Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2004 00:03:43 -0500 (EST)
From: Ottawa Transit Riders Association 
To: afo@flora.org
Subject: [AFO] Ottawa Transit Bulletin - January 2004
X-Spam-Status: No, hits=-11.2 required=5.0
	tests=BAYES_01,DRASTIC_REDUCED,USER_AGENT_PINE,X_AUTH_WARNING
	autolearn=ham version=2.52
X-Spam-Level: 

=========================================================================
                          O t t a w a
                          T r a n s i t
                          B u l l e t i n
=========================================================================
                          J a n u a r y   2 0 0 4
=========================================================================

==>  Notes before the News

Welcome to the January issue of OTB, issued 2nd January 2004.

Winter changes take effect as indicated in articles below.

*** Next general schedule changes ***
  * OC:  18 April 2004 (http://www.octranspo.com)
  * STO: 28 March 2004 (http://www.sto.ca)

=========================================================================

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

   * Taxi strike
   * Yield to buses returning to traffic - it's now the law
   * Route 85 gang attack
   * New Year transit schedules
   * Letter: The hits keep coming (on the bus doors)
   * Sightings and Mysteries
   * OC winter route changes
   * More field reports
   * STO updates
   * Contact us

=========================================================================

Thanks again:
-------------
To those whose contributions, encouragement and feedback help make this
issue of OTB possible.

=========================================================================

==>  Taxi strike

Taxi service in Ottawa is substantially reduced due to a strike situation
among dispatchers which began New Year's Day. The Blue Line, Capital Taxi,
DJ's and Cornwall Veterans' taxi brands are essentially one operation
under ZipTrack dispatching, which is the company affected. Limited dispatch
capability is being maintained by management. Other cab companies such
as WestWay are not affected.

The strike does not completely halt taxi operations, but may affect
the ability to call for a cab. Alternatives include simply hailing a
cab rather than calling one, or using a non-affected taxi company.

Travellers should also consider bus alternatives to taxi service:

- The Airport is regularly served by route 97, which reaches the downtown
  through to Kanata.

- The Train station (VIA Rail) is regularly served by route 95; a few other
  routes are available, at least from Hurdman station.

- The Bus station (Greyhound, Voyageur) is directly served by routes 4
  and 99. Bank Street is a block east of the bus terminal, where
  routes 1 and 7 are available.

- Hull is reachable from downtown by OC route 8 (on Albert/Slater corridor),
  and by various STO routes (along Wellington).

- Transit details at:
     -- http://www.octranspo.com (Ottawa)
     -- http://www.sto.ca (Hull/Gatineau)

=========================================================================

==>  Yield to buses returning to traffic - it's now the law

As of 2nd January, motorists must give the right of way to buses that
are signalling to re-enter traffic from a bus bay (a bus stop lane that
is off the main road lane). This applies throughout Ontario, due to changes
to the Highway Traffic Act.

Provincial MTO site: http://www.mto.gov.on.ca

=========================================================================

==>  Route 85 gang attack

A youth was injured in a gang attack on Route 85 in November as the
bus was travelling in the Bayshore area. Although security was called
to respond to the incident, the gang escaped.

According to OC Transpo officials, passengers are expected to use the
system at their own risk. Are riders being invited to practice
"do-it-yourself" security?

Transit safety and security issues will be a greater concern in future
OTB issues - input to that end is welcome.

=========================================================================

==>  New Year transit schedules

Schedules for the first few days of 2004 are significantly different than
normal. Expect reduced and altered schedules through 2nd January.

New Year's day services were drastically reduced: STO only operated between
noon and 7pm; OC operated at less than half the normal Sunday schedule e.g.
30 minute frequencies on the O-Train and on routes 2, 85, 95 and 97; all
other routes run hourly; route 142 operated southbound direction only.

