Time For A Rider Protest Against OC Transpo? MULVIHILL
OC Transpo is not working.
Our transit service suffers from the same fate as several other services the city provides … poor management. The only solution the powers-that-be can think of is to raise fares again. Soon OC Transpo will have priced itself out of business.
Clearly, transit commission chairman Glen Gower is in way over his head as was his predecessor Kanata South Councillor Allan Hubley. Gower and OC Transpo management don’t know what to do to right this sinking ship.
It’s a money pit. There are no new solutions, never mind suggestions, to fix what is broken.
What is the answer? Well, it certainly isn’t raising fares for students and youth. Strange that no one at city hall clued in that poor service combined with higher fees results in fewer transit users.
As far as other transit users are concerned, who really wants to spend four hours each day commuting? Does transit management not understand that life, and especially family time, is precious?
It might take a protest from transit users to wake the dead at Ottawa City Hall. Today, fewer buses combined with an unreliable LRT system and ridiculously long bus routes are not working. Older buses are being bought and refurbished to put into service in an effort to reduce travel times to entice riders. Your tax dollars at work.
The best solution would be to admit defeat and make major changes to the badly flawed system. Rip up the existing rails and lay down tracks that would handle a heavy diesel system.
Unfortunately, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe won’t admit defeat. To continue with LRT Phase 2 is only asking for more trouble.
Donna Mulvihill is a community activist and former hospital coordinator
For You:
Councillors Aren’t Worth Big Pay Increase: CRERAR
The Floating Sauna: Welcome To Spattawa
From Gower, More Transit, Fewer Words: BENN
Yay Manor Park. Fight Those Sidewalks: GRAY
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– The Bulldog – News Feed Enter 
Donna. Multi-phased projects generally don’t work until you’ve successfully completed phase 1.
During the first term of then Mayor Jim Watson, committee chairs were selected on the basis of an oath of loyalty to Jim Watson. Competence was not part of the criteria. All of part of hte Watson Club/Party. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe has followed this pattern.
Thus we have a Glen Gower chairing the Transit Committee. A councillor who waxes philosophic on the benefits of an effective public transit system while voting to gut its budget.
Miss Donna, I believe the protest has already begun. A quiet protest by some by not using the service.