WARNING NEEDED ABOUT MAJOR CHANGES TO BUS FREQUENCIES

The resumption of service on all express routes on March 16 was great news. Unfortunately, while things went well in the first week, the week of March 23 saw a number of problems.

On many express routes there were significantly fewer trips operating on March 23 than in the week of March 16 to March 20. If the publicity around the resumption of service had highlighted the fact there would be significantly fewer buses on express routes on the second week back, people could have planned for this. Unfortunately, the extent of the change in week two was not highlighted.

OC Transpo’s announcements and media release on the resumption of service on all routes did tell people to check the schedules regularly. However, there was no specific mention that in week two there would be a significant reduction in the number of buses. Until people checked the schedules they would not have realized that the reduction in the buses on some routes in the week of March 23 meant gaps between bus trips of up to 45 minutes.

I have been making sure OC Transpo General Manager Alain Mercier is aware of problems this has caused and asking him to provide an explanation and information on when additional trips will be added. When I receive a response I will be passing it to people on my transit list. If you would like to receive a copy of the information, please let me know.

While the restoration of service after the strike was much slower than we would like, OC Transpo resisted the temptation to over-promise and was up front about bad news. This makes the fact the reduction in express bus trips on March 23 doubly unfortunate.

INTEGRATED ROAD SAFETY PROGRAM FOCUSES ON CHILD CAR SEATS AND SEATBELTS IN MAY

Part of Ottawa’s Integrated Road Safety Program is the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program that focuses on specific factors that contributes to the injuries or deaths due to collisions in our city. In May the focus will be on unsafe vehicles, properly installing child car seats and using seat belts.

Between 2003 and 2007, 28 people were killed in vehicle collision in Ottawa because they were not wearing seatbelts or in properly secured car seats. 63 suffered life-threatening injuries and another 353 were injured.

Spot checks will be conducted by the police and public health to make sure people are wearing seatbelts and child car seats or booster seats are properly installed.

S.E.A.T.S. For Kids offers car inspection clinics and information sessions for people wanting to make sure child car seats are properly installed. To get information you can go to www.seatsforkidscanada.com.

SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES AND IDENTITY THEFT 

A growing number of people are using social networking sites. They have provided new opportunities to meet and stay in contact with people, but there are also risks. To help people avoid problems the Ottawa Police Service are holding an information session on Safeguarding Your Identity. The session will be:

Monday, April 23
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall
110 Laurier Avenue West

WORKING FULL-TIME FOR KANATA SOUTH

I appreciate the chance to hear from you about issues affecting our community. You can reach me at 580-2752 (office), 580-2762 (fax), www.feltmateforkanata.com or peggy.feltmate@ottawa.ca