus to Hurdman Station when a man
wearing one, which was right at my eye level, turned and I was struck by the
sharp edge of the backpack, one millimetre from my eye. For over a week I
had quite a bruise and it made me wonder what would have happened had it
actually struck my eye. As well, I have observed other people being hit in
the face and the head quite often in the same manner. When a bus has only
standing room left, a person wearing a backpack takes up more standing room
also. It is my suggestion that OC Transpo put into play a rule that anyone
wearing a backpack must remove it and carry it in their hands when on the
bus. At least this will eliminate the problems I have just mentioned."

"Thanks for hearing me out, this has been a thorn in my side for a couple of
years now, but having actually been a backpack victim now only incites me to
do something to change the status quo."

[A very good point about the backpack scene. The important thing for
backpacks is to keep them in sight and under control while on the bus.
Fast Transitway routes and backpack jousting don't mix.]

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==>  Letter: O-Train Suggestion

Just a suggestion:  

I see why there are few problems of extending the O-Train to Promenade du
Portage (Hull) and the casino. Due to snowfall, using the route 180, it
takes a while to cross the bridge despite how often it comes.

The O-Train should be at least extended in front of the the Holiday Inn
(right beside the Les Terrasses de Chaudière). (Near the Domtar Plant).
(Tracks look empty to me)

Everyday, I notice people like me, get off at the Les Terrasses and walk
to the Portage. Building more bridges is not always the solution, why not
use the existing Prince of Wales Bridge. The train tracks are right in
front of the Holiday Inn. Creating a bus that connects the O-Train
(proposed route # 183) will create more traffic on the bridge!

Therefore, at least extend the O-Train up to the Holiday Inn (Les
Terrasses) would be convenient.

I hope the O-Train remains here.

- R. Lim

[OTB: Getting the O-Train to Quebec would involve getting the Gatineau city
government on board. But we agree that interprovincial train service is a
good expansion.]

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==>  Letter: Doubledecker buses

I used the doubledecker buses in Edinburgh when I was there in the summer of
2000. In general, I enjoyed using them -- the view was good from the second
floor, and the space under the stairs was well designed to allow luggage and
packages to be left there -- a facility we very much appreciated when
lugging our luggage from Leith all the way out to a university in the far
suburbs, and back again!

However, I wouldn't have liked to have had to carry anything heavy or bulky
up those stairs (the handrail was necessary especially if the bus was still
moving as you started to get ready to get off before your stop). Nor would
I have liked to be handicapped or elderly and had to use the stairs.

I didn't generally see the buses very packed there; I don't know if that was
because it was mid-July, or we didn't travel much in the morning rush hour
(we did travel in the evening) or because the policy is to avoid standing.
There certainly wasn't a lot of room for standing on the main floor. On the
routes I took, I don't remember any bridges/underpasses the buses would have
had to travel under.

- Alayne McGregor

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==>  Letter: Searching for the centre of Kanata

The Kanata Town Centre has certainly outlived its usefulness as a transit
hub. The problem is its replacement isn't ready yet.

The Kanata Centrum transit station/park&ride lot is scheduled to be open
in late 2003. Before it can be built, though, the Castlefrank
overpass/interchange needs to be in place. Work on that project is
scheduled to start in the spring.

Once that bridge is in place, local routes will be able to cross the
Queensway using that bridge and the 97 will be able to exit right at the
Centrum. Until then, getting everything to line up at the Centrum would
be a logistical nightmare.

I think a few trips on the 97 could easily be extended to the Centrum
now however. Appearing just today (March 5) on OC's web site is a
proposal to extend every 4th 97 trip to Stittsville.

- Brad Nixon

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==>  Letter: Follow-up on Transetiquette

Re: Transetiquette (OTB, March 2002): "Following letter is Mike Jager's reply
on the T_2000 list. Just try pulling some of the stunts mentioned below
in Singapore. You would at least be looking at a very stiff fine, maybe
even a very sore behind. You can be caned even for spitting on the
sidewalk there, and when you're abroad, you're subject to the laws
where you are. People putting their feet on seats is a problem on both
the O-Train and the new articulated buses."

- Mark Walton

[For space reasons, the entire reply, with links to other follow-ups,
can be found by following this weblink on the T_2000 discussion list:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/T_2000/message/1171

In general, the T_2000 Yahoo groups list...

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/T_2000

is another source of transport discussion, particularly for transit issues
across Canada.]

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==>  Sightings & Mysteries

Contributed bus Sighting: "I have seen the third order of NFI D60LF
articulated buses going into service (6070>); so far, I've seen a few 6070s
and 6080s. They're not much different from the second batch (6038-6069).
Most of the first batch (6001-6037) are now retrofitted with a seat on the
right side of the bellows, in place of the curved yellow handrail."
- Mark Walton

O-Train Sighting: "The O-Train has suffered a few Indusi signal trips at
Carleton station during recent snow storms [ed note: Indusi is a magnetic
brake used on the O-Train route - it prevents trains from going through a
stop signal]. One of the spring switches does not close properly when snow
and ice gets into it. That tricks the system into thinking that the
northbound train has not properly cleared the block at Carleton, and the
signal changes on the southbound train, thus tripping it. The driver then
has to call for clearance, which can take up to 10 minutes. I was on a
train where this happened; when it does, southbound trains wait at Carleton
until the northbound has cleared, until a maintainer can get out to clear
the snow and ice out of the switch." - Mark Walton

Low-floor Sighting: The following caution regards the newer low-floor buses
with a rear door (that is, the exit is at the very rear, instead of the
middle, generally buses numbered in the 4100s). Unlike touch strips and
push bars, passengers can open the rear exit by walking down to a
weight-sensing step. But after a short time, the door will close, even if
someone is on the door opening step. If you're leaving through the back, and
if you're behind a few other departing passengers, be prepared to push the
door open if it tries to shut in your face.

2-wheeled Sighting: In late March, one route 97 bus was seen carrying a
bicycle on the front - a "Rack & Roll" sneak preview, considering the
bikes on buses programme does not officially resume until 21st April.

Mystery: Which is generally the faster trip from Lebreton to Greenboro?
         1) Bus west from Lebreton to Bayview, then O-Train to Greenboro
         2) 97 east from Lebreton, through downtown, to the south
            Transitway to Greenboro.

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==>  Contact us

OTB welcomes letters and articles on transit topics - please e-mail them
to: otra-info@flora.org - please note that typical editorial and content
type rules may apply to letters or other contributions.

Note that issues of OTB are available in various ways, including:

OTRA website (includes back issues):
http://otra.sandelman.ottawa.on.ca/otb/index.html

OttawaStart Traffic page - see the Ottawa Transit Bulletin link:
http://www.ottawastart.com/traffic.shtml

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Ottawa Transit Bulletin (OTB) is a monthly electronic publication produced
by the Ottawa Transit Riders Association (OTRA).

It is primarily available in e-mail format. Distribution of this bulletin
to those interested in Ottawa Transit is encouraged, but please 1) leave
its contents unaltered, and 2) don't "spam" with it.

Publication will normally be around the first day of each month (may vary
slightly due to holidays, editing and other circumstances). There may be
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OTRA is an independent transit users group dedicated to supporting customers
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