2nd January 2004 (Fri):

* OC (Ottawa): reduced weekday schedule
* STO (Gatineau): special schedule (see http://www.sto.ca)

3rd January 2004 (Sat):

* OC and STO: regular schedule patterns resume

=========================================================================

==>  Letter: The hits keep on coming

In reference to a wonderful commentary by Beverley Markle in your July
2003 issue.

The content of Ms. Markle's concern regarding the robotic doors on the
articulated buses, pretty much sums it up. What surprises me is there has
been no further mention of this potential for disaster among your
spectators. What a slap in the face!! I can guarantee within 10 stops,
somebody is getting caught in "the trap". I have been watching like a hawk
and taking an in depth tally of the frequency of incidences. This
contraption amounts to nothing short of pre-programmed mechanical assault.
Had I inflicted bruises on a fellow public transit rider, similar to the
ones "the trap" cause, I'd be before the courts. It doesn't take to much
foresight to predict that a frail elderly is definitely getting a broken
something, not to mention, the infant aspect. The problem has been
described by Ms. Markle, quite adequately and I would like her to know that
I will be joining her in this crusade. It has already cost me $60.00 to
replace the shatterproof crystal on my watch. Now... I'm in!!!

- Dan Brennan

[OTB hasn't heard too many damage reports from the field, but is eager
to hear more stories of battles with bus doors ...]

=========================================================================

==>  Sightings and Mysteries

1. Sighting: Tunney's Pasture station is almost back in order after
an intensive renovation in December. The walkway between the north and
south sides has re-opened, and stairs are fully open. There is no longer
a store in the north section, which was the primary area of last May's
fire-bombing. Lighting on the indoor bridge and the north stairs
seems to be much brighter now.

2. Mystery: Tunney's station would be fully in order if the south side
elevator were operational. It has been shut off since October, and remains
unavailable as of the New Year. Welcome to 21st century maintenance.

3. Sighting: Another sign that Tunney's is returning to life (albeit
an unfortunate one) is that there is already scratch vandalism found on
the windows, especially on the west side of the indoor bridge.

4. Sighting: The automated sliding doors into St Laurent mall from
the bus station were replaced with non-automated doors in recent
weeks. This seems to have ended the plague of Please-Use-Other-Door
Disease, where only one side of one set of doors would be operational,
then pedestrians would slalom to the next set of doors which was
functional on the opposite site. It was unknown to see all doors
operational in recent years. Now, the manual doors are completely
non-automatic, curtailing access for passengers with disabilities
(presumably they get to enter the mall on the top level, braving
any outdoor elements and local bus crossings to do so).

5. Sighting: New railings were noticed at Bayview station on the path from
the buses to the O-Train, at least on the north side path.

6. Mystery: Why was the traditional early start of peak period abandoned
on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve? Work days ending early for many,
long before the peak-period bus routes started. Perhaps a Christmas
present for 2004 would be to re-connect with commuter realities during
this time. There were many cases of near-empty afternoon bus routes,
and cases of overcrowded midday routes.

7. Mystery: The new OC route 95 schedules are printed and available.
But it seems Orleans bound buses depart every 30 minutes between 12h46 and
13h38 from Baseline, while buses leave Fallowfield every 12/15 minutes
around the same time. This seems to be a schedule blooper.

=========================================================================

==>  OC winter route changes

As of 4th January 2004, winter schedules go into effect. New timetables
are available for most routes.

The following new and changed routes also take effect:

Route 90: Weekday peak period express route from Eagleson Park and
Ride lot in the morning, and back to Hazeldean Mall in the afternoon.
These will be express fare trips which travel via Queensway station.

Route 97: With the opening of the Castlefrank bridge, travel is now
on Castlefrank between Katimavik and Earl Grey. Route 97 will no longer
serve Katimavik between Terry Fox Drive and Castlefrank.

Route 99: Kanata terminus extended to 303 Terry Fox.

Route 136: Despite an earlier announcement, route changes will not take
effect until spring. Buses remain as is for now.

