Dear councillors who can't hack transit: We're not sorry for you

People who rely solely on OC Transpo to get around Ottawa applaud challenging city councillors to do the same for a week, but are also frustrated that not all of them can handle it.

• Transit challenge proves difficult for some councillors

Free Transit Ottawa is behind the challenge and saidthe goal is to draw attention to parts of the transit system that need improvement, andencourage discussion between elected officials and residents.

• Mayor, somecouncillorsturn down transit challenge
• OCTransporiders singing the full bus blues

Seventeen city councillors have been riding the bus and taking part in those discussions on social media, postingabout missed connections, late busesand overcrowding.

One councillordescribed the overcrowding as being packed like"sardines." Several have admitted to "flunking" the challenge or choosing a car over a busto make it to their destination on time.

"At least I have a choice a lot of people don't," Carol AnneMeehan told her Twitter followers.

'Limits the activities I do'

Diane Larabieis one person who doesn't have a choice because she doesn't drive.

"It definitely defines my life. It limits the activities that I do," said Larabie, who commutes from her home in Lincoln Fields to work in downtown Ottawa every weekday.

Her trip isn't so bad, but she saidappointments and errands are a different story.

"For instance, I had to cancel a doctor's appointment twice this winter because ... it was like 40 C that day and then the next day I had my doctor's appointment it was freezing rain," Larabie said.

She has to walk about 10 minutes to get to the Transitway, and saidpaying for a taxi or Uber isn't financially feasible.

Other riders have similar experiences:

Planning life around the bus

Ivy Mckeesometimes goes a week without the groceries she needs simply because she doesn't want to take the bus to get them, she said.

Without a car,Mckeeplans her life around OC Transpo.

"I don't agree to do something if I don't think I can get there on the bus. I wouldn't take a job that I couldn't get to on the bus," Mckee said.

"It's not really surprising that they[city councillors]can't use transit for their daily tasks, but it's a little bit frustrating because the rest of us have to make it work."

Transit challenge participants are completingdaily surveys, plus a longer one at the end of the week.

'You cannot rely on the bus to be on time'

6 years ago

Duration 0:30

People who rely on OC Transpo say bus service shortfalls define their lives.

Free Transit Ottawa plans to crunchthe data and present itsfindings Monday.