Route 162: Re-routed on Castlefrank for direct trip between Katimavik and
Kanata Centrum - no longer travels on Terry Fox Drive between Kanata Centrum
and Katimavik, or on Katimavik between Terry Fox Drive and Castlefrank.

Route 192: New mid-morning weekday trip from Innes and Bantree via
Michael Street to St. Laurent Station, then returning in the afternoon.

=========================================================================

==>  More field reports

Field reports have been filed by OTB readers. A few sticky cases were
indicated of earlier-than-scheduled buses on route 85 and 86 during
early weekday evenings.

The reports include random and unreliable timings on the 85 in the
Woodridge Crescent portion, towards Bayshore, also in early evening
(6-7:30pm range).

Another problem was reported with late buses during rain showers
(late November). A route 4 was reported 8 minutes late on one such
occasion. But some routes can still be early in a rainstorm.

=========================================================================

==>  STO updates

On the Quebec side:

1. FARE HIKE: STO fares are indeed going up for the New Year as indicated
in December 2003 OTB.

2. WINTER ROUTE CHANGES: The following route changes should be in effect
by 5 January 2004 (some already took effect 22 December 2003):

2a. ROUTE 26: Monday to Friday routing change in the Plateau de la Capitale
neighbourhood - routing will go from De la Brise / De la Montagne
(endpoint) through De la Brise, Pink, Des Grives, Du Stratus, Du Cumulus
and then Du Plateau then along the existing routing. An new early
afternoon return trip from Ottawa leaves 15h19 from Rideau / King Edward.

2b. ROUTES 28 and 39: routing change for all trips in Des Trembles
neighbourhood, where buses will now travel Du Plateau, St-Raymond,
Des Grives, Des Trembles, St-Raymond and Tache then along the existing
routing.

2c. ROUTES 42 and 43: the late weekday 42 trip (00h35 departure from York
towards Eardley) will follow the same streets as route 43 to Belmont and
Aylmer.

2d. ROUTE 83: a new early afternoon weekday trip is added, 15h55 from
Rideau and Cumberland to Des Hauteurs (Labrosse and La Verendrye).

2e. ROUTE 88: Changes to early weekday morning departures from Atmec and
Cheval Blanc to Ottawa: the 05h55 trip now departs 05h50, and there is
also an 06h00 departure.

2f. ROUTE 98: Numerous changes to weekday morning departure times from
Highway 309 and Lepine to Ottawa.

2g. ROUTES 80, 88, 89, 94, 98: Trips to Ottawa are now routed Highway 50
West to St-Laurent exit, then St-Laurent, Maisonneuve to the existing
routing. No change to routing the other way (from Ottawa).

3. NO MORE PAPER PASSES: STO paper monthly passes will no longer be issued
after January 2004, as these will have been fully replaced by the "smart
card" system.

Details: STO http://www.sto.ca or (819) 770-3242

Source: http://www.sto.ca/pdf/Majguide03_e.pdf
(in proprietary document format)

=========================================================================

==>  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

=========================================================================

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, production and other circumstances). There may be
special occasional bulletins beyond the base monthly frequency if news and
special circumstances warrant.

OTRA is an independent transit users group dedicated to supporting customers
of transit services, and improving the quality of transit service. Neither
OTRA nor OTB are directly associated with OC Transpo, or any other passenger
transportation carrier. Viewpoints and content of OTB articles may not
necessarily be those of OTRA.

There is also the otra-discuss e-mailing list - available for subscription.
Send an e-mail to majordomo@flora.org and enter as the first and only line
of the message text: "subscribe otra-discuss" (without the quotes, though).

Initial membership in OTRA is free - help OTRA to help transit riders by
joining today!

For more information on OTB and OTRA:

E-Mail: otra-info@flora.org
Web:    http://www.flora.org/otra/
Mail:   Suite 103, 797 Somerset Street West, Ottawa, ON K1R 6R3

=========================================